CHEESESTEAK MATCHBOOKS
FALL 2022
TYLER SCHOOL OF ART
TYLER SCHOOL OF ART
KELLY THORN
Yo cuz—lemme get a cheesesteak. American cheese, wit. Nah... actually, make it provolone. Fried onions. Little mayo. —Oh shit, what are these jawns? Yo these are kinda sick. Where’d you get these made? Look at that—got the little logo an’ everything. That’s clean. Feel that paper, this jawn’s solid. You don’t see these no more. You got more of these or nah? I’m takin’ a couple of these jawns. Lowkey, these might be better than the sandwich.
If there are two things I love, it’s cheesesteaks and matchbooks. (I’m a Dalessandro’s guy—though Rocco’s Italian Sausage deserves an honorable mention.) I’m always ready to go to battle for my favorite cheesesteak, and that kind of loyalty is what sparked this project. Being a devoted regular has made me a natural brand ambassador—one willing to take on the challenge of reimagining three of Philadelphia’s culinary landmarks.
Dalessandro’s Steaks is a hole-in-the-wall, no-frills operation. It’s all business. You walk in, hold your ground, secure your sandwich, and get out. It’s Philly gold wrapped in silver foil. As a brand, Dalessandro’s doesn’t really lean in any direction—and that’s part of its charm. It’s not touristy like Pat’s King of Steaks or Geno’s Steaks, and it doesn’t trade on being “the oldest.” It’s a classic blue-collar spot that simply makes a great sandwich. Because of that, I didn’t want to reinvent it—just refine it. The matchbook design centers on a delicate, timeworn wordmark, something that feels like it could’ve been signed by Grandpa Dalessandro on the original lease. On the reverse, a vintage-style hoagie illustration stretches across the extra-wide format, mirroring the span of the wordmark on the front.
Rocco’s Italian Sausage sits just outside the entrance of The Home Depot—and it might be the most South Philly cheesesteak experience there is. It’s a sleeper pick, but anyone who knows Rocco’s doesn’t leave Home Depot without lunch. Honestly, it’s half the reason I go in the first place.
Rocco’s might also be the friendliest cheesesteak spot in the city. It’s a go-to for blue-collar workers on their lunch break (and for me, post-Planet Fitness), and the atmosphere feels just as important as the food. People swap stories, crack jokes, ask how your day’s going, or what project brought you in. The cheesesteak is great, but it’s the energy—the easy, familiar charm—that earned Rocco’s a place in this matchbook series.
Ishkabibble’s has been feeding hungry South Street crowds for over 45 years. Is it the best cheesesteak in the city? Not really. Does it have one of the best names? Absolutely.
Set along a legendary stretch of South Street—right near Lorenzo’s Pizza, Jim’s Steaks, and a handful of classic bars and clubs—Ishkabibble’s has stayed remarkably the same while everything around it shifts. It’s consistent, unpretentious, and always there when you need it. The kind of cheesesteak that feels like it belongs at a county fair—simple, satisfying, and a little nostalgic.
There’s something perfect about spilling out of a show at Theatre of Living Arts and heading straight across the street, hoping to be first in line. That’s the Ishkabibble’s experience.