A cheesesteak does not have to come from a city street corner to be taken seriously. In Roanoke, Taste of Philly puts the focus on substantial steak-and-cheese sandwiches: seasoned meat, melted cheese and a fresh Philly-style roll built in sizes that range from a manageable 6 inches to an approximately 20-inch version.
The setting is uncomplicated and casual, which suits the food. This is a small-town Indiana stop for sitting down with a loaded sandwich and a basket of freshly cut potatoes, not a polished dining room trying to turn lunch into a production.
The Sandwich Comes First
The regular Philly cheesesteak is the reason many people pull in. The sandwich is known for tender, juicy steak with noticeable seasoning, melted cheese worked through the meat, and a roll sturdy enough to hold a generous filling without turning the whole meal into a balancing act.
Size is a useful decision point here. A 6-inch option works for a smaller appetite or a straightforward combo, while the 12-inch gives the meal more presence. The approximately 20-inch sandwich is a genuinely oversized order; it has been served in a format where even half looks like a meal.
The larger sizes are not just for show. Add fries and a drink, and lunch can become the sort of order that calls for sharing, saving half for later, or simply accepting that the afternoon may move a little more slowly.
Build It With Peppers, Mushrooms and More
A basic steak-and-cheese sandwich leaves plenty of room for personal preferences. Onions, peppers, mushrooms, mayo and banana peppers are among the additions available, so a first visit need not be a rigid one-size-fits-all affair.
Peppers and mushrooms make a particularly hearty direction for the steak sandwich, adding a little sweetness and earthiness alongside the meat and cheese. Banana peppers take it in a sharper, tangier direction, while onions are the dependable choice for people who want the classic grilled-sandwich rhythm.
There is also a chicken Philly cheese steak for diners who want the same large-format, cheese-and-roll formula with chicken rather than steak. The menu reaches beyond the Philly lineup with choices such as a ham-and-cheese grinder and the Good Grub Sub, useful when a table includes someone whose lunch plans are heading elsewhere.
Fresh-Cut Fries Have Their Own Following
The fries are not an afterthought tucked onto the menu to complete a combo. They are cut from fresh potatoes and arrive as substantial, fair-style or boardwalk-style fries—the sort of side that gives a cheesesteak meal a proper amount of heft.
A basket of them works well for picking at alongside the sandwich, especially with homemade ranch available for dipping. Cheese fries are another option when plain potatoes seem unnecessarily restrained.
Homemade onion rings offer a second strong side choice. They make sense for someone who wants a little more crunch next to the soft roll, melted cheese and juicy filling of the main event.
A Relaxed Roanoke Meal
Taste of Philly keeps the atmosphere basic and local. The interior is compact, with booths and rail-style seating, and some booth seating has also been available outside.
That modest footprint gives the restaurant a practical, drop-in character. You can settle into a booth with a combo, or keep the visit simple and take the sandwich along; call-ahead orders are available as well as dine-in meals.
The staff is known for being friendly and helpful, particularly when someone is staring at the menu and trying to judge sandwich sizes or toppings for the first time. During a dine-in meal, there is an attentiveness that fits the place without making the visit feel formal.
Big Appetites Welcome
The sensible approach is to order according to hunger rather than optimism. A 6-inch combo offers the sandwich, fries and drink arrangement in a smaller package, while a 12-inch with those same additions is a filling order by most standards.
The largest sandwich is where the restaurant's generous style becomes most obvious. It can turn a simple cheesesteak stop into a shareable table spread once fries or onion rings enter the picture.
That generosity is also why the menu works for a mixed lunch outing. One person can keep things modest with a shorter sandwich, while another can go for the long roll and treat the remaining half as tomorrow's lunch.
Useful Details Before You Go
The restaurant has a free parking lot, which keeps the arrival simple. Seating indoors is limited, though, so the space is better suited to a casual meal than a large gathering settling in all at once.
For a quick stop, call-ahead ordering provides another route. The meal is built around food that travels naturally: a wrapped cheesesteak, a container of fries, and perhaps onion rings saved for the drive home if they make it that far.