I've never been to Pittsburgh, home of the Super Bowl champion Steelers. But I have been to Giordano Brothers, the West Coast version of Pittsburgh's famous Primanti Brothers sandwich chain. Founded in the 1930s, Primanti Brothers originally catered to truckers on the go with sandwiches encompassing a side of french fries and coleslaw between two slices of bread.
Rumored to be a fave of Mario Batali, the legendary Steeler city sandwich requires a champion appetite. Hungry with curiosity, I ventured to San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, where some Pittsburgh natives founded Giordano Brothers to serve similar all-in-one sandwiches to unsuspecting Californians. For the hot, gooey details, read more.
At Giordano Brothers, the sandwiches are served on thick-cut slices of freshly baked Italian loaf. The bread is left untoasted, so it's easier to squish over the pile of fixin's, which include provolone cheese, seasoned fries, and oil and vinegar coleslaw.
Most of the menu focuses on Italian meats, cooked hot on the griddle, though vegetarians can opt for fried egg. I went for hot coppa, which (as the FAQ sign explains) is sort of like prosciutto. Either way, the combination of warm, crispy-on-the-outside fries and grilled protein makes the cheese melt perfectly, even on untoasted bread. The result is nothing if not hearty, best served with a few dashes of the tableside hot sauce.
Though the sandwich looks daunting, it all actually squashes down quite comfortably, though I can't really say the same for how it sits in your stomach. Still, I'd definitely eat another one. Would you dare to try it?
Miss Avant Premiere
Drykorn
Marc Jacobs
That's not a sandwich, that's a heart attack waiting to happen - the calories of an entire day at one meal
1OMG!!! you actually put a sandwich from my hometown on here. This place rocks and I love love love love this sandwich.
Flying - It's not what it appears, yeah you are stuffed after eating this but not heart attack waiting to happen stuffed.
I recommend this place to anyone who's in Pittsburgh or Florida for that matter.
2NO THANKS!
3I really love coleslaw on sandwiches (bbq especially), so I'm up for it. I'd rather eat the fries on the side though.
4Uggh I saw that place on travel channel and the woman who makes those monstrously huge sandwiches. The site of that sandwich which looks like it weighs at least 3 to 4 pounds made my stomach hurt. I could imagine the bloat , the pain from trying to cram that sucker in my gut. Most of all I imagined my blood pressure skyrocketing and my cholesterol climbing higher than a Sequoia.
It sounds ok - I would not order one but if a friend or family member bought one I'd like to take just one bite to see what it tastes like. Then I'd probably have to lay down for a few hours to recover from that one bite.
5Being from Pittsburgh, I've had my share of these at various authentic (and not-so-authentic) shops, and I have to say, I think Giordano Bros. beats the original Primanti's, at least for my tastebuds. I like that the coleslaw is oil and vinegar instead of really heavy mayo, and the meats (I've had salami and turkey) are always done perfectly. I usually end up losing about half the fries through squishing, but I just eat them off the plate later!
Also, if you're in SF and looking for a place to watch the Steelers play, Giordano's cant be beat. Just sayin'.
6I saw them making this sandwich on Travel Channel too. And yeah, it kinda grossed me out. Like, why would you want to mix all that crap up on a sandwich and eat it? Talk about a buttload of calories and you probably can't really enjoy them. No thanks!
7Primanti's is a must-go-to place when in Pittsburgh;even if you end up taking half of the sandwich home, it's worth the stop. But, Giordano's is a wonderful alternative--a home away from home stop for us Pittsburghers when visiting in San Francisco. The food and atmosphere are great and you just can't beat watching those Steelers play! A nice slice of "home" when in SF.
8The fries on the sandwich thing isn't that attractive to me... I feel like I might like this sandwich, but then I'd regret it as soon as I finished it - it's way too huge! It may not be a heart attack waiting to happen, but it looks like a stomach ache waiting to happen!
9theres a place in astoria queens that makes sandwiches any way you like, so ive had fires in my sandwich.. its really really good. now im craving it like crazy!!!
10i think it looks good! but then again im starrvvinngg and havent eaten dinner yet
11That does not look appetizing to me at all.
12That's nothing. What you need is a Fat Cat sandwich from the New Brunswick Grease Trucks. Chicken fingers, fries, gyro meat, mozzarella sticks, anything goes on these offerings to the gods of late night post-bar snacking. But cole slaw? That's a vegetable product. While wussier sandwiches might add such things, vegetable products other than ketchup or marinara categorically do not belong on a Fat Cat.
13I hate sams that end up bigger than your head, because you inevitably look sloppy while eating it and get more on your face and in your teeth (or god forbid on your clothes) than in your tummy.
14The perfect end to an evening of "reefer madness".
15some people are such drama queens. a heart attack waiting to happen?! lol
16i'd love to eat that sandwich, looks delicious!
Actually it is a heart attack waiting to happen. A Primanti's cheesesteak has roughly 1,400 calories and 90 grams of fat.
"US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) researcher finds that people at risk for heart disease were 4 times more likely than others to suffer a myocardial infarction (MI) soon after eating a big meal.
The researchers believe there are 2 possible explanations for how a heavy meal could bring on a heart attack. One is that fatty meals may affect the function of the endothelium, the inner layer of the arteries, although details about what the patients ate were not recorded for this study. Another explanation is that eating increases the blood level of norepinephrine, a hormone that acutely raises blood pressure and pulse rate." (medscape)
17OMG!
18Yum! I LOVE Primanti's, but I just moved to Florida, so I am happy to see that apparently I might be able to find one down here.
Its true that you really can only eat half the sandwich at a time, but boy those leftovers are great later!
19I've lived in Pittsburgh and Cleveland and prefer Cleveland's Paninis over Pittsburgh's Primanti's anyday--much better.
On that note--sure they aren't good for you, but that is apparent on it's face, should you eat them everyday--NO! So, people calm down about a heart attack waiting to happen--if you are a naturally healthy person one of these shouldn't kill you!
Lastly, I like mine sooo PLAIN and boring! I just get turkey, cheesse, and fries...no slaw (or eggs like primantis serves).
20That looks so yummy! I would def. try it. I don't think its all that bad as long as you don't eat one everyday. I would still probably try it once.
@Pharma: Girl, I'm in Queens too! What's a good sammie place in Astoria, I don't knw any and I'm dying for a big ol' sandwhich sometimes.
21I love Primanti Brother's. Their egg and cheese with bacon has to be the most perfect late night food ever! And I don't even like coleslaw, so that's saying something.
22okay that looks DELICIOUS!!!
23I don't think I'll be partaking of the sandwich, but I love their chalk board!
24omg Primanti Brothers is delicious and I don't even like coleslaw!
25That looks awesome! I would scarf that down in a second.
26There is a show called Man vs. Wild - i think it shows on the Travel channel, not positive (def. not foodnetwork). The guy takes on all kind of food eating contests. He went to the Primanti sandwich place and ate 3, yes 3!, of those sandwiches in less then a half hour. he had to clean his plates and everything. He killed that challenge.
27That looks terrible! Coleslaw is awful and the sandwich looks like structured slop.
28I agree I hate hate hate coleslaw, but love Primanti Brothers, but only when I'm drunk. I have never gotten a hangover after eating there after a night of partying. When I'm sober I can't stomach it.
29that looks amazing. i'm not a fan of cole slaw but i would def. try it. i put potato chips in my sandwiches... always have and always will... so why not french fries? i'll try the fries next time if i order a sandwich and it comes with fries. YUM.
30shoneyjoe i agree!!! the FAT sandwiches are the best. although they ARE a heart attack on a roll. there is the original Fat Cat which is 2 cheeseburgers and fries on a roll. my PERSONAL favorite which is the Fat Koko which is a Cheesesteak, mozarella sticks, french fries and marinara sauce all on a roll. and there are like 20 other Fat sandwiches. you have to eat them at like 3am when you are slightly less than sober though but they really are fantastic!
31good lord!!
32woo hoo! thanks for featuring a sandwich from my hometown, Yum! i see why people may think this looks gross or like a heart attack waiting to happen..but think about it: most sandwiches have fries and slaw on the side anyways, so putting it all together shouldn't be an issue with your stomach. it's convenient and yummy!!
33Yay, Primanti Bros! Without a doubt, the best thing to eat after leaving the bar at 2am.
I love Pittsburgh!! Go Steelersssssss!!!
34I would try it!
35I would have to at least taste it!
36I have this weird thing where I will NOT eat a sandwich if it's messy-looking or stuff is hanging out of the sides. It makes me crazy.
37it looks so insane that i must have one...
38I've been to primanti's and seeing this pic makes me want to go back to pittsburgh just to get another one of those sandwiches...yummy.
39One hell of a sandwich! Although its prolly a heart attack waiting to happen... I bet its really yummy!
40When I saw the pic I immediately remember watching Man Vs Food on the Travel channel. He ate 3 of these kinds of giant sandwiches here in Chicago at a place named Lucky's.
41oh my gosh. i'm a vegetarian but for some reason i really want this sandwich.
42Sometimes food is not cute and not low calorie. I think the sandwich looks delicious and I would risk getting food on my face and being a little more full than usual if I could indulge in this sandwich. I love being an unpretentious foodie!
43I like stuffing different things onto my sandwich when I'm in a hurry. I've put fries and slaw on many different types of sandwiches and doesn't gross me out.
But I would NOT want someone else to make my sandwich that way for me. In my opinion that sandwich looks a little too messy. Some places may overdo it and therefore they give you a large soggy sandwich. And I don't want any sandwich of mine being soggy.
As for the calories - no matter how they eat it, on the side or combo on top of the sandwich, it all adds up to the same thing when it goes down. And it's not like you couldn't make a healthy sandwich that's mixed like that one too. You gotta respect the vegetarian's that want to mix it up a little too.
44In fact, all self-respecting Pittsburghers order their Primanti sandwiches with a fried egg in them for good measure! It's 50 cents extra but worth it.
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