Pat Olivieri

Pat Olivieri

Pat Olivieri was an American restaurateur, best known as the co-founder of the famous Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich shop, Pat's King of Steaks. Born in 1907, Olivieri, along with his brother Harry Olivieri, created the cheesesteak sandwich in the 1930s, which has since become a culinary icon of the city.

Early Life

Pat Olivieri was born in South Philadelphia, a neighborhood known for its rich Italian-American heritage. He started his career as a hot dog vendor, but his entrepreneurial spirit led him to experiment with different types of sandwiches.

Creation of the Cheesesteak

In 1930, Pat and his brother Harry, who were both working as hot dog vendors, decided to try something new. They sliced a beef steak, grilled it, and served it on an Italian roll. The sandwich was an instant hit among the local taxi drivers, who spread the word about the delicious new sandwich. This led to the birth of the now world-famous Philadelphia Cheesesteak.

Pat's King of Steaks

In response to the growing popularity of their sandwich, the Olivieri brothers opened Pat's King of Steaks in 1930. The restaurant, located in South Philadelphia, is often credited as the birthplace of the cheesesteak. It remains a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking an authentic Philadelphia cheesesteak experience.

Legacy

Pat Olivieri passed away in 1974, but his legacy lives on through Pat's King of Steaks, which continues to serve the original Philadelphia cheesesteak recipe. The restaurant is now run by Pat's nephew, Frank Olivieri Jr., who has maintained the tradition of using fresh, high-quality ingredients.

See Also

• Philadelphia Cheesesteak
• Pat's King of Steaks
• Harry Olivieri
• Frank Olivieri Jr.

References

• The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book by Carolyn Wyman
• The Philadelphia Inquirer

External Links

• Official website of Pat's King of Steaks