When I saw the great deal for Shorty’s last week, I grabbed it immediately. I’ve been a fan of Philadelphia food ever since I started visiting it regularly ten years ago, and Shorty’s is one of the few places in New York that approaches Philly authenticity.  Looking back at all of our old posts about Shorty’s I was surprised to see cheesesteak this and cheesteak that. Sure, I love a good cheesesteak, but in a bar briefly known as Tony Luke’s, it’s not the first thing that comes to my mind. The original Tony Luke’s in South Philly does serve cheesesteaks, but they are best known for what I consider one of finest delicacies Philadelphia has to offer – The roast pork sandwich.

The traditional roast pork sandwich is filled with juicy, fresh carved pork, garlicky broccoli rabe and crumbles of sharp provolone. Where the cheesesteak has sweet onions, gooey whiz and spicy peppers, the roast pork is strong, a bit salty and has a sharp, even bitter, bite from the rabe and the provolone.  My favorite comes from DiNic’s at Reading Terminal Market, but Tony Luke’s has one of the most famous and Shorty’s has been selling a variation of that since they opened.

Shorty’s offers a regular roast pork ($9), which doesn’t have the rabe on it for those who can’t handle the bitter greens. But I went with the roast pork special ($10), which includes the rabe and cheese. Both come with a side of porky au jus for dipping. I had the mild cheese, which was soft and melted into a gooey coating along the inside of the roll. If you’re looking for the harsher bite of the traditional version, it’s not quite here. The rabe isn’t as bitter as you might find in Philly, but that’s fine by me.

Shorty’s also has a variety of other sandwiches including the Italian Hoagie, another traditional Philadelphia institution that, sadly I haven’t explored in my travels just yet. Others on the list seem a bit less “authentic”, like the buffalo cutlet ($8) and the pizza cutlet ($8), which seems an awful lot like a chicken parm.

I’ll be back in Philly soon enough to seek out more classic versions of the sandwich – and to try some of the tasty treats Jamie has been posting on Midtown Lunch Philadelphia – but until then, I’ll be making the slightly easier trip to 9th Ave. to get my fix at Shorty’s.

Shorty’s, 576 Ninth Ave (btw. 41+42nd), 212-967-3055

A good cheese steak is a many splendored thing. The perfect bread, the finely sliced, glistening grilled steak, the peppers, the mushrooms, and, of course, the cheese. Shorty’s, previously Tony Luke’s, has been mentioned numerous times by ML, yet a proper +/- has never been bestowed. Clearly it’s my obligation to fill that void (It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.)

Shorty’s claims to offer the only “authentic” south Philly style sandwiches in NYC. Rather then being a divey lunch counter they have adapted to Hells Kitchen’s unique flavor stepping up their game with a full bar, 22 beers on tap, and a focus on local breweries, craft beers, and cask ales. What caught my eye was their daily cheesesteak and pint special. Now I’ve gone on and on about burger and beer specials in town, but a cheesesteak happy hour? Now you’re speaking my language!

The vibe at Shorty’s is very laid back, there are many TV screens each tuned to a different game, and service is fast and friendly.

Because the space is long and narrow I found that you could easily have a conversation with someone at the bar, even if you are seated at the tables.  This makes the small space ideal for meeting new people, cheering on your team, listening to their Friday live DJ’s or catching a beer with a buddy.

The $9 “shorty” cheesesteak with a pint is available all week from 12-7pm and then again at 11pm till closing time.

Naturally I went with the cheesesteak with hot and sweet peppers, mushrooms, and provolone (yeah, that’s right, I got real cheese, but for those whom it matters you can also get it with wiz.) You can pick from any beer, so I opted for a Shorty’s amber ale.

messy cheesesteaks may not be photogenic

The bread held up to the beef juices and the sautéed mushrooms stood out as the absolute best addition (the peppers were over cooked and became just an afterthought.) It’s not the a full sized sandwich but it would definitely fill you up and satisfy.

Nailing down their happy hour specials can be confusing and are subject to change. It’s best to check out the website and call ahead to confirm. From 4-7pm beers are $1 off and well drinks are $5. To make things more convoluted from 7-11pm they have specials like $4 Yuengling drafts, $12 select pitchers, $6 wiz sliders (basically 3 little cheesesteaks). So basically no matter when you go, there will be some food and drink deal available.

The + (What someone who likes this place would say)

• Cheesteak! Beer! Under $10, nuff said
• There’s a second late-night happy hour till closing for those needing their midnight food fix
• Like a beer with your lunch? Special starts at noon
• Large selection of beers to choose from for your inner beer snob and a full bar for hard liquor drinkers
• Nice long bar, comfortable seating and friendly locals

The – (What someone who dislikes this place would say)

• Small space so seating is limited especially during a game or weekend
• I can grab a cheap steak sandwich elsewhere for less, I don’t need Philly “authenticity”
• Not health food on any level, including the carb filled beer

Shorty’s, 576 Ninth Ave (btw 41st & 42nd), 212-967-3055

Related: Carl’s Steaks is a Greasy Mess (And I Mean That in the Best Possible Way)