I almost didn't get a cheesesteak here because of the relatively low rating on Yelp but I'm so glad I did. It was delicious! I got the cheesesteak with provolone, sweet peppers, mayo, bacon, mushrooms and onions. I was there at 5:30pm on a Thursday and it wasn't a long line. I was able to order fast and it was ready in about 5 minutes. It was piping hot and still hot by the time I got back to my hotel. So so good. I wasn't sure about the bacon but really glad I got it, it wasn't overwhelming and really added a nice flavor. And the mayo was also really the perfect amount. I would come back here in a second!
Louis L.
Almost had to give this a 2, but I'm feeling generous. We were short on time, and instead of visiting a less obvious choice, we wound up at Reading Terminal and the only place in there I would get a sandwich was closed. So here we came. This experience is miserable, and the payoff just isn't there. You'll wait in a huge line, then pay and they give you a bag, then you have to go to the other side of a seating area and wait another 30-40 minutes for your food, constantly being told not to stand here or there, or move up by a pretty gruff line facilitator. I almost don't blame him, because it is Reading Terminal and he needs to keep things clear for the other merchants, but it is not a pleasant experience. And then you get your cheesesteak. I had the classic (philly/whiz/with as that is always my first try for a new place). The meat was bland, the cheese wasn't spread throughout, the bread was soggy, and it just isn't worth it for a sandwich you can get in a pizzeria anywhere, not just in Philadelphia. Don't recommend.
Andrey P
This is a great authentic place. The sandwiches are huge for the price. Cheesesteaks are great, we love the amount of meet in a bun, and the texture of it. And they got my name right without spelling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, The Classic
A.M J
Read the bad reviews, but I wanted to give it a try anyway it wasn’t nasty but the steak was tasteless.
Thomas V.
Not the best cheesesteak I've had, but definitely not the worst, either. Everything was fresh, and for having a wrap-around line during the lunch rush at Reading Terminal Market, the service was pretty quick. There was just something lacking... it wasn't too flavorful, and the bread wasn't amazing. It was also a little oily (wiz wit) rather than savory. With so many other options in Philadelphia for cheesesteaks, let alone varied food options in Reading Terminal Market itself, I don't think I'd get Spataro's again.
Christine O.
Awful customer service. There's a reason why this place is rated poorly. Plenty of other cheese steaks like Molly Mallory's or Tommy DiNicks.
C
Great cheesesteak! There is a bit of a line however if you go during lunch time, so expect to wait about 20-30 minutes from when you line up to order to when you actually get your food.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Steak
Michelle Hamilton
Counter chick cussed me because I took my friends ticket. Also very few toppings and bland meat
Zach Heng
On a bustling Sunday afternoon at Reading Terminal, Spataro's Cheesesteaks beckoned my family and I amidst the symphony of hungry patrons. Despite the sea of about 40-50 people, the line was fairly swift, with a total wait of around 20 minutes for both ordering and pick-up--a testament to Spataro's efficiency in the eye of the lunchtime storm.We embarked on a cheesesteak voyage with two variants: one donning the classic cheese whiz armor and the other garbed in provolone, both escorted by sautéed onions. While the journey had its flavors, the cheese played more of a cameo than a starring role, whispering rather than belting its lines which left us slightly underwhelmed. The bread, rather than lifting the ensemble, added a chewy solo that wasn't quite in harmony with my sandwich expectations.The atmosphere, lively and electric, set the stage for what could have been a culinary standing ovation, yet the performance, though spirited, left me yearning for something more.In the heart of Philly's food mecca, Spataro's holds promise with its brisk service and spirited energy. But sadly, it didn't quite live up to the hype that the city is known for across the lands.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Ash M
Honestly. It’s a good friggen cheese steak. But $14.75 a pop?! Ridiculous. They really play on the tourists visiting the market.
Very blah , not a lot of cheese . Pricy but that's just because there in the reading market
Zach H.
On a bustling Sunday afternoon at Reading Terminal, Spataro's Cheesesteaks beckoned my family and I amidst the symphony of hungry patrons. Despite the sea of about 40-50 people, the line was fairly swift, with a total wait of around 20 minutes for both ordering and pick-up--a testament to Spataro's efficiency in the eye of the lunchtime storm. We embarked on a cheesesteak voyage with two variants: one donning the classic cheese whiz armor and the other garbed in provolone, both escorted by sautéed onions. While the journey had its flavors, the cheese played more of a cameo than a starring role, whispering rather than belting its lines which left us slightly underwhelmed. The bread, rather than lifting the ensemble, added a chewy solo that wasn't quite in harmony with my sandwich expectations. The atmosphere, lively and electric, set the stage for what could have been a culinary standing ovation, yet the performance, though spirited, left me yearning for something more. In the heart of Philly's food mecca, Spataro's holds promise with its brisk service and spirited energy. But sadly, it didn't quite live up to the hype that the city is known for across the lands.
J. W.
Local favorite that's not bad! The wrap around line included locals and tourists (like me). If the locals like it, it must be good, right? First off, I didn't realize that the "original" Philly cheesesteak was minced ribeye with cheese whiz/nacho cheese. I couldn't quite do The Original and opted for The Royale which had provolone cheese, steak, grilled onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard. My cheesesteak would have probably been better, but the grilled steak and onions sat on the corner of the grill while there was a shift change among the grillers and the new guy needed to clean the grill top before continuing to make more cheesesteaks (it's a really fast & efficient assembly line). I liked the taste of the cheesesteak, but the steak was a little overcooked and dry, and the ketchup and mustard stuck to the wrapper instead of my cheesesteak. The pickles were a good punch of flavor and moisture, so I'd recommend them if you like pickles. This shop is located in the Reading Terminal Market so it was a fun visit!
Melissa F.
I really wanted to try a Philly cheesesteak while visiting Philly and felt like Reading Terminal Market was a great place to try one! The line was long but it moved quickly. It was a greasy Philly cheesesteak but that's the point, right? I got the sandwich and fries. The fries were a little undercooked for my preference but overall this was a tasty meal for a quick Philly sandwich!
adrian l.
Pretty good cheesesteak! But beef was a bit dry :( sautéed mushroom and onions were tasty
I almost didn't get a cheesesteak here because of the relatively low rating on Yelp but I'm so glad I did. It was delicious! I got the cheesesteak with provolone, sweet peppers, mayo, bacon, mushrooms and onions. I was there at 5:30pm on a Thursday and it wasn't a long line. I was able to order fast and it was ready in about 5 minutes. It was piping hot and still hot by the time I got back to my hotel. So so good. I wasn't sure about the bacon but really glad I got it, it wasn't overwhelming and really added a nice flavor. And the mayo was also really the perfect amount. I would come back here in a second!
Almost had to give this a 2, but I'm feeling generous. We were short on time, and instead of visiting a less obvious choice, we wound up at Reading Terminal and the only place in there I would get a sandwich was closed. So here we came. This experience is miserable, and the payoff just isn't there. You'll wait in a huge line, then pay and they give you a bag, then you have to go to the other side of a seating area and wait another 30-40 minutes for your food, constantly being told not to stand here or there, or move up by a pretty gruff line facilitator. I almost don't blame him, because it is Reading Terminal and he needs to keep things clear for the other merchants, but it is not a pleasant experience. And then you get your cheesesteak. I had the classic (philly/whiz/with as that is always my first try for a new place). The meat was bland, the cheese wasn't spread throughout, the bread was soggy, and it just isn't worth it for a sandwich you can get in a pizzeria anywhere, not just in Philadelphia. Don't recommend.
This is a great authentic place. The sandwiches are huge for the price. Cheesesteaks are great, we love the amount of meet in a bun, and the texture of it. And they got my name right without spelling.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, The Classic
Read the bad reviews, but I wanted to give it a try anyway it wasn’t nasty but the steak was tasteless.
Not the best cheesesteak I've had, but definitely not the worst, either. Everything was fresh, and for having a wrap-around line during the lunch rush at Reading Terminal Market, the service was pretty quick. There was just something lacking... it wasn't too flavorful, and the bread wasn't amazing. It was also a little oily (wiz wit) rather than savory. With so many other options in Philadelphia for cheesesteaks, let alone varied food options in Reading Terminal Market itself, I don't think I'd get Spataro's again.
Awful customer service. There's a reason why this place is rated poorly. Plenty of other cheese steaks like Molly Mallory's or Tommy DiNicks.
Great cheesesteak! There is a bit of a line however if you go during lunch time, so expect to wait about 20-30 minutes from when you line up to order to when you actually get your food.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Steak
Counter chick cussed me because I took my friends ticket. Also very few toppings and bland meat
On a bustling Sunday afternoon at Reading Terminal, Spataro's Cheesesteaks beckoned my family and I amidst the symphony of hungry patrons. Despite the sea of about 40-50 people, the line was fairly swift, with a total wait of around 20 minutes for both ordering and pick-up--a testament to Spataro's efficiency in the eye of the lunchtime storm.We embarked on a cheesesteak voyage with two variants: one donning the classic cheese whiz armor and the other garbed in provolone, both escorted by sautéed onions. While the journey had its flavors, the cheese played more of a cameo than a starring role, whispering rather than belting its lines which left us slightly underwhelmed. The bread, rather than lifting the ensemble, added a chewy solo that wasn't quite in harmony with my sandwich expectations.The atmosphere, lively and electric, set the stage for what could have been a culinary standing ovation, yet the performance, though spirited, left me yearning for something more.In the heart of Philly's food mecca, Spataro's holds promise with its brisk service and spirited energy. But sadly, it didn't quite live up to the hype that the city is known for across the lands.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Honestly. It’s a good friggen cheese steak. But $14.75 a pop?! Ridiculous. They really play on the tourists visiting the market.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Very blah , not a lot of cheese . Pricy but that's just because there in the reading market
On a bustling Sunday afternoon at Reading Terminal, Spataro's Cheesesteaks beckoned my family and I amidst the symphony of hungry patrons. Despite the sea of about 40-50 people, the line was fairly swift, with a total wait of around 20 minutes for both ordering and pick-up--a testament to Spataro's efficiency in the eye of the lunchtime storm. We embarked on a cheesesteak voyage with two variants: one donning the classic cheese whiz armor and the other garbed in provolone, both escorted by sautéed onions. While the journey had its flavors, the cheese played more of a cameo than a starring role, whispering rather than belting its lines which left us slightly underwhelmed. The bread, rather than lifting the ensemble, added a chewy solo that wasn't quite in harmony with my sandwich expectations. The atmosphere, lively and electric, set the stage for what could have been a culinary standing ovation, yet the performance, though spirited, left me yearning for something more. In the heart of Philly's food mecca, Spataro's holds promise with its brisk service and spirited energy. But sadly, it didn't quite live up to the hype that the city is known for across the lands.
Local favorite that's not bad! The wrap around line included locals and tourists (like me). If the locals like it, it must be good, right? First off, I didn't realize that the "original" Philly cheesesteak was minced ribeye with cheese whiz/nacho cheese. I couldn't quite do The Original and opted for The Royale which had provolone cheese, steak, grilled onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard. My cheesesteak would have probably been better, but the grilled steak and onions sat on the corner of the grill while there was a shift change among the grillers and the new guy needed to clean the grill top before continuing to make more cheesesteaks (it's a really fast & efficient assembly line). I liked the taste of the cheesesteak, but the steak was a little overcooked and dry, and the ketchup and mustard stuck to the wrapper instead of my cheesesteak. The pickles were a good punch of flavor and moisture, so I'd recommend them if you like pickles. This shop is located in the Reading Terminal Market so it was a fun visit!
I really wanted to try a Philly cheesesteak while visiting Philly and felt like Reading Terminal Market was a great place to try one! The line was long but it moved quickly. It was a greasy Philly cheesesteak but that's the point, right? I got the sandwich and fries. The fries were a little undercooked for my preference but overall this was a tasty meal for a quick Philly sandwich!
Pretty good cheesesteak! But beef was a bit dry :( sautéed mushroom and onions were tasty