HBH gourmet sandwiches, Smith street

We ordered delivery from HBH through Seamless one night and were somewhat optimistic. Some good yelp reviews and descriptive menu choices bodes well. We chose the Smith Street Cheese Steak, the Big MacDougal, and the Jalapeño Mac n Cheese.

A half hour later, our food arrived. The sandwiches were wrapped in butcher's paper and yet they had soaked it through with oil. Not necessarily a bad sign, but certainly not a healthy one. For a Philadelphia native to order a cheesesteak might sound like a recipe for disappointment, but I try to keep an open mind.

Smith Street Cheese Steak? 

This sandwich, while having no physical resemblance to an actual cheesesteak, still looked awfully tempting. The short rib was soft and succulent, and the shallots were a sweeter replacement for the fried onions you expect on a steak wit'. The onion ciabatta held up pretty well under the grease from this sandwich's contents, including the aioli which had begun to break down into its component parts. (Oil being the main one.) Other than the greasiness, though, this was a delicious sandwich. Not even close to a cheesesteak by any purists definition, but something I'd be more than happy to order again. Rich and meaty and flavorful, I'd even go so far as to say it was as good as some more authentic specimens I've tried in Philly. The $12 price is a bit steep, though.

Pulled Pork sammy.

The Big MacDougal was closer to what you might expect when you ask for a pulled pork sandwich. The name made me think they were going for a McDonalds flavor combination, but it's basically (extremely tender and flavorful) pulled pork topped with coleslaw. Only in this instance, it's a more vinegar flavor profile to the kimchee rather than the usual mayonnaise-y slaw you'd get at a roadside BBQ. It's a pretty good sandwich, and better priced at $9, but not as impressive.

Mac n Cheese. With green bits.

The let down here was the Mac n Cheese. We could see green bits of jalapeño, but could barely taste it or the cheese, for that matter. Buttered noodles with Kraft parmesan sprinkled on top would have tasted as interesting. Maybe this dish is better when you eat it in the restaurant, but it certainly didn't survive the trip to our apartment. Skip it if you're getting delivery.

Maybe this place is worth a visit in person. I'll post again when I make it over there.

-SdJ