Pat Olivieri

Pasquale "Pat" Olivieri (c. 1907 – c. 1974) was an Italian-American hot dog vendor and restaurateur from South Philadelphia who is widely credited with inventing the Philadelphia cheesesteak in 1930. His creation has become one of the most iconic foods in American cuisine and synonymous with Philadelphia's culinary identity.

The Invention of the Cheesesteak

According to legend, Pat Olivieri was working his hot dog cart near South Philadelphia's Italian Market in 1930 when he decided to grill some thinly sliced beef and put it on an Italian roll for his own lunch. A passing taxi driver noticed the aroma and asked to try one. The driver reportedly told Pat that he should forget about hot dogs and focus on the steak sandwiches instead.

Word spread quickly through South Philadelphia, and Pat began selling the steak sandwiches from his cart. The original sandwich consisted of chopped beef on an Italian roll without cheese.

Addition of Cheese

The addition of cheese, which transformed the "steak sandwich" into the "cheesesteak," is attributed to one of Pat's employees, Joe Lorenzo, who reportedly added provolone cheese to a sandwich in the 1940s. Cheez Whiz, another popular option, was introduced in the 1950s after Kraft developed the product.

Pat's King of Steaks

Pat Olivieri eventually moved from his cart to a permanent location at 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia, establishing Pat's King of Steaks. The restaurant has operated continuously since its founding and remains one of Philadelphia's most famous tourist destinations.

Pat's King of Steaks is known for:

• Being open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Its ordering system ("wit" or "witout" for onions)
• The rivalry with Geno's Steaks across the street
• Neon-lit exterior visible from blocks away

Legacy

The cheesesteak has become more than a sandwich—it represents Philadelphia's working-class heritage and has achieved international recognition. Pat Olivieri's simple innovation has spawned:

• Hundreds of cheesesteak establishments across Philadelphia
• National and international cheesesteak chains
• Intense debates about the "best" cheesesteak
• Inclusion in virtually every Philadelphia tourism guide

The intersection of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue, where Pat's and Geno's face each other, is now a must-visit destination for tourists and a pilgrimage site for cheesesteak enthusiasts.

Family Continuation

Pat's King of Steaks remains family-owned, operated by descendants of Pat Olivieri. The family has maintained the original recipes and traditions while building Pat's into an internationally recognized brand.

See Also

• Philadelphia Cheesesteak
• Italian Market
• South Philadelphia
• Geno's Steaks