The Taste of Philly Story

Charlotte, NC - Imagine a cheesesteak sandwich so authentic, so savory, that every mouthwatering bite takes you back to the streets of Philadelphia. Now imagine a string of franchised restaurants offering such fare from Charlotte, along interstate 95, all the way up the east coast. That dream is in the process of becoming a reality for Tony Daddona II, owner of “A Taste Of Philly” restaurant, whose son Tony III convinced him to relocate to Charlotte from the Philadelphia area to retire.

“I wasn't ready to call it quits,” says Daddona. “When I came down here, I knew I had unfinished business to take care of when I realized I couldn't get a real Philly cheesesteak like we had back home.”
Dadonna's expectations for his new venture seem loftier than the elevations of the Pocono Mountains—the area where for years he worked as a builder erecting homes, restaurants—even churches--before the real estate implosion swept through the region.

So Daddona, with the help of his son, came up with the idea for A Taste Of Philly—an authentic Philly cheesesteak restaurant and pizzeria offering great food with a friendly, hometown atmosphere.
But what does a former contractor know about cheesesteaks? Plenty. For starters, Daddona grew up in the land of the cheesesteak, delivering bread from a truck as a young man in Philadelphia for Ammoroso, the very company he uses to supply the bread for the cheesesteak sandwiches made in his restaurant today.

The eldest of 7 children, he delivered pizza from a wagon he pulled throughout the ethnic neighborhoods of West Philly, near Simpson Street where he grew up, in order to help his struggling family. He remembers accompanying his mother to the toy stores on Christmas Eve to buy leftover sale items they could barely afford.

It's also in his blood. His lineage goes back to the old country—Monte Calvo, near Naples Italy where his ancestors made flour. Today, his grandmother's colander is proudly displayed on the wall at A Taste Of Philly, hanging prominently above her picture for all to see.

“If I'm making a cheesesteak, I always know she's there,” he says. “She's looking over us.”
Tony recounts the meals he ate as a child--recipes handed down for 4 generations that he incorporated into his restaurant's menu to keep the tradition alive. Recipes like Tomato Salad D'Addona, Anti Pasta D'Adonna, and of course his grandmother's meatballs.

Then there's the Pennsylvania Dutch side of the family. Paying homage to his other grandmother's lineage, Tony offers family recipes including cole slaw, potato salad and French fries—a family specialty made famous by his uncle who was known throughout Pennsylvania as the “French Fry King.” With recipe representation from both sides of the family, A Taste Of Philly's menu is as diverse as the neighborhoods of Philadelphia.

And there's the man himself. At 71, Tony seems to have defied age by honing his natural gift for entertaining. He satisfies his patrons hunger not only for food but for music, at times playing the keyboard and belting out Frank Sinatra tunes as the lunch crowd settles in.

But what truly sets A Taste Of Philly apart from all other Charlotte eateries? Why the cheesesteaks of course. That's because Tony's restaurant is the only place throughout Charlotte you can get an authentic Philly cheesesteak using whiz style cheese, and place your order using the same terminology they do in Philadelphia.

“The correct way to order,” says Dadonna, “is to say give me a cheesesteak wit, whiz, which means I want a cheesesteak sandwich with onions and whiz cheese. But don't worry,” assures Dadonna, “we won't send you to the back of the line if you get it wrong!”