BigFat Philly Sandwich Shop co-owner Mike Brodnick says everything is authentic, down to the bread and the option of Cheez Whiz. (Contributed photo)
BigFat Philly Sandwich Shop (Contributed photo)Name: BigFat Philly Sandwich Shop.
Owners: Anthony “Big Ant” Wallace and Mike “Fat Mike” Brodnick, who have been friends for 15 years.
Opened: Dec. 12, 2016, but Brodnick, who hails from Philadelphia, previously ran a similar restaurant in Chattanooga.
Menu: BigFat’s biggest lure is its Philly cheesesteak, but it has several other mouthwatering options like a Buffalo or BBQ Chicken Philly, 8-inch hoagies and homemade chili, tuna salad and pasta salad. “We like to eat, so we know it’s gonna be good,” Brodnick laughed.
Claim to fame: Everything is authentic – down to the meat and chips, imported from up North. Best of all, the bread comes from Amoroso’s Baking Company, which created the very first cheesesteak roll. “It’s an authentic Philly cheesesteak – from the bread to the cheese to the person who’s cooking it,” said Brodnick.
What you won’t find anywhere else: Cheez Whiz, a cheese sauce made by Kraft that is huge in Philadelphia but harder to find in Georgia. “Typically,” Brodnick explained, “if you want a really good cheesesteak, you’re gonna get a cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz.”
Prices: In a word: cheap. A classic Philly is just $5.50. “We’re not trying to get rich, we’re just trying to stay in business a long time,” said Brodnick.
Reviews: “It’s been five-star reviews across the board,” Brodnick said. “Nothing bad since the day we opened – knock on wood.” But don’t just take their word for it; you can see their reviews for yourself at facebook.com/bigfatphillysandwichshop.
Address: 33 Legion St. in Ringgold.
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
More info: 706-935-3222.