Philly Cheesesteak Factory USA has replaced Uncle Philly's at the corner of Routes 516 and 79 in Matawan. (I've edited this article after learning additional information and visiting the place myself. Attached comments relate to my earlier article but still provide you with information you may find helpful, including comments from customers and a response from someone purporting to be the owner.)
My wife and I visited the new cheese steak shop this evening (19 October 2010). The place is bright and shiny, with plenty of seating and three large flat-screen televisions playing the Yankee game. Parking was ample. The staff was very young but pleasant and polite. They had a waitress serving tables and a couple of cooks toiling in the kitchen. The young manager and waitress both checked on us several times to make sure our meal was ok.
We each enjoyed a large cheese steak, fries, and a bottomless fountain soda. Our combo meals came with a couple of onion rings, but we wanted more, so we ordered one side order of onion rings to share. Unfortunately that extra order came with only five onion rings and cost an amazing FIVE DOLLARS -- a dollar per onion ring. Overall, the meal was good but seemed pricey at $31.00.
BTW, this new shop -- it's been open only 3 weeks and is quite busy -- also has hamburgers, wings, hot dogs, and desserts. They deliver.
Uncle Phillies was the previous owners and I was a loyal customer. I went to this new one the Cheesesteak Factory and it was terrible. It tasted like a steak ums. I could have cooked it at my house. The people who worked behind the counter were very unprofessional and the food was not good. Also the girls working the counter were in a heated argument putting down the former owners in front of customers who are waiting to pay. I was embarresed for the new business owners,in how their staff was conducting themselves. I was a loyal Uncle Philly customer so I feel that they should not have to talk bad about the last owner rather they should let the food do the talking for them.
ReplyDeleteAs the owner, I apoligize if you had to witness any dispute between employees(one old and one new the old is gone). Philly cheeseskeak factory has no affiliation to the previous owners. The previous owner retired and new owners took over. The menu is similar and has many new items that distinguishes it from its former owner. The product is a superior certified angus RIB EYE steak and a quality Amarosa hoagie which happens to be rated #1 HOAGIE. We use only top quality and the freshest ingrediants and produce delivered daily. THERE IS NO NEED TO GO TO PHILLY THE BEST CHEESESTEAKS BURGERS DOGS AND WINGS are IN MATAWAN NJ
ReplyDeleteI miss Uncle Philly's! This is DEFINITELY not the same, and these are DEFINITELY not the best cheesesteaks. Last one I got had grainy wiz, and barely any meat. Keeps getting worse and worse.
ReplyDeleteWas there saturday night and the line was out the door and there was a 30 minute wait for a table. Everyone was raving about the food and must say it was one of the better cheesesteaks ive ever had. The $3 special of hand cut fries onion rings and drink is a great deal. The wiz was great and the cheesesteaks had plenty of meat and fresh onions and peppers. The place is clean and the staff is friendly offering free samples of chilli and pulled pork to those waiting. The wait was not bad they have 3 tvs with all the games going.
ReplyDeleteI have revised my article on the Philly Cheesesteak Factory after visiting the place this evening.
ReplyDeleteI went there a couple of weeks ago and my experience was less than satisfactory. The hand cut fries were soggy and kinda gross (UNCLE PHILLY'S WERE SO MUCH BETTER!). I also had a hot dog, which as promised was a decent sized order. The chili on the hot dog was pretty wet and soaked through the bread, but otherwise it was okay.
ReplyDeleteFood aside,
The staff wasn't exceptional either. Everyone looked bored and I did not feel welcomes by our waitress, I almost got the impression that she found serving us annoying. The staff, other than the cooks, seemed to just be hanging out and watching TV, which is completely unprofessional and made it feel like i was in some sort of sports club rather than a restaurant. On a further note, when i walked in there were three tables dirty (food chunks and dirty napkins) and when i was ready to leave the same three tables were still uncleaned. Maybe the waitress wouldn't look so bored if they were actually cleaning up after the customers like she were supposed to. Since i live in the area i drive past the Cheesesteak factory a number of times and it always seems to be closed, even on saturdays and fridays where you'd think this sort of business would be open till at least 11, but whatever.
All in all, I wish this new business the best of luck and hopefully the owners will learn something from these reviews (PS TO THE OWNER WHO COMMENTED BEFORE; maybe you should have fired the new waitress instead, the ones at the old Uncle Philly's knew how to clean tables at least). I actually found out that the OLD Uncle Philly's has a new place open somewhere in Orange, and I'd much sooner go out of my way and travel all the way down there than go back to the Philly Cheesesteak Factory USA.
When I visited a month ago, the restaurant was clean, the food more than satisfactory, and the staff reasonably pleasant. And they were open as advertised. If you've visited in the past month or two, would you kindly post a brief comment or send me an email?
ReplyDeleteI was an old customer of the old Uncle Philly's the owner's pride made us aware of the fact that he was selling to the cheesesteak factory and encouraged us to continue to support the new place and always said good things about the new owners coming in and always wishing them the best of luck. On Uncle Philly's words i tried out the new place and I was disappointed to see that the new owners did not have that same friendly attitude. I was totally surprised that the encouragement of the old owner's support of the cheesesteak factory and totally disappointed in the new owner's attitude and their employees towards Uncle Philly's. Uncle Philly's cheesesteaks speak for themselves and were voted number 1 in New Jersey for a very good reason. Me and many of our friends wish Uncle Philly's would come back. Good luck to the old Uncle Philly's, we miss you!
ReplyDelete-Mike Dinnocenzo
I find it hard to beleive that the staff at the new philly cheesesteak factory was anything less then friendly and accomodating. Ive been there several times with my family and they always took care of us and offered my kids free dessert or extra stuff. The girls working there are polite and knowlegable of the products. As for the old uncle philly I was a customer as well and when i asked where he was they told me he retired. On the food the new place has great cheesesteaks and there wings are the best in the area. You can definately taste the differance. jerry
ReplyDeleteI WILL NEVER ORDER FROM PHILLY CHEESESTEAK FACTORY AGAIN! Here's why -- I remembered that there was a cheesesteak place in matawan, so I googled "matawan philly cheese steak". The only website that came up was for Uncle Philly's Cheesesteaks; I liked the prices, so I called the number on the menu and placed my order. When it came, I was shocked to find I was being charged 35% more than the prices listed online! I immediately called and was told the place is under new ownership -- that's all well and good, but then why haven't they posted their menu online? At minimum, they should have changed their phone number. $5.00 for 6 onion rings???? You've got to be kidding! I will NEVER order from Philly Cheesesteak Factory again, and I think their marketing practices (not posting their own website and letting people think the old prices still hold) border on fraudulent. Just my opinion!
ReplyDeleteBoth menus are online, with two sets of prices. If Uncle Phil's is out of business, why is the website still up?
ReplyDeleteHere are links to both active menus, one active and one obsolete:
Uncle Phil's menu
Philly Cheesesteak Factory menu
I live in aberdeen and Ive gotten a philly cheesesteak menu to my house several times in the last 3 months and have been to their restaurant several times which is very clean and has a nice atmoshere and they have all new signs and banners all over the place saying under new ownership. The food is really great and the staff very friendly. If you think the onion rings are too expensive and the prices too high then dont order. There must be a reason for the difference in price either the quality of the product has changed or the size of the food item is larger. Im sure both play a roll in the increase in prices. go to phillycheesesteakfactoryusa.com for updated menu and prices.
ReplyDeleteBob
I'm closing comments on this topic. Suffice it to say that some folks enjoy the new cheesesteak shop, while others pine for the previous owner. I suggest that you try the place yourself. I enjoyed the food and the staff. The prices could have been better, but I think Wendy's is expensive.
ReplyDeleteDear anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI am the owner of Philly cheese steak factory. Our website is phillycheesesteakfactoryusa.com. I am not able to take down the old owners website because it is not mine. As far as the phone number why would I ever change a number that people know. My price are a few shekels more, but that is what happens when you change the quality of the food. We use certified angus ribeye. The old owner used sirloin. My bread is the best in the area, and for my onion rings I use the same rings as old homestead steakhouse in Atlantic city. I invite you to come to the restaurant and I will treat you to the best meal you have had in while. Yours truly doug
Have been enjoying Philly Cheesesteak Factory for a couple months now. every time I go the staff is always polite and helpful. the food is alway very good and I like that they give a larg amount of fries. I have ordered everything from cheesesteaks to hotdogs and has never had a reason to complain..always excellent! take my advice and give the place a try. You will love it!
ReplyDeleteBeen to philly cheesesteak factory several times with my buddies and the food is always consistantlly good. The wings with the fireman lee sauce is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteJust had one of their HUMUNGUS gourmet burgers and it was delicious. Came with hand cut fries and a drink for $9.95. FYI the place was well air conditioned and also has outdoor seating.
ReplyDelete