The Schmitter at H & J McNally's

[Holly Moore]

Have been hearing about a variation upon the Cheese Steak at H & J McNally's. Finally got there today to give it a try. It's called a Schmitter and starts out as a basic cheese steak, but on a kaiser roll. Then it's topped with crisply grilled salami, sliced tomato, fried onions and a secret sauce - something like big mac sauce with a kick of horseradish. Good, gooey, greasy eating.

I was feeling proud about my discovery until I asked the bartender why the sandwich is called a Schmitter. "Here read this." He slid a beer-soaked copy of the new "Best of Philly" issue of Philly Mag. Big half page picture of a waitress holding a Schmitter. Put a damper on my day. I did 5 minutes with the bartender, prostesting way too much that I was NOT there because I had seen the sandwich in Philadelphia Magazine. He assured me that he believed me as his copy had just arrived a couple of hours ago in the mail. Hope so. Would be horrible if I were taken as one of those who runs out to a place as soon as it is written up in a newspaper or magazine. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Back to the Schmitter - It got its name from the guy who conceived it. Guy's name wasn't Schmidt though. It's more Philadelphian than that. The guy was a regular at McNally's and every time he came in he only drank Schmidt's beer. Hence he was the Schmitter and the sandwich variation he always ate was the Schmitter.

[mrbigjas]

Great story, Holly. Where is this place?

Wow, that sandwich--it's like, how can we make a cheesesteak worse for you? How about frying some salami and putting it on top? Brilliant.

[Holly Moore]

Great story, Holly.  Where is this place?

Wow, that sandwich--it's like, how can we make a cheesesteak worse for you?  How about frying some salami and putting it on top?  Brilliant.

In Chestnut Hill - 8634 Germantown Avenue across from Borders

[mrbigjas]

In Chestnut Hill - 8634 Germantown Avenue across from Borders

Wow. I want one RIGHT NOW. I wonder if they're open Sunday afternoons.

[Holly Moore]

Alas, they are closed Sundays in the summer.

[Rich Pawlak]

McNally's is also one of the very few, if only, smoke-free bars in the city.

[mrbigjas]

Alas, they are closed Sundays in the summer.

Dang. Well, that's OK, I went and gorged myself on a pork tamale and flor de calabaza quesadillas at La Lupe instead, and bought a peck of yellow pear tomatoes for $1. I love this city sometimes.

[Mummer]

Great story and it looks like a great sandwich. Like Holly, I've heard of the place but I've gotta get in there, unfortunately, to compete among the Best of geeks.

When I moved to Philly in the 70s, one of my colleagues clued me in on local things like Pat's, Geno's and addytood. I asked if there were any local slang I should know and he offered that pavement means sidewalk, the franchise was the only Philly who could throw a strike, and that nobody bothered with the first name of the Boulevard.

When I asked about the local brew, Schmidt's, he said, "Every other letter!"