Pappa Geno's — Restaurant in Houston

Best cheesesteak I've had in a long time! I'm normally not a big cheesesteak fan (will never go out of my way for them but definitely not opposed to eating them). Have eaten cheesesteaks in a number of places in Philly (Pats, genos, reading terminal market, etc.) but was never impressed at what I got (usually found it a bit boring, plain, or uninspired). However, Papa Geno's does it right.

Located on a small strip-mall on TC Jester next to a shady gas station, don't let the unassuming digs scare you away. Once your inside, it has a very 60's retro diner feel with plenty of sitting area and a sparse counter for you to order. The service is very friendly, there's a some-what limited menu (I mean, a number of different variations of cheesesteaks, burgers, and chicken tenders as well as some apps). Best part though is food gets made and comes out very quickly (Think 10 min or less).

We got: Wicked Philly - This is their base philly with Italian hot peppers. The bread was soft and toasted, the meat, onions, and cheese were all melted together and absolutely delicious. Perfectly seasoned with a great meat to bread ratio. The hot italian peppers also added just the perfect bite (though there are quite a bit of them - I liked it but can see others think of it as a bit overwhelming) Papa Geno's - Basically the same as the wicked philly without the hot peppers. So still delicious Onion Rings - These were delicious, fried really well, and came with this great honey mustard dipping sauce (or it came with the phillies, but it worked with the onion rings). Only issue is they don't really give you much to an order, so not very shareable (think 4 to 5 medium size rings) French Fries - These were decent, nothing special but goes well with the cheesesteaks (since unhealthy on top of unhealthiness). Again, portions are not significant.

Literally came back two times in 1 week. It...

I recently had the unfortunate experience of dining at Papa Geno's, and I must say that it was an absolute disappointment from start to finish. The service was abysmal, and the food was simply inedible.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted with an air of indifference from the staff. It seemed as though they couldn't be bothered to provide even a basic level of customer service. The wait staff appeared disinterested and unhelpful, completely disregarding my inquiries and requests. It was evident that their priority was not to ensure a pleasant dining experience for their patrons.

As for the food, it was a total disaster. I ordered their signature philly cheese stick hoping for a delicious treat. However, what arrived at my table was an unappetizing mess. The crust was undercooked and doughy, lacking any semblance of crispiness. The toppings were sparse and poorly distributed, resulting in a bland and unbalanced flavor profile. To make matters worse, the cheese tasted stale and had an unpleasant aftertaste. It was evident that the ingredients were of subpar quality, which ultimately ruined the entire dish.

I attempted to voice my concerns to the staff, hoping for some resolution or a gesture of goodwill, but my complaints fell on deaf ears. They showed no interest in addressing the issues or making amends for the poor quality of the food. It was a clear indication that customer satisfaction was the least of their concerns.

Overall, my experience at Papa Geno's was nothing short of a disaster. The lackluster service, coupled with the inedible food, left a sour taste in my mouth, both literally and figuratively. I would strongly advise anyone considering dining at this establishment to think twice and explore other options. There are far better restaurants out there that value their customers and offer a truly enjoyable...

I guess I'm only here to reiterate what others have said about Pappa Geno's... It's fantastic, the best cheese steak in town. I've caught myself telling complete strangers about its greatness due to the mentioning of cheese steaks in conversations that I was never invited into. I've inappropriately told customers at my job that they don't know what a real cheese steak is until they've had one from Pappa Geno's. I work at a sandwich shop for cryin' out loud!

You can't miss this bright orange place, conveniently located next to a gas station and a... nail shop? It's like a beaming lighthouse in the Ghetto sea. I wasn't sure what kind of cheese to get... Provolone VS Cheese Wiz is just too hard a life decision to make. Though possibly unholy, I ordered both on the #1 (basic philly). In the words of my favorite Old El Paso commercial, "Por que no las dos?" It was a religious experience encased in the perfect bread and drenched in cheese. The bread is soft enough so that it doesn't feel filling, yet substantial enough to keep all that meat and cheese in check. I could have easily polished off the whole sandwich in one sitting but then I'd have nothing to eat at the movie theater. Ratchet? Nahh... The fries with gravy were good, but I felt like they were pretty standard. I ordered a gravy on the side to dip my sandwich in. You MUST try this.

I felt like I crossed every cheese steak boundary: Provolone, Cheez Wiz, and side gravy? Luckily it all worked out in my favor to result in the best philly...