PHILLY 77 — Restaurant in McAllen

I give Philly 77 one star for lack of value because the look of the restaurant is cool however, you don't get your money's worth to eat here. This was my first time and first impressions are very important to me and I thought I'd give it a try after driving by about 100 times. Looking at the menu I knew it wasn't going to be cheap but I went ahead and ordered giving them the benefit of the doubt. After ordering two 8 inch sandwiches for $9.99 each with fries and two separate regular drinks, the total was almost $27. When we got the order I couldn't believe how chintzy they were on the portion. I said to myself, I'm still gonna be hungry after this, , yes, that's right, ......AFTER PAYING $27!!! I could've had a way better sit down and order meal at Red Lobster or Rudy's BBQ, or better yet, Longhorn Steakhouse for this price!!! I couldn't believe what I had paid for two freakin sandwiches, fries and two cokes! Talk about buyer's remorse. Anyway, we took our first bite and immediately got even more remorseful about coming here. To add to the disappointment, they use the cheapest bread ever!!, you can get way better philly sandwich bread at HEB. Terrible choice for bread and the size of the sandwich was embarrassing too; hardly enough for a little kid to fill up on let alone a guy like me who's 5-10, 190 pounds. I actually got up to take a look at who owns this place to see who's the cheap-skate behind the menu prices! I wanted to look at the guy in the face holding my tiny sandwich next to me while making a "you gotta be kidding" look at him! What a disappointment; and the main cheese choice is ........ you guessed it "cheep" A%# CHEEZ WHIZ !!! OMG, I thought to myself that I can actually make my own killer philly cheese steak sandwich at home that'll kick A$$ on this one! An absolutely EMBARRASSING TEN DOLLAR SANDWICH!!! I should've trusted my instinct when I got my philly sandwich craving and just gone to where I know I can get a great one and that's at Texadelphia. What Philly 77 did for me was get me wanting the real thing so I went to Texadelphia the next day to get the real mccoy. Needless to say I won't be going back to Philly 77; a big thumbs...

If you have a craving for a Philly cheese steak, Philly 77 is the spot.

I have wanted to give this place a try for awhile. I have driven by for years.

I am not sure what the parking situation looks like at peak times. Luckily, it wasn't too busy when I dropped by about an hour before closing and had no trouble finding a spot.

When you walk in, the place feels inviting. Orders are placed at the counter. The team member was warm and friendly. She talked me through the options. There were many that looked appealing but I settled on the Chipotle Philly with sweet potato fries.

As I took my seat, I noticed a separate dining area that could be used for small groups. They were a variety of seating options in the main dining area.

I didn't have to wait long after finding a table. A server politely bought out my sandwich with a friendly smile. The sandwich was hot and clearly freshly made. It was presented well. It tasted as good as it looked. It was a Philly done right.

The fries were also fresh out of the frier. They were cooked just right and a good serving size. I was both surprised that they came unsalted and that there wasn't a salt shaker at the table. However, I was able to get one from the counter.

Overall, I had a good dining experience. I am sure I will...

Entering Philly 77 for the first time, I didnt know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with the decor and space. It's not a large space nor too small. We decided to eat inside and try the original philly with regular fries to see how they compared to other philly cheesesteak sandwiches we've tried.

Service was fast, friendly and the food was hot and smelled great. I first noticed the bread was soft and warm. It didnt give or break apart with the weight of its contents. The first bite was delicious! As was the second and third. The fries were perfectly seasoned and warm.

The only issue I had was with myself. I wish i had more of an appetite to have ordered the delicious looking desserts.

After paying and exiting the establishment, the sun was still up and shadows cast onto the outdoor dining area. Even at 93 degrees farenheit, the outdoor space was quite pleasant and we thought it would've been nice to eat outside. We'll definitely be returning with bigger appetites and anticipation of another great dining experience...