What are your thoughts on Penn Station?

I know they're a chain, but I really like their food. I dunno how "authentic" they are, as they claim to be East Coast subs. I've never eaten a true Philly cheesesteak or italian beef in Chicago and I'm sure the real thing is far superior to Penn Station, however I can't recall ever having a bad meal there.

I've tried almost everything on the menu but nowadays for the most part I stick to the cheesesteaks w/ peppers and onions or sausage and peppers w/ pizza sauce. In my experience the ingredients are always fresh and everything is cooked to order and served piping hot. I love their lemonade as well. Here's a tip, next time you go and get fries use malt vinegar as a condiment rather than ketchup, I just discovered this yesterday... yum!

Anyways I guess the point of this thread is just to get your opinions, especially if you happen to have had cheesesteaks in Philly or anything else you would call an East Coast sub. Maybe even take it a step further and suggest your favorite subs/sandwiches here locally.

I don't eat there often, like once every 18 months, but ever so often I have to get a grilled artichoke with fresh mushrooms. If you are aware of any local place that serves this, please let me know, because then I could get my "fix" more often.

Okay, Annemarie, let's set a date and meet at a Penn Station!

In Etown, it's the best philly cheesesteak I can get. I also like that they have malt vinegar for their fries.

Those fries are like dope !

As this kind of place goes I like it.

I like their fries too.

A customer of mine comes in every week to get a cheesesteak and picks up his fries from Penn Station on the way home.

I have never been and had never heard of Penn Station till i moved here; but my husband loves their fries and lemonade.

I love em...I frequent the Hurstbourne location at least twice a month. It's a chain out of Cincinnati(not quite the East Coast) so if you understand Skyline Chili for what it is, then you get this place. They do what they do pretty darn good. The lemonade gives Chic-Fil-A a run for their money. I'm fond of the steak and the Reuben is tasty as well! And if you can get the fries when they're right out of the fryer, you've got it going' on!

LOVE IT. At least once a month for me for lunch.

Only problem I have is if I eat there too often people start referring to me as "Round Boy"

John eats lunch there at least once a week. I go less often, but I've always been happy with what I've gotten. I thin they're a great example of an excellent chain/franchise concept executed correctly. They are super-consistent, very clean, and I think since a lot of their prep area is visible it helps keep their cleanliness "honest" (this is just a guess though). Staff always seems very well-trained. There is ALWAYS a manager within eyesight. And the fries are delicious.

I wouldn't say their Philly is authentic, but that notwithstanding, I really do like their sandwiches and like someone else said, their fries are crack.

I refused to go for quite a long time, due to the following mishap. My wife and I went to the one on Bardstown Road, walking distance for us, and got some food totaling roughly $15.00. This was close to a year and a half ago. I paid with my National City debit card. We flew out the following morning for St. Louis to attend a wedding. After checking into our hotel, I checked my bank account to find out that Penn Station had not only debited the cost of our food, but also made some 6 or 7 additional debits ranging from $40 to $90, totaling more than $400. I immediately called the bank, who put a hold on my account, canceled that debit card, etc. Now, this was rather frustrating as I was out of town, and they couldn't refund the money until I got back into town and filled out a fraud report. In the meantime, and even after the hold was placed on my account, Penn Station debited out additional debits totaling another $200 or so.

The bank ultimatley refunded the money and conducted a fraud investigation--unforunately, they wouldn't report to me the results of that. The hassle was extreme - we had NO access to our cash during our four day trip. I suppose it could have been some kind of glitch with Penn Station's credit card reader, or it was some kid who kept making these debits and took cash out of the register. Either way, I'll never know.

I doubt it would happen again, but if I go to that location now, it's cash only.

To the question, "are they authentic East Coast subs?" the answer is no. For a sub chain they do a pretty good job. The Philly is not authentic and on the East Coast sandwiches are traditionally served on crusty bread. I agree that the fries and lemonade rock!

I enjoy their French Fries every now and then; especially since that are fried in cholesterol-free peanut oil.