Sweet Willie, I grew up in downtown Philadelphia (only people outside Philadelphia--the suburbs--refer to it as Philly).

Here is the lowdown:

Jim's Steaks: A South Street establishment with good cheesesteaks when you are trying to find an "antibiotic" for the alcohol poisoning you have acquired from having too many margaritas at the Copa accross the street (hopefully you tried the "spanish fries" which are out of this world). You might want to try the "pizza steak" with provolone and leave the "purest" experience for Pat's or Geno's.

Pat's Steaks & Geno's: 9th & Passyunk Avenues. Accross the street from one another. It is a toss up here. I'd vote for Pat's only because I went to high school with Rick Olivieri, whose family started Pat's (by the way, Rick has his own establishment downtown at the Reading Terminal--Rick's Steaks).

You might want to consider driving to Atlantic City for the White House (Mississippi and Arctic Avenues, Atlantic City, 609-345-8599). It is the bread (something about the "salt" in the water) that makes this one TERRIFIC. There are offshoots of White House in Ventner and Margate that I can give you which are good, but not as good as the White House (try the tuna for the road!!!)

Dalessandro's in Roxborough is a great choice as well. It is ashame that "Lee's Hoagie's" on South Street had tax evasion problems in the early 90s because that was a classic. Ishkabibble's on South Street makes a mean "chicken cheesesteak". Ask for a "Gremlin" (Grape Juice and Lemonade) if you go there!!! Abner's in West Philly (at University of Pennsylvania) is okay, but only if you have swilling down the keg beer....