January 16, 2013
I can't stop thinking of that delicious sonovabetch! Filled with perfectly seasoned beef, firey cherry peppers (our substitution), onions, mushrooms, and topped with gooey mozzarella, our cheesesteak from Alex's Brown Bag inside Latitude 32 was surely one of the best sandwiches we've eaten since moving to San Diego from NJ three years ago.
A walk up window located inside the relaxed bar of Latitude 32, on Cass Street in North Pacific Beach, Alex's Brown Bag makes an array of sandwiches, burgers, and their specialty - cheesesteaks. Owner Jim Mullen hails from the suburbs of Philadelphia and grew up on the most famous cheesesteaks in the world. An avid sports fan, especially hockey, Jim is friendly, funny, and damn does he do his hometown proud with his take on the classic sandwich.
Of the huge selection of sandwiches on the menu, we went with a 12" classic cheesesteak ($8.95), merely substituting the regular peppers with spicy cherry peppers (really hot). The vegetables are cooked in with the meat, so every bite gives you the combination of onion, mushroom, chillis, salt and peppered beef, and melted cheese. The bread is the ideal consistency, enveloping the interior ingredients like a thin, crusty shell. Our one wish is that we had the wherewithal to specify provolone for our cheese of choice rather than mozzarella. Although the fresh motz was gooey and delicious, my memory of a classic cheesesteak includes the sharpness of provolone. Be sure to grab a drink or two if you plan on getting hot peppers - we cooled our scorched taste buds with an icy pitcher of Racer 5 IPA.
Latitude 32 has happy hour every day during the week, great beers on tap, wines by the glass, a full bar, and daily $6.95 food specials including Thursday's famed Philly Burger! Alex's Brown Bag and Latitude 32 are located at 5019 Cass Street in Pacific Beach. Though Latitude 32 is open daily 'til midnight, Alex's Brown Bag is only open 'til 9 PM Sunday through Wednesday and 10 PM Thursday through Saturday. For more information, visit the website and be sure to follow on Facebook.
Of the huge selection of sandwiches on the menu, we went with a 12" classic cheesesteak ($8.95), merely substituting the regular peppers with spicy cherry peppers (really hot). The vegetables are cooked in with the meat, so every bite gives you the combination of onion, mushroom, chillis, salt and peppered beef, and melted cheese. The bread is the ideal consistency, enveloping the interior ingredients like a thin, crusty shell. Our one wish is that we had the wherewithal to specify provolone for our cheese of choice rather than mozzarella. Although the fresh motz was gooey and delicious, my memory of a classic cheesesteak includes the sharpness of provolone. Be sure to grab a drink or two if you plan on getting hot peppers - we cooled our scorched taste buds with an icy pitcher of Racer 5 IPA.
Latitude 32 has happy hour every day during the week, great beers on tap, wines by the glass, a full bar, and daily $6.95 food specials including Thursday's famed Philly Burger! Alex's Brown Bag and Latitude 32 are located at 5019 Cass Street in Pacific Beach. Though Latitude 32 is open daily 'til midnight, Alex's Brown Bag is only open 'til 9 PM Sunday through Wednesday and 10 PM Thursday through Saturday. For more information, visit the website and be sure to follow on Facebook.