BARCLAY PRIME
THE $140 CHEESESTEAK
Rest assured that if a cheesesteak place is in Philly Willie's Top 50, Old Willie and Young Willie went there personally and got our hands greasy. In the case of Barclay Prime, we had to raise enough cash on GoFundMe first - but once we did, off to Barclay Prime we went.
Can any cheesesteak possibly be so good that it is worth $140? Or is it worth $140 just to spend the rest of your life telling your friends and family about the time you had a $140 cheesesteak?
One thing is for certain. If anyone is up to the challenge of creating the greatest cheesesteak in the history of mankind, it is Stephen Starr. As the driving force behind STARR Restaurants, Starr has almost singlehandedly transformed our city into one of the premier restaurant cities in America, if not the world.
Starr's empire now comprises some half dozen US cities and over 40 restaurants (mostly in Philadelphia) - each its own masterpiece with a unique creative theme as well as a brilliantly crafted menu of unparalleled quality.
It was only a matter of time before the city's iconic restaurateur crossed paths with its iconic sandwich.
Barclay Prime is an upscale boutique steakhouse, widely recognized as one of Philadelphia's finest. And right there on the menu alongside the filet mignon, the porterhouse, and the authentic kobe striploin, is... a cheesesteak. But not just any cheesesteak. A cheesesteak featuring hand cut wagyu beef, black truffle, foie gras, fried onions, and Cooper Sharp on a freshly baked sesame roll - and served with fine champagne.
How can you possibly go wrong? You can't. We are pleased to report that the Barclay Prime cheesesteak is every bit as heavenly as it sounds. Conceived and executed perfectly. Savory beyond belief. This sandwich is truly in a class by itself.
The cheesesteak purists will argue that Barclay Prime's sandwich is too fancy and too pricey to qualify as a genuine Philly cheesesteak. Willie disagrees. If it looks like a cheesesteak and tastes like a cheesesteak, it is a cheesesteak.
Look at it this way. If Donkey's can conquer the world with a poppy seed Kaiser roll, and if Woodrow's can capture our hearts with its truffle whiz, and if Ishkabibble's can re-invent Philly's famed sandwich using chicken and still call it a cheesesteak, then Barclay Prime has every right to add a few deluxe toppings and claim its fabulous creation is a cheesesteak too.
Our advice? Take out a home equity line of credit and try this cheesesteak. You will be VERY glad you did.
BARCLAY PRIME
237 South 8th Street
(215) 732-7560
