A couple of friends had eaten at Wild Bill’s and told me it was very good. I checked on line and found that there were also a few people who didn’t think it was that good, too expensive and complained about the service. Ah, a controversy, my bread and butter.
I called Russ and we picked the Saturday after New Year’s Day to meet up and head down the hill to give it a try.
Wild Bill’s Cheesesteaks and Grill is located at 2770 E. Bidwell St. Suite 400, in Folsom. That puts it across the parking lot from Bel Air, near Rubio’s if you are not familiar with the area.
The menu is on a board on the wall (again, no paper menus, but it is on line), so we took a few minutes to look it over. Finally, without immediately noticing the line forming behind us, we ordered a large Original Philly sandwich, with Provolone cheese, and a Chicago Dog, asking for them both to be cut in two.
You have your choice of two and four person tables and a long, higher group table for seating. Russ picked a small table and I went to see what they had at their condiment bar.
I brought back to the table small cups of both sweet peppers and hot peppers to try with our meal
A few minutes later they brought our food to the table.
The sandwiches looked good and we both started with the Chicago Dog. Russ really liked the roll it came on, but thought the dog was a bit salty. I also liked their roll, but all hot dogs are salty to me. It is how they dress it that makes the difference.
According to most authorities, a Chicago Dog is an all-beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices or wedges, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt
As a Chicago Dog it probably rated 7 out of 10 since it had neither relish nor a dill pickle spear and no celery salt. It did have pickles on it and, as I mentioned, it was on a good roll without poppy seeds. I’ll give it a 7 out of 10 for authenticity and 8 out of 10 for taste. Not a bad start.
The Original Philly came on the same roll, with lots and lots of delicious meat, the cheese and grilled onions. Often it also has grilled peppers and even mushrooms on it, but their’s didn’t. Both Russ and I added the sweet and/or hot peppers to the sandwich to make up for them.
Both of us liked it and commented on the amount of grilled meat. Again, I would have preferred it with grilled peppers, but the peppers were a good substitute (I’ll order one with them next time).
White American cheese is the most authentic cheese for this sandwich, but Provolone is right up there with it, according to the afficionados in Philadelphia.
As I later found out both sandwiches were served on an Amoroso roll, the proper roll for a Philly sandwich. Amoroso’s Baking Co. is in Philadelphia, if you are wondering.
Overall the food was very good and the service likewise.
Their menu includes a number of variations on the Philly sandwich and a lot more. You can choose Philly sandwiches with double meat, bacon, mushrooms, garlic, lettuce and tomato, spinach, barbecue sauce, peppers and onions (#9, the Cali), au jus, Frank’s Hot sauce, pizza sauce, pepperoni and pizza sauce and more. There are 15 Philly sandwiches to choose from.
They also serve burgers, hot wings, fish and chips, hot dogs, Cheesesteak nachos and a beefsteak salad. In addition, there are specialty sandwiches like the Guido, hot pastrami with lettuce, tomato and more (Why?), pulled pork, a Vegi and grilled ham and cheese.
For sides the have steak fries, Bill’s Chips, tater tots, twister fries, onion rings, fried pickles, garlic fries, cheese fries, chili cheese fries, jalapeno poppers, Mozzarella sticks, Mac N Cheese minis and calamari sticks. Oh, yes, there is also a kid’s menu and extras you can add to your sandwich.
Soft drinks (canned and fountain) and beer served. People recommend PBR with their sandwiches.
Most the sandwiches cost $7.99 for a 7 inch and $11.99 for a 12 inch.
Wild Bill’s Cheesesteaks & Grill is open daily from 11 until 8:30 and can be reached at (916) 817-2468. You can also read their menu, with prices, at www.wildbillscheesesteaks.com.