Just like Maryland crab cakes are not always made in Maryland, Philly cheesesteaks are not always made in Philadelphia. Proving the point, Geno’s Steaks is opening a location in Maryland for the first time.
Power Plant Live! in Downtown Baltimore will be where Geno’s makes its Maryland debut, and where Philly expats can go for a taste of home. Think of it as an intercity culinary collaboration or exchange.
Geno’s Steaks opened in South Philly in 1966 and is in the same building in which it opened over half a century ago. The origins of cheesesteaks, however, go back even decades further.
“The cheesesteak originates from a boredom with hot dogs rather than some great culinary revelation,” wrote Tom Burson in a 2024 National Geographic article. Yes, National Geographic spotlighted the delicacy in a piece produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Burson told the story of Pat Olivieri, an Italian-American who in 1930 had a hot dog cart in South Philly. In the mood for a change, he ordered some scraps of beef from the butcher instead of the usual wiener sausages, cooked them with some onions and put them into a hot dog bun.
“A passing cabdriver was intrigued and asked for the same thing,” Burson wrote. “[A]fter eating the sandwich, the driver said, ‘Hey… forget ’bout those hot dogs, you should sell these.’”
Cheese was added a decade later when “Cocky Joe” Lorenza of Pat’s King of Steaks added provolone. The concoction became an instant hit, and in the mid-1960s, Geno’s Steaks opened right across the street from Pat’s.
The Baltimore Geno’s restaurant is not going to be open 24/7 like the one in Philly, but it will be open fairly late into the night. The Baltimore location is expected to open in early 2026.
It’s actually a tourist trap because real Philly “expats” will stop there if they’re in the area and tolerate the grease, but the local pizza joints have the best cheese steaks. And you better have your order ready because it’s with wiz and it’s fast and cash only. Geno’s and Pats are Philly native tourist traps. Come here from someone with deep filly ties and his ex-husband was born and raised in Philly and only went there, or Pats,depending on how long the line if they were working in the area. But if you’re going to go you better be ready because I dated a New Yorker who said he thought in New Yorkers were bad until he still in line at a local joint you don’t look at the menu you know exactly what you want when you walk in. Good luck.
Okay having phone problems, I don’t spell or use punctuation that poorly. I’m shopping around for a new one so excuse the errors but real Philadelphians know exactly what I mean.
Not going to be open 24 7. Wtf are you kiddin me come on