Midtown Lunch

Shank’s, a decades old Philly staple, houses its newer Center City shack location at 15th St, right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. Although this is not the original location, the interior has that chromey, olde-timey luncheonette appeal.

The lunch specials might be difficult to navigate. As I understand it, the chicken parmigiana is often available as a daily special for around $7. But on Mondays and Tuesdays, several sandwiches are available on special for $5.99 including a fountain soda. I discovered that to get this price you need to specifically ask for the Monday/Tuesday special.

The chicken parmigiana is simple- fried chicken cutlet with cheese and sauce on a roll. The chicken is moist and everything has a nice flavor. It’s  good sandwich, though not necessarily something you would find yourself fantasizing about later.

Sandwiches are ready pretty quickly, and can be eaten almost as fast. You might decide to order a sandwich off the regular or daily special menu if you can tell the special size is just too small for ya.

Even better was the eggplant parmigiana. I am inept when it comes to frying eggplant (there may have even once been an incident involving firemen), and so I always appreciate a nice thinly sliced and lightly fried eggplant when eating out. Shank’s had that sweetness element that I have trouble replicating.  It was also smallish in size.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Quick, well-made parm sandwiches
• The Mon/Tuesday sandwich specials are a fair price
• Convenient location

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• Sandwiches (for the special) are on the small side
• Only a few 2-top tables to sit at

Shank’s, 120 S 15th St (@ Chestnut St), 215 629 1093