Big AL’s Cheesesteaks — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Big Al’s Cheesesteaks is more than just a sandwich shop; it’s a destination for quality, comfort food, and genuinely great service. My recent visit confirmed its reputation, delivering on nearly every front and ensuring a strong recommendation for anyone seeking high-quality, generously portioned fare. The Main Event: The Cheesesteak The namesake item is undoubtedly the star of the show. The portions here are nothing short of great, offering excellent value for the price. The quality of the bread deserves special mention—it was exceptional, holding up perfectly to the fillings without being overly chewy or soft, providing the ideal foundation for a classic cheesesteak. However, the primary area for improvement lies in the main ingredient: the meat. While cooked well and tender, the cheesesteak meat could benefit from more aggressive seasoning. A bolder application of salt, pepper, or maybe even some proprietary spice mix would truly elevate the flavor profile and push this sandwich from excellent to truly unforgettable. Sides and Unexpected Delights The fries were a textbook example of how a side should be prepared. They arrived hot and fresh, boasting a satisfyingly crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. The quality and cut of the potato were noticeably good. The fries did feature a special seasoning, delivering a distinct sweet and smoky flavor that was quite good. My only critique is that I wished for a much bolder application; I felt the seasoning needed to come through more intensely to truly complement the main course. The Chicken Tenders were the pleasant surprise of the meal. They were truly homestyle—thick, juicy, and perfectly cooked, clearly setting them apart from standard fast-food fare. I opted for the Cherry Pepper Buffalo flavor, which provided a fantastic balance of heat and tanginess. Given their great size and good prices, these tenders are an absolute must-try and deserve recognition on their own merits. Service and Atmosphere Beyond the food, the experience was elevated by the exemplary staff and environment. The team at Big Al’s was very welcoming and patient, fostering a relaxed and positive atmosphere from the moment I walked in. They handled orders efficiently and courteously. Furthermore, the dining room was clean and nice, offering a comfortable and well-maintained space to enjoy the meal. Final Verdict Big Al’s Cheesesteaks hits all the crucial marks: massive portions, excellent bread and sides, and top-tier service. While a little boost in seasoning across the board would perfect the menu, the core quality and experience are fantastic. Overall Rating: 8.5/10 I would definitely return to Big Al's Cheesesteaks and look forward to trying more...

Update: I had a somewhat better experience the second time around. I had the sliced cheese this time and thought it was better. They also gave me a cup of wiz to try, and this time was actually really good. A stark difference than what I got during my last visit. I will say this though, there were still a bunch of fatty pieces throughout the sandwich. They use good quality ribeye, which tends to be a bit higher on the fat content I was told. If you don’t mind that, then it was pretty good. Still far from my favorite cheesesteak, but one of the better places in Jacksonville. I also had fries this time and they were fantastic and properly seasoned. Al is a good guy and you can tell he actually cares. I’ll leave my previous review up as to stay transparent.

PLEASE READ. I really wanted to like this place, ended up hating it. I ordered ahead. GPS said 7 minutes, got a text saying my order was ready in 6. That means there was a minute between it being done, and me picking it up. I started to eat it in my car and it was WARM, not hot. I’ve ordered philly’s from other places where I’ve taken them all the way home and they still burn the roof of my mouth. If that sandwich was fresh, I’ll eat my pants. I showed up just before they shut the grill off, but there’s no excuse for a barely warm philly. PLEASE KEEP READING. I ordered a large, thinking it would be 10-12”, but it was massive. Got hit with a $22 price tag. I was shocked. Figured I could just save the rest for the next day. After getting started on it, I noticed it was some sort of cheese sauce, I’m no stranger to the wiz, but that’s not what this was. It was super thin, almost water like. The consistency AND taste was very similar to Hamburger Helper. I kid you not. It was like eating a HH sandwich. Okay, whatever, maybe not the worst thing I’ve eaten, so I figured I’d keep going. But, after finding MULTIPLE pieces of fat/gristle, I had to stop. I have NEVER EVER in all of my life found chunks of fat just floating in my philly like that. I drove around trying to find a homeless person to give the other half of the sandwich to. Ended up just throwing it away. Not sure if I even want to give them a second chance. Buyer beware. The only positive was that the roll was...

Okay , here is REAL review from a REAL food critic. The cheesesteaks are good ! The og to be exact was the one I had , it needed more cheese , maybe cheese in the inside as well instead of just on top ! The cheese sauce is AMAZING I just wanna drink it . The fries were cooked fresh , just needed flavor …perhaps salt . Same with the actual steak meat , it needs a little more flavor….or salt . Perfect for someone who prefer low sodium. The smash burgers honestly is better than the og cheesesteak . We also tried the cheesesteak fries, they’re so big & enough to share with multiple people . I just think more banana peppers & more SAUCE & MORE of the cheese sauce will really make it fire . The work staff are all kind , as well as patient . The location is also a good location just needs more parking spots . Food portions overall are sooo worth it ! Prices are fair ! Definitely a great experience! A 9/10 definitely recommend. This is my 2nd time here & the consistency so far is the same, I’ll be back again & again in the future as this place is well worth it ! I recommend to all my friends , family & my customers &...