A philly cheesesteak from Steak Stuffers. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World File
It wasn’t planned to happen this way, but 9/11 turned out to be a timely day to have an interview and photos taken at Steak Stuffers USA.
Steak Stuffers USA is all decked out in shiny red, white and blue colors inside and out, has a wood-carved eagle, the signature item is the Philly cheesesteak sandwich made with a uniquely American ingredient, Cheez Whiz, and the owners immigrated here from Philadelphia.
How patriotic is that? If it is a strong work ethic you are seeking, the Van Wyck family has that, too.
George Van Wyck, who just celebrated his 80th birthday, his wife, Barbara, and son, Garth, all come to work every day.
“I would go crazy at home all the time,” George Van Wyck said.
It probably is not wise to question the authenticity of the Philly cheesesteak sandwiches here. The Van Wycks once operated four restaurants in Philadelphia.
“We came to Oklahoma to get into the quarterhorse business,” Van Wyck said. “That was good for about 10 years. Then when oil took a dip and the tax laws changed, it was hard to make a living in the horse business. The only other thing I knew how to do was make Philly sandwiches.”
The couple opened their first store 25 years ago at 39th Street and Peoria Avenue but had to move when Albertson’s came along. Steak Stuffers moved to 51st Street between Peoria and Lewis avenues in 1992 and was forced to move again with the expansion of Interstate 44.
So, in 2010, they renovated a Captain D’s farther east on 51st Street, almost to Memorial Drive.
Steak Stuffers has added a few items to the menu over the years, but its basic dish has remained the same. The Philly cheesesteak sandwich ($8.89) features a thick layer of thin, griddle-cooked beef topped with melted Cheez Whiz on a soft Italian bun. Some traditionalists might add sauteed onions and green peppers.
My wife is not as fond of Cheez Whiz as perhaps I am and substituted it with provolone cheese and added a touch of mayo. She wanted sauteed mushrooms ($1.40 extra on whole sandwich), too, but I forgot when I placed the order.
I admit the mushrooms would have enhanced the sandwich, but it was flavorful and filling nonetheless.
I had my choice of a variety of other stuffed sandwiches with ground beef, chicken, barbecue, Italian sausage, chili cheese, grilled bologna and veggie. I selected the meatball stuffer ($9.89).
The sandwich had six golf ball-sized meatballs covered in melted provolone cheese and tomato sauce. I added sauteed onions and green peppers. It was good, really messy and required a couple of trips for more napkins.
Both sandwiches were so thick with ingredients that the stuffings kept falling out into the paper serving dishes; I had to eat the meatball sandwich with a fork.
Each 12-inch sandwich also had been cut in half and put in its own container. Half sandwiches at almost half the price would have been enough for us, especially considering we added a couple of sides and a dessert.
We ordered zucchini strips with ranch dressing dip ($2.89), sweet potato puffs ($2.59) and pineapple rings ($2.99).
The menu did not mention each was battered and fried, but it was. The ranch dressing was so-so, so we used the spicy-sweet mustard that came with the chunks of sweet potatoes for both dishes.
The candy-coated pineapple ring, fried and dusted with powdered sugar, tasted exactly as it sounds.
It was a perfect prelude to the upcoming Tulsa State Fair, where it would fit in nicely.
Other than the color scheme, the dining room was decorated with a number of old advertising signs. A drive-through window and call-in pick-up counter inside are available.
STEAK STUFFERS USA
7846 E. 51st St.
918-743-7474
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday; accepts all major credit cards.
Food
Most sandwiches may be ordered with white bread, bagel, rye bread, wheat bread, sourdough bread or croissant.
Word has it that OK+ (in excess of 3.2) Budweiser is coming to a liquor store near you.
