Primo Hoagies

Everybody claims to have the best. For a chain Primo's is very good. I know the old hog island story having worked at the Navy yard but still most of the south philly hoagies are poor. For the very best Italian sandwich drive south on I95 to rte 452 and go to DeCastanza's every slice of meat is sliced as it goes on the sandwich, the same way they have been doing it since the 1920's. My father as a cab driver in the 40's and 50's would take out of towners down to Chester for a real DeCastanza sandwich.

It is obvious that the people who rate the Primo's sandwich as outta this world do not know what a hoagie is. Plain and simple it's not an hoagie. This comes from a person who's been eating great hoagies in Philly since 1965.

Having lived my life about 4 miles from Hog Island (an area in South Philadelphia where Hoagies originated) and been the chef and owner of my own restaurant for the last 30 years, I can say that I know food and I know a good hoagie. Primo makes an ok sandwich but not a good hoagie. I ordered an Italian Hoagie from the menu and here is what I noticed. THe Roll- sesame encrusted is not Philadelphia - not bad but not for a hoagie. First on the roll was salami(hard). The best hoagies put lettuce tomato and onion on first then peppers or pickles add olive oil and oregano you have the start of a nice antipasta salad on the roll.. The only reason to put salami down first is when you are using vinegar because it makes the roll soggy- quick, The oil,spices and oregano blend great w/ the roll if you let it. Primo doesn't. Next they put lettuce slaw on the roll. You know , lettuce that was sliced so thin on the slicer that it waters down the other flavors and ruins the other great tastes. They then put on a little bit of meat and a disproportionate amout of cheese( over powering the sandwhich). For $20 it was not worth it.

Primos Hoagies are the best around you eat one and you will want a Primo all the time. Not only are their hoagies the best but the staff is friendly and they are pretty quick. Call ahead, order a primo tray great for parties.

If you never had one go and get one for lunch you will not go back to any other hoagie. They know where the cheese on a sandwhich goes. and if you don't know its on the meat not the mayo or oil cause then it will slip and slide. Primo's got a wide variety of sandwhiches which are all delicious. I've tried everyone to try to come up with a complaint but couldn't.

Excellent bread, high quality meats, and tons of variety make it one of the best hoagie shops in Philly.

Primo's Hoagies are excellenet. The rolls are the key, only the top notch. You cannot make a great hoagie with bad rolls. Primo understands this and hence will thrive. The atmosphere was great, just a terrific eating experience.