What's Hot: Douglas Development Files PUD For Large Warehouse At New City Site Along New York Avenue
First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice
✉️ Want to forward this article? Click here.
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 1](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/RCooper-taylor-cooks-large.jpg)
Taylor Charles Steak & Ice
Ever since the day that DC’s first Taylor Gourmet location opened, owners Casey Patten and David Mazza have been answering the same question: “Do you guys have cheesesteaks?” It kind of goes with the territory when you run a Philadelphia hoagie joint.
So, the casual, over-the-counter cheesesteak eatery from the two, Taylor Charles Steak & Ice at 1320 H Street NE, had been a long time coming when it opened its doors last night.
There’s no window out to the street from which to order the signature steak sandwiches, but it’s got everything else to remind diners of a classic Philly steak stand: street-style art, picnic tables, industrial street lights overhead and steam rising up from the flat tops.
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 2](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/RCooper-taylor-wide-shot-large.jpg)
The menu offers cheesesteak purists what they crave: ribeye or chicken on a Philly-made roll “wit” or “wit-out” onions, and of course, with Cheez Whiz as an option. (A sign on the wall outlines ordering procedure for newbies.) There’s also provolone, American and a homemade white molten cheese that improves on the processed whiz (if that’s possible), as well as specialty steaks including one with garlicky broccoli rabe, one with chili verde and a buffalo option with Frank’s red hot and blue cheese. Cheesesteaks traditionally go well with a side of fries, but Taylor’s Balls — cheese fritters with horseradish sauce — are hard to pass up. For dessert, choices range from water ice (without a spoon!) to custard to gelato or an ice cream sandwich.
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 3](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/RCooper-taylor-cheese-steak-large.jpg)
A new take on the traditional cheesesteak.
Taylor Charles does offer a couple of non cheesesteak entrees — sandwiches that lean toward the company’s hoagie roots with options like chicken cutlet and eggplant — but don’t expect to see the cheesesteaks at Taylor Gourmet locations, at least for now. The way Patten explains it, in Philly, there are hoagie shops and cheesesteak places. Most that try to do both fail at one or the other.
“You either have great cheesesteaks and bad hoagies or great hoagies and bad cheese steaks,” he explains. There aren’t any more Taylor Charleses in the works at the moment either, he says, although given these guys’ growing empire, we won’t hold them to it.
Check out some more photos from last night’s soft opening:
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 4](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/RCooper-taylor-ordering-rules-large.jpg)
Ordering rules.
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 5](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/RCooper-taylor-flat-top-large.jpg)
Steaks on the flat top.
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 6](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/rcooper-taylor-kielbasa-large.jpg)
Steak & Ice Dogs
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 7](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/RCooper-taylor-condiments-large.jpg)
Condiments for your cheesesteak.
![First Look At Taylor Charles Steak & Ice: Figure 8](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2012/12/RCooper-taylor-art-large.jpg)
Art by Brandon Hill and Edwin “Che” Merino.
See other articles related to: h street corridor, taylor charles steak and ice, taylor gourmet
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/first_look_at_taylor_charles_steak_ice/6425.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
![First-Timer Primer: Tax Relief for DC Homeowners](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2013/02/Homestead_Exemption_280.jpg)
When you buy a home in the District, you will have to pay property taxes along with y... read »
![A 127-Unit Luxury Condo Building In The Works For Downtown DC](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2024/07/resized/950%203rd%20Street%20Dusk%20EXT_image_560x420.jpg)
The largest condominium building in downtown DC in recent memory is currently under c... read »
![HPO Recommends Approval For 160-Unit Office-To-Residential Conversion in Dupont Circle](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2024/06/resized/1201-Conn_image_560x420.jpg)
The plan to convert a Dupont Circle office building into a residential development ap... read »
![Beautifully Constructed Condominium in The Bridge District is Now 50% Sold](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2024/07/Riviere%20article/resized/2305%20Nicholson%20St%20SE%20405-0003_image_560x420.jpg)
The Rivière includes just 20 homes located on the eastern banks of the Anacostia Riv... read »
![Monday's Must Reads](https://assets.urbanturf.com/dc/images/blog/2024/07/resized/bubble_image_560x420.jpg)
Why Tyra Banks is serving ice cream in DC; a bike shop/record store opens in Adams Mo... read »
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro