Dive into American diner favourites like cheesesteaks, hot wings and milkshakes at Clarke Quay's newest late night restaurant
While I trace none of my heritage to America, my borrowed nostalgia for the Philadelphia cheesesteak is a passionate one. So naturally, I was thrilled to discover this new American restaurant that bills itself as the home of Singapore’s first authentic restaurant for Philly cheesesteak.
But I had my doubts. A pet peeve of mine is when restaurants feel the need to drag – sometimes unnecessarily – homely comfort food into gourmet territory. Would they attempt to elevate this American classic beyond its blue-collar status? Would the quintessential neon orange Cheez Whiz be omitted in favour of a classier cheese? The horror!
Fortunately, my fears were unfounded.
The first dish presented to me, the Fully Loaded ($18), was a sight to behold. Packed between two pillow-y halves of hoagie roll were thinly sliced pieces of tender ribeye beef, caramelised onions, sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, jalapenos, and of course, lots and lots of Cheez Whiz. It was a glorious mess, and an ode to American comfort cuisine. If you’re being stuffy with your cheese choices, you can also opt for regular American cheese of provolone, but I’d stick with the Cheez Whiz for authenticity. Diners can also opt for the classic Philly ($15) which omits jalapenos, mushrooms, and peppers, but where’s the fun in that?
While Philly Shack’s menu offerings are slim, you’ll find American staples like burgers, spicy buffalo wings, and milkshakes on the menu as well. The wings (six pieces, $8.50) have a good amount of heat, and come served in true American fashion with sticks of raw celery and carrot. Also included is a cool blue cheese sauce, perfect for when you need to douse the burn.
Another slice of Americana you’ll encounter on the menu is Philly Shack’s selection of milkshakes. For the kids, you’ll find alcohol-free straight laced shakes ($6.50) in strawberry, chocolate, oreo and vanilla flavours. Adults get the more exciting (alcoholic, obviously) options of chocolate bourbon, peanut butter jelly, and banana split ($13). The peanut butter jelly milkshake is a clear winner in my books (trust me you’ll want one on hand to soothe the burn after the buffalo wings). Craft beer aficionados are in luck here too – you’ll find plenty of craft beer here, from Peroni and pure blonde, to Fat Yak and Stone IPAs.
Long story short, Philly Shack is exactly what it says on the box – no unpleasant surprises here. Just good, messy American comfort fare that hits the spot.
Philly Shack, Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Road. p. 6837 0675. Open Sun-Tue 12pm-11pm, Wed-Sat 12pm-2am.