Primanti Bros.

When you think of Pittsburgh’s past you may think of steel. When you think of Pittsburgh’s past you may think booming Pittsburgh neighborhoods filled with rich culture. And when you think of Pittsburgh’s past you may think of ketchup. But when you think of Pittsburgh’s past, do you ever think of french fries and coleslaw? If not, maybe you should start. In the early 1900’s, US steel careers, neighborhoods and ketchup were not the only thing thriving in the city of Pittsburgh. Tucked away in a little nook in the Strip District, a business known as Primanti Brothers was just starting to boom.

Started by Joe Primanti in the 1930’s Great Depression era, Primanti Brothers was a haven of deliciousness for truckers and warehouse workers. It was a place to grab a hefty bite to eat and a place to do it quick. In fact, Joe was so worried with providing truckers and workers with a quick and easy bite to eat that it lead to the invention of the Primanti Brothers signature sandwich style of including both fries and coleslaw in the actual sandwich. Originally meant as a safe and easy alternative to eating an entire meal while you drive, Joe’s innovative sandwich technique was a hit that, after opening a restaurant in the Strip District with his brothers Dick and Stanley, would go on to become a national sensation.

Featured in a 2003 edition of National Geographic magazine, Primanti Brothers has reached even more national recognition in recent years. Mentioned on the The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in conversation with President O’Bama, making the list of 1,000 Place to See Before You Die in the USA and Canada by Patricia Schultz, as well as being featured as a stop in Man v. Food, hosted by Adam Richman, Primanti Brothers is a delicious Pittsburgh staple and a must eat when you’re living or visiting the city.

Luckily, the recent expansion of the restaurant to outside of the Pittsburgh region might make eating at Primanti Brothers a bit easier. However, to get the true taste and feel of what it is to be a Pittsburgher and eat a Primanti Brothers sandwich, you’ll have to visit the original Primanti Brothers restaurant which still stands today in its little nook on 18th Street in the Strip District.