#yard's

Drinking: Yard's Brawler Pugilist Style Ale BeerAdvocate: 82

Yard's Trivia:

Pennsylvania's first 100% wind-powered brewery.

Bar tops are reclaimed bowling alley lanes.

Floors made from recycled concrete and coated in SoyCrete sustainable compound.

Block walls covered in earthen American clay.

Hot water collected and reused whenever possible.

All fixtures, furniture and equipment are reclaimed.

Salvaged mahogany trim on the bar and walls.

Century-old pool table originally manufactured a few blocks away at 222 S. 8th Street.

Reusable growlers to reduce packaging and waste.

Grains donated to local farms as feed.

Yards cases are printed using 65% post-consumer recycled cardboard at a local SFI-certified manufacturer.

Spinning: Radiohead's Amnesiac (2001)

Amnesiac is the fifth studio album by English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2001 on Parlophone and produced by Nigel Godrich. Recorded in the same sessions as previous album Kid A, Amnesiac incorporates similar influences of electronic music, classical music, jazz and krautrock.

"I read that the gnostics believe when we are born we are forced to forget where we have come from in order to deal with the trauma of arriving in this life. I thought this was really fascinating. It's like the river of forgetfulness. [Amnesiac] may have been recorded at the same time [as Kid A]... but it comes from a different place I think. It sounds like finding an old chest in someone's attic with all these notes and maps and drawings and descriptions of going to a place you cannot remember."

-Thom Yorke

Firstly, I should let you know that I'm of the thinking that the Roast Pork sandwich is the quintessential Philadelphia sandwich.

This gets me in trouble, sometimes. A friend once remarked, "(I) must hate puppies and kids, too."

I first visited Dalessandro's over a year ago. I took a friend of mine from New York City with me, with the assurance that we would be eating the "Best Cheesesteaks in Philly."

We were disappointed. Massively. Dry, flavorless, and unsatisfactory.

I read an article in Philadelphia City Paper (http://citypaper.net/articles/2010/10/28/food2) over a month ago, that piqued my interest in trying their cheesesteak, again.

Dalessandro's is small. There is a counter, with a few tables along the window. On the counter sits a giant jar of HOT peppers. There are also a few other bins with pickles, long hots, and assorted other toppings which allows you to tailor your cheesesteak to your liking.

Dalessandro's does a steady business. I made my plan to go around 2 in the afternoon, to avoid the lunch rush. It was packed when I walked in. I was lucky to get a seat at the counter.

My order was taken promptly: Cheesesteak with fried onions.

Dalessandro's has a surprisingly good beer selection. Dogfish 60 Minute IPA sits next to the Yards IPA, which sits next to the Leffe Blonde.

I got my cheesesteak within 5 minutes.  American, and sauteed onions on top, on an Amoroso roll. I added ketchup.

On First Bite: The issues I had with the dryness last time? Not this time. This cheesesteak was gooey. I soon realized that the ketchup was a misstep. Not needed. It's a decent-sized cheesesteak. Big enough that you hit a "wall" But, you push through.

They have a TV behind the counter on, as well. It was tuned to the NFL Network.

It seemed right.

I kinda wish I had ordered the 60 Minute.

I'd eat this again.

Dalessandro's 

600 Wendover St.

(Henry Ave. & Walnut Lane)

(215)482-5407