The Great Steak & Potato

Mediocre Steak and Potato Co
Every now and then I get hankering for a good Philly Cheesesteak, the kind I fell in love with while going to college not too far from Philly. And every time I try to find a place, and every time I’m disappointed. I even tried making ‘em myself. I might have to do that again.
I had a hankering. I saw in the frozen food section of a supermarket some frozen microwavable Philly [sic] cheesesteaks [sic]. They actually weren’t that bad for microwavable cheesesteaks. But it wasn’t the real thing. It wasn’t how I remembered them from many years ago. Then I remembered this place.
I had never been to this place before. I saw the website, and that cheesesteak pictured there sure looked good, and it got my mouth watering. I don’t work too far from this place so I stopped by. This place is located in the downstairs food court section of Union Station. When I arrived, they were having a sort of lunch hour loser karaōke right next to this place. So I had to fight my way through a crowd, and I had to endure some really bad singing to really bad song selections.
At this place you order, and then you sit there and wait while they cook. It was lunchtime, and there were several people waiting. I looked at my receipt, and it didn’t have an order number on it. And because of the loud music, you couldn’t communicate orally with the kitchen staff. I thought to myself, how do they make sure you get what you ordered. I found out that they don’t make sure. I took the bag they gave me and then went and waited for my train. When I opened the bag, I saw that I got somebody else’s order.
I don’t know what I got. It was some steak with iceberg lettuce and two slices of tomatoes. I think there was some cheese in there, but I couldn’t taste it. It actually wasn’t that bad (not much of a compliment, I guess). The bread was fresh. The tomatoes were fresh too. The steak they use looks like the type of frozen Murray’s steak that are found in the frozen food section of a restaurant, but it was higher quality. The iceberg lettuce actually had ice in it. That’s right. I didn’t notice it until I got halfway through the sandwich so it had probably melted a little meaning that it was actually a bit bigger. [I’m all for originality. I’m the first one in the pool. But putting ice on steak sandwich? That’s not going to get people stampeding to your restaurant].
So all-​in-​all, it was a very disappointing experience. The frozen microwavable Philly Cheesesteak from the supermarket was actually better.
The Great Steak and Potato Co wasn’t so great. But that picture on their website sure looks good.

Quick Hot & Super Yummy! A must try if your passing threw Union Station!!! Hey im Definitely a foodie i find love for the 5star as much as the mom and pop greese shacks, so the lesser reviews on Unilocal are definitely from people with a closed mind and a small pallet!!!

At first I was like, «wow, this steak and cheese rocks!!!» and then the love faded… I dont know what happened but its lost its luster. when I first had a philly from them it was the best thing since i actually been to Philly. but the next couple times werent that good. I would give their cheese steak a 6.5 outta 10. the fries were kinda bland and the fountain drink… OMG the soda tasted like seltzer water. When I opened the lid to the cup i saw something black floating around in there… I was highly pissed off. They offered me a bottled drink instead and no explanation… I am not eating there again…

If you find yourself in the Union Station Food Court you are:
A. Part of a school group on a tour of DC.
B. An uncreative and boring Hill staffer who can’t find someone better to eat.
C. A bus or train traveller who got hungry in the wrong place.
I was part of group C last week. This food court is always packed and it’s guaranteed you’ll leave smelling of fried food. Needless to say, I avoid it like the plague. But I was hungry before a bus trip so I grabbed a cheese steak from here mainly just because I saw a lot of burly worker men eating here so I figured they must have known what they were doing.
They grill the steak right in front of you so you can tell it’s fresh. They also throw the bread on the grill, though I wish it had been left on longer to get some nice crispy bits. But they were super slammed at lunch so I don’t fault them.
I would have liked there to be a little more steak juice on it but it was a perfectly acceptable sandwich.

Another pretty decent find at Union Station’s food court. For $ 10 you can get a pretty decent cheese steak. While definitely NOT what I’ve had in Philly, they do a pretty good job of seasoning the meat and serving up a hearty steak sandwich. I usually opt for the the Super Steak Grilled with onions, green peppers, mushrooms & Provolone cheese. I don’t like mayo or lettuce and tomato on it. Just keep it simple, I say. Their fries are your standard frozen variety but in the form of fresh cut potatoes. I really like their bread though. It’s fresh and they lightly toast it on the grill. All in all, an «itis-​worthy» lunch is what you will get at The Great Steak & Potato. Oh and it warms up well in the microwave. I can only eat half of it in one setting as it’s pretty large. Oh and add some Old Bay Seasoning to your fries (they usually have some out on their condiment table). One of the better places to eat in the Union Station food court.

I don’t usually eat at Union Station, but I caught an early train out one day and was stuck in the lunch time rush, so I decided to go down to the lower level and grab a bite to eat. There is so much to choose from, but I eventually chose The Great Steak and Potato company only because I wanted a cheese steak. I came here twice in about 2 weeks and the first time the steak was great it was hot and full of meat. I usually get mine plain with just cheese and ketchup. The first time I went the sandwich was good, the second time I went the bread overpowered the meat, it seems they skimped on the meat the second time around. I got the meal both times which equals about $ 9.
It seems there are some inconsistencies with the products that are served though. The first time I went I ordered the cheese steak meal which came with a drink, a sandwich and fries. I was given a bottle drink, which I was extremely happy with because I was taking the food to go on the train. The second time i went the lady only offered me a fountain drink, which obviously couldn’t go in my bag on the train. I am kind of annoyed with the inconsistencies with both the product and the service.

I had a chicken terriyaki sub with fries. It was hot and sloppy but oh so yummy. A good place to grab lunch while at Union. Try it, you’ll like it, and if not that’s cause you’re one of those vegetarian vegans I read about on the Internets.
And if you are one of those, I’m sure you could eat the french fries and a BLT without the B. So go there right now unless, you’re craving one of the nine billion other food places in the basement. Meh, what do I care.