No Substitute For the Real Thing

Today I was in the mood for something substantial, something greasy, something fatty, and something cheesy. I knew that Noah’s Deli in Dearborn would have a wide variety of what I needed. I’ve been to Noah’s a few times before while working in Dearborn for the past 6 years and was always satisfied.

Noah’s Deli has been serving up great sandwiches and diner food in East Dearborn since 1977. The corner spot deli is a fairly small building where patrons sit at a u-shaped table while your order is prepared right in the middle. If you come early during the lunch hour, you can watch the ingredients being switched out with fresher items. It's a great sight because you know you are getting quality.

Noah’s is really known for their Hot Corn Beef and Reuben sandwiches, I’ve had both and thoroughly enjoyed them. Today, I was craving for something a little different; I wanted something fatty, greasy, and cheesy; so why not Noah’s take on a classic Philly Cheesesteak? It seemed like it had all of the right ingredients; grilled steak, onions, peppers, and cheese all on a grilled sub bun.  Was it as good as it sounded in writing? Did it live up to a true Philly Cheesesteak?

The short answer is no. First, I felt that they skimped out on the meat and cheese, the whole essence of a Cheesesteak. Second, I knew I was taking a gamble with Noah’s using Swiss Cheese instead of Provolone or Cheez Whiz. Lastly the sub bun was hard at the ends and was pretty bland.

I took my first bite, and while the flavors were pretty decent, I could not help but feel disappointed. Where was all of the fat and grease? The steak was pretty dry and the flavors felt really underpowered because of the filling to bun ratio; the bun was really bland as well. Then the cheese, there was simply not enough of hot melted cheese and the Swiss just had a less of a sharp punch than the Provolone or Cheez Wiz would have had. While I ate the whole sandwich, I felt more disappointed after each bite.

After I finished, I started thinking that in some cases there is no substitute for the real thing; and in this case no version of a Philly Cheesesteak, besides the real deal from Philly, can really do the original any justice. I should have gone with a sandwich I knew Noah’s could execute perfectly. So the next time I see a famous regional sandwich or dish served as an establishment’s “version”, I might think twice about ordering it.

What are your thoughts? Is there no substitute for the real thing?