Are you ready to rumble? Super Bowl LVII is this weekend, and it’s a monumental matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Some of the biggest storylines this year are: this is the first Super Bowl featuring two Black starting quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes; it’s also the first in which two brothers, Jason and Travis Kelce, will battle it out (I wouldn’t want to be at their next Thanksgiving); Rihanna makes a comeback with her halftime show; and Coors airs its first Super Bowl ad in 35 years.
But there’s another storyline as well. The food. For Kansas City fans, like me, in Denver who want to celebrate with a big tray of barbecue, check out my list of favorite barbecue spots around town from the point of view of a Kansas City native. And for Eagles fans, we’ve put together a list of 10 spots around Colorado to satisfy your hankering for a Philly cheesesteak.
The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery
This neighborhood brewpub with a New York/Italian-style deli is a personal favorite of mine, in part because of its cheesesteak. Start with the classic steak and provolone and then load it up with toppings like sautéed mushrooms, peppers, and of course, Cheez Whiz.
4369 Stuart St., Denver; thegratefulgnome.com
Pat’s Philly Steaks & Subs
Pat’s Philly Steaks & Subs is a family-owned business with Philadelphia roots and has been serving up cheesesteaks in Denver since 1999. The sub shop, which has two locations, makes an East Coast-style roll for authenticity and allows you to choose up to three toppings like peppers and mushrooms. Your cheese here is American.
7419 E. Iliff Ave., Denver; 9696 E. Arapahoe Rd. Unit A, Greenwood Village; patscheesesteaks.com
Old Philly Town
Old Philly Town’s name speaks for itself. The cheesesteak joint in Broomfield has been serving Phillies since 1984, and it has 10 different types on its menu, like the Pizza Steak with ribeye steak, grilled onions, topped with mozzarella cheese
and homemade marinara sauce, or the Southerner with ribeye in a smoky & sweet barbeque sauce, grilled onions, lettuce, topped with fried onions and a shredded cheddar blend.
5129 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield; oldphillytown.com
Craftsman Brew Co.
For a spicier cheesesteak to warm you up on a cold winter day in the Colorado mountains, head to Craftsman Brew Co. in Edwards, which just moved into bigger digs, for the Green Chile Philly which chef and owner Chris Schmidt has fashioned from shaved ribeye, griddled onions, hatch chili, provolone and white American on a hoagie.
0105 Edwards Village Blvd., Edwards; craftsmanbrewco.com
Steuben’s
Steuben’s takes its cheesesteak seriously, serving it on an authentic Amoroso roll with chopped ribeye, a cheesy béchamel sauce and a side of giardiniera. Order it as is with steak and cheese or loaded with your favorite veggies.
523 E. 17th Ave., Denver; steubens.com
Taste of Philly and Famous Philly Cheese Steak & Wings
Taste of Philly claims to be the first Colorado restaurant to make authentic cheesesteaks and hoagies, dating back to 1993. Since then, the brand has grown to nearly 20 locations around Colorado, and in 2019, it added Famous Philly Cheese Steak & Wings in Park Hill to its portfolio.
Taste of Philly’s original location: 2432 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver. For more locations visit: tasteofphilly.biz. Famous Philly Cheese Steak & Wings: 2200 Oneida St., Denver; famousphillycheesesteak.com
Chester’s Philly Grill
Chester’s in Aurora makes a mean Philly, serving it quick and steaming hot. If you can’t get enough cheese on your cheesesteak, order a side of the chili cheese fries. And if you like your cheesesteak spicy, order the Spicy Jalapeno Philly.
2195 S. Chambers Rd., Aurora; chestersphillygrill.epipay.com
Denver Ted’s Cheesesteaks
One of the most well-known and well-loved cheesesteak spots in town is Denver Ted’s has been around for 18 years. Not only does it offer the holy trifecta of a traditional Philly — Cheez Whiz, Amoroso rolls and heaping piles of chopped ribeye steak — but you can order a wide variety of local variations like the Helton (with jalapenos and mushrooms), the Peyton (with provolone, marinara sauce and pepperoni) or the Baconator (with mushrooms, bacon and mayo).
2020 Lawrence St., Denver; denverteds.com
Little Arthur’s Hoagies
Little Arthur’s Hoagies first popped up during the pandemic as Jabroni & Sons at Bar Dough. Owner AJ Shreffler was a sous chef at the Highland spot and wanted a way to bring in some extra cash while the restaurant was shut down. Since then, Shreffler has made it a full-time gig, making cheesesteaks, Italian hoagies, meatballs subs and other delicious creations on Italian semolina rolls at various restaurants around town, like Sunny’s Breakfast in Sunnyside. His pop-ups are wildly popular, and sandwiches can sell out within seconds, like the Blacked Out Arty with ground angus beef, American cheese, Cheez Whiz, fried onions, mushrooms and rosemary relish.
Check out Little Arthur’s Hoagies website and Instagram for more info.
