Captain Gus’s Steak Shop

The cheesesteak isn’t all that good. The cheese is not even melted at all. Nothing special.

Capt. Gus steak shop has been around for over 49 years! Their staff is Very friendly and serve amazing cheesesteaks!

Don’t believe the hype. I had better cheesesteaks in Ohio. The cheese was not even melted; they placed cold slices of white American cheese on top of a minute steak, and stuffed the garbage into a glorified hotdog roll. Perhaps this place was brilliant years ago, perhaps the yokels are easy to please, maybe it always was bad.

My friend have always told me how great these cheesesteaks are, so when she was in town she brought me one back all the way to California! Capt Gus’ was so awesome that they packed the sandwich a certain way so it would make it back fresh. it was the most delicious cheesesteak I’ve ever had and can’t wait to have another!

This place is overrated… Nothing special about the cheesesteak at all. The cheese wasn’t even melted a little. Barely any steak on it.

I had been away in the Navy for six years and I hadn’t visited the steak shop in the few times I visited home until now!
I got the large steak sandwich with cheese and mushrooms. My total about $ 10 and I don’t think it was worth it.
To start, the warmth and welcome I remember six years ago wasn’t there. Everyone seemed somber and moody and it was not appealing.
My only item of food ordered was not what I remember as the simple and tasty steak sandwich I grew up with! My steak was inundated with dilapidated oregano. The amount of the herbs in the cheap meat reminded me of ancient marketplaces where they overspiced the rancid meat that had spoiled under the hot sun.
My cheese was not melted for the most part and my mushrooms were cold and wet, like they had been dumped directly from the can onto my sandwich. This was further eluded toward when the bottom of my sandwich was saturated and soggy with water. Usually this is where the oil from the meat rests but this was clearly not oil. It was also cold.
I will return for the sake of nostalgia but I’m not happy about it.

I have been to Capt. Gus’s twice. Once, for their «famous» cheesesteaks and second for a burger and fries. Inside, the staff greeted us as we sat at the counter after I looked for a spot that didn’t have soda spilled on the counter. As I look down I hear a crunching and it was my foot in a pile of tortilla chips. Should I tell you the part about the whole place smelling like cat piss? Anyway…
The first visit was last winter and I got a cheesesteak with onions, provolone and sauce. It was just OK, a few minute steaks on a stale bun. The price was decent at $ 7 for a large cheesesteak but I went in with high expectations.
Now onto the burger and fries. The bun and LTO was great. The burger was dry and overlooked and had a chemical taste from the grill cleaner. The cupful of cheese fries was soggy and molded into a putty like substance.
I’m not saying don’t go here but if you are expecting a great cheesesteak then just go to Weis market and buy some steak ‘ums and a nice roll.

Overrated! A Lancaster landmark? Maybe 20 years ago. Now it’s just gross and run down. The hot sandwiches are soggy mush. The floors are dirty and the staff they have hanging on the walls has an inch of dust on it. And why are all the women making the sandwiches missing teeth? Don’t eat here. And good luck with parking…

Cap’n Gus is an institution here. They serve reasonably-​priced sandwiches made to order, and this is part of what makes Lancaster a good place to live, in my opinion.
My advice would be to stick to sandwiches that are cooked, and stay away from cold cuts. I got a spoiled turkey sub there. They replaced it – with something cooked. The cheesesteaks are best with extra meat, and the cheeseburger subs are very good too.
Matt

I’m going to first of all say that I do go here frequently. It is a very cool place, nice local color, and sitting at the bartable is great. I’m also going to say that they really need to take another look at their cheesesteaks if they want to stay relevent.
— Rolls– pretty good, nice flavor, not too overpowering
— Steak– nice quality, but here is the problem. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH MEAT. They need to offer a double portion size, or do something, because in the last year or so, the steak portion has gotten much smaller, and the bread competely overwhelms the steak.
— Cheese– tasty. And thank god they don’t offer Cheese Whiz. Cheese whiz might be a tradition, but it surely doesnt make a cheesesteak better. Unless of course you like the cafeteria quality steaks of Pat’s or Geno’s in Philly.
French Fries are solid. And tons of refills on soda. They practically insist.
And yes, you better eat fast, as the steaks get crazy soggy.
Summary: Captain Gus’s…please, please, please consider raising your meat portions. I don’t mind paying more. You already charge less than $ 5 which is reasonable. I have started going to Cravings instead, because they offer much higher quality steaks. You have the ambience, but you definitely don’t have the goods.

What place in 2012 isn’t ready to accept credit cards? I know the fees are ridiculous, but that’s why everyone else raises prices about 50 cents to a dollar these days.
Beyond the ridiculousness of having an ATM nearby charging $ 1.75 minimum for it to talk to you so you can pull out a $ 20, you have to deal with steak-​ums meat slapped on the most half-​assed buns in the world… Alfred and Sam’s. These rolls are coveted among people who don’t know any better. They get so soggy and lifeless if you don’t consume them right away, so forget about take out.
For a better sandwich in the area go anywhere that at least serves your steak sandwich with Amoroso rolls.

Have lived in the Lancaster area my entire life (over 40 years)…have tried cheese steaks just about everywhere (including Philly) — Captain Gus’s are still the BEST!!!

Wow, this is the most overrated restaurant ive seen for a while. Just because its been there a long time and the décor is cool does not make it delicious or fresh. Its not fresh because the meat is the exact same stuff you get in «Steak Ums» from the store. The fries are dry and frozen. You would get a better cheese steak from any pizzaria in Lancaster. PEople are rude too

Dear So-​Called Cheesesteak Connoisseurs,
Whomever said that this place serves steakums with a lil bit of gound chuck is absolutely right. The Sandwich Factory is the only place in Lancaster that makes authentic cheesesteaks. It is disingenuous, to say the least, to proclaim that these are real cheesesteaks.
«We don’t have any cheese whiz»
Bu-​Bye. Anyone who knows a real cheesesteak knows that you at least need to offer this option.
Just because it is a Lancaster tradition doesn’t make it any good. Let’s look at some other Lan Co. traditions: calling remote controls «gizflippers,» the word «doplic,» the Lancaster Country Club (strictly for Crackers), and Charlie Smithgalls bypass surgeries. Don’t believe the hype. This place is for cheeseteak NOOOBS.
And, yo, Roselle– that is absolutely pathetic that you are a cook and can’t taste the subpar quality of ingredients at this place. I am going to bookmark your profile so that wherever you are currently working is where I currently will not be eating.

Nobody is lying when they say this place has the best cheesesteaks in Lancaster. Get it with sauce and onions, but if you don’t want the tips of your sub soggy, move them away from where the sauce collects in the center of the basket.
They have pinball if you’re trying to dispose of some change, and there are newspaper clipping and photos all around the restaurant. Honestly, if you come here by yourself, you could keep occupied for twenty minutes just reading all of the articles under the glass panes and on the walls.
Captain Gus is still around, but he’s getting older. He still sometimes patrols the tables and talks and does magic tricks. I recommend getting to know some of the staff if you’re planning on returning, as they’re all a friendly crew.

Nice people, maybe, but if the crap they put out in that dilapidated place is the best cheesesteak in Lancaster, then God help you all. First of all it’s steakums with some chopped hamburger thrown in for good measure. Just when you think that people couldn’t have any less sense, people actually have the nerve to compliment the food at this place. If you grew up across the street and have been eatin’ it for 50 years or if you’re so bourgeois that you wouldn’t know the difference between steakum and cheap sirloin, then I understand. But, if you’ve ever actually had a steak at somewhere better than Old Country Buffet, then you should know better.

Mmmm!!! This place has the best cheeseburger subs! The cheesesteaks are delicious, too, but I favor the cheeseburger subs. The fries are good, not the best I’ve ever had, but tasty. The parking can be tight and the décor is a little bland but better now than it was a few years ago when fishing rods (and most likely dust and dirt and all kinds of creepy crawlies hung from the ceiling). There are all kinds of pictures and newspaper articles and other bits of Gus’s history under the glass on the tables so there’s plenty to keep you occupied while you’re waiting for your food to arrive. Not that it’ll take too long. The service is quick and the staff is friendly. I’ll definitely be back!

I’ve always rolled my eyes when people say, «Oh you have to go to Philly to get a REAL cheesesteak,» or, «Aw man, you gotta go to NYC to taste REAL bagels».
C’mon people, it’s not about GEOGRAPHY, it’s about INGREDIENTS. I’m a chef, I know. It’s cheesesteak, not rocket science.
Once you know the basics, the rest is really all about personal preference (kind of cheese, kind of bread, sauce or no sauce, etc.)
ANYWAY, that being said, Captain Gus’s Cheese Steaks ARE GOOD.
This place has been operating for over 41 years… so you KNOW they’re doing something right.
I recommend getting the fish because this shop is first and foremost owned by a legendary fisherman.
Go to the shop, and he’ll be there, Captain Gus, himself… and I dare you to resist his charm. Really, I can say with full confidence that you’ll like this guy.

Always good and inexpensive to eat here. I am not just saying that because I am good friends with the owners. You will not be dissapointed if you come to eat here and you will get your moneys worth for sure. All the subs are good so pick whichever you want. Everything is always fresh and cut daily.

Not much to look at, parking can be tight, but…
one of the better cheese steaks around.
Their well known for them, and they deserve it.
My only complaint, one is not enough, two is too much.
Wish they were a little bigger.