Calvin’s World Famous Cheesesteaks

Rather then putting CLOSED on both pages and still keeping the website up why not just remove all the content its super misleading… It sucks what happened and sad that Calvin passed but I’m still confused why they just don’t open the original location, the one on San Carlos was a horrible location and its no surprise it failed, Who travels to eat in a strip mall off San Carlos street, its so trashy and just not a good place to open a restaurant. Open the old location and the same clientele, sharks game goers and much more business will return especially if you boost your advertising, like coupons in the mail, just a tip…

they are gone !!!

Sad that the owner passed and from the looks of it the other locale has closed. However this newer locale brings everything past into the present and upholds the spirit. They definitely try to go for all things Philly here. Good cheesesteaks with a friendly staff. Make sure you check out the history of the cheesesteak book they have at the counter.

CLOSED and now a Phở restaurant.

Ugh. I hate feeling like I went to a totally different place than the rest of the reviewers. We tried to enjoy the place, but too many things went against the experience, I just couldn’t give it more than the obligatory 1 star.
I made the mistake of not wanting to wait in the Falafel Drive-​In line so we stopped by Calvin’s for some lunch.
The sandwich tasted fresh-​ish, meaning the meat and bread didn’t taste old or bad, but really it didn’t taste that good either. No flavor, even after adding extra salt, pepper and Tabasco. The french fries or ketchup tasted old, I couldn’t tell which one and didn’t want to keep eating them to figure it out.
We ordered 2 sandwiches, 2 drinks and small fries. How in the world is that worth $ 30?! For that price, I could’ve bought 5 meals from Jack in the Box down the street.
Needless to say we both got sick approximately 1 hr after eating lunch from Calvin’s. Not full on violent food poisoning, but bad enough where I don’t want to give them a second chance.
The worst part was service. While the woman in charge (handling the orders, money and cooking — with the same pair of gloves mind you, gross!) seemed decent (I can’t even use the word pleasant), the other two looked like they hated the fact they were working there. One of them walked and moved like molasses. I’m not sure what she was doing there other than walking behind the counter, staring at people, going to the restroom and walking back to the counter. And the man was also very unhappy about something. Maybe they were a couple and got into a fight? Who knows. that seems like the only reasonable explanation. Right?
Anyways, to end this quickly, I’d say skip Calvin’s and head to The Cheesesteak Shop on Santa Clara St.

I at ate the original Calvins before he sadly passed, the Cheesesteak with Mushrooms and Peppers was to die for. However I recently ate at the new place on West San Carlos and ordered the same Sandmich (yes it how they spell it) and was sadly disappointed, there was no taste, none at all. I ordered it without the salt and pepper or catsup (ketchup) hoping the flavors of the other items would come through, they didn’t.
However, the fries were the best I have ever had — period and this is why it gets three stars.
The friend that I was with says she has had better cheesesteak at another local place so we’ll try that soon.
I also still don’t get the «order what you do want on not what you don’t» style of ordering.

One of my bookmarks to try for some time. Located in a strip mall type environment and fits right in. Plenty of room inside however, all of the operation is done in the back so a little different approach to serving food. Atmosphere on this day was a bit loud as they have a music player in the center of the room and it was up a little oud as we sat close. The place was clean and not very busy. Service was OK. Not very helpful or friendly. Menu has some variety, not just cheesesteak sandwiches but other hot meat sandwiches as well. Of course for my first time I went with the traditional cheesesteak with white american cheese. A good ol’ fashioned root bear and an order of onions rings.
The food was great and fresh. Plenty of food. I only ate half of the sandwich as is then fished out the cheesesteak part of the second half. Onion rings were terrific. Nice and crispy!
Need to try if you are in the mood for a cheesesteak. Take a friend or companion to keep you company.

Decent food.
WORST SERVICE EVER. .. been there a few times and have always had the same horrible unpleasant service.

We tried Calvin’s today and I was very happy. We both had the pepper & mushroom cheesesteak sandwich. I had onions, husband did not. The sandwiches were a LOT bigger than I expected; I couldn’t finish mine. We also go the chili-​cheese fries. The chili was good, the cheese not so much. All in all, I will be going there again!

Pretty good cheesesteak sandwich. I ordered the cheesesteak with mushrooms, and tasted really good.
I was a bit skeptical at first when I came here last saturday night. It was around 8PM and the place was empty. My friend and I still decided to give it a try though because of all the great reviews on Unilocal.The place was decorated up and down with Philadelphia sport team logos and cut out of players, so I was expecting to get a good Philadelphia style cheesesteak since it seemed they wanted to rep Philly to the fullest., though I think a cut out of Will Smith as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air would have been a nice addition. The lady behind the counter was nice and she bluntly said Calvin’s is the best, so I tested her statement out by ordering the cheesesteak with mushrooms.
The meat was really tender and cut pretty well. The cheese, though not a lot of, seemed to be in every bite of my cheesesteak. The grilled onions, and sautéed mushrooms really where the ingredients that put the entire experience together. The onions where sweet, as if the farmer crossed bred it with a sugar cane. The mushrooms were pretty flavorful and tasted like it was marinated with the meat (so please get it with the mushrooms). The bread was ok though not as memorable as the rest of the ingredients, but still was soft.
I also had fries with the sandwich and Calvin’s gave it to my friend and I for free since it was not their usual fries. The non-​usual fries were still good, thick cut like a good steak fries and went well with the sandwich.

Just starting up in this location. But the cheesesteaks are great. Just like the BEST of Philadelphia.

Mmmm cheese fries. The cheesesteaks were pretty good but i think I still prefer jersey’s in campbell. They cook their onions more and have more meat in their sandwiches.

After hearing that the Alameda location closed, I was afraid that the San Carlos location would close too. When I saw the lights on while passing by on the way home, I flipped a «U-​turn» and headed straight to them. The inside as expected was full of Philly sports figures and famous names…(placing sports team allegiance to the side)…and headed towards the cashier to order. They have mainly two types of cheesesteaks. The regular one without produce and the one with produce. The hoagie is the one with produce and the one that I chose to get that night. In terms of filling, it wasn’t one of those super overflowing meat mixture concoctions that we usually see on the Travel Channel or Food Network… but the mixture was tasty, very flavorful and very balanced with the veggies in there. The hoagie roll itself was soft and toasted just the right amount.
Unlike Amato’s and Jersey’s, I liked how I could get the veggies on here… despite it being anti-​traditional. It’s more expensive than a regular Subway sub like around $ 9-​$ 10, but it’s worth a splurge once in a while.

Just a heads up to all Calvin’s fans out there, the new location is now OPEN… and the Cheesesteaks are just as good as they’ve always been.

I agree here with Archie you got to try Calvin’s it will open on ¹⁰⁄₁₅. Calvin’s was the first place i tried a Phily cheesesteak and Jonne gave me shit for being a 9er fan he was a die hard Eagles fan and he would rib me on. You would get what you wanted and what he talked you to get on it and he had some monster sandwiches besides the Cheesesteaks.
I’ll be checking them out when they open… and to Jonne RIP my friend you will be missed.

Do yourself a «flavor» and please visit Calvin’s World Famous South Philly Cheesesteaks: a little place that is big on culture, history, legend, and flavor.
CULTURE:
A couple days ago, I had a major craving for a «cheesesteak sandmich.» Now when it comes to movies, TV shows, music, food, or women, I only want the best. So naturally, I drove over to Calvin’s Cheesesteak on the Alameda to satisfy my craving, but I was sad to learn that they were closed down due to a recent fire.
Fortunately, they do have a new Calvin’s Cheesesteaks located on San Carlos Street. It’s an awesome new location that is adorned with all things Philadelphia, pictures of its past guests, and it still produces the same super delicious (authentic) Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. In addition, there is more parking space outside, more restaurant space inside, and it’s a couple doors down from the Red Stag (Karaōke Bar). So now there is booze, karaōke, and the best cheesesteaks in the Bay Area all in same 15 foot area. It’s not the healthiest combination, but it will make a lot of (unhealthy-​alcoholic-​attention craving) people happy.
HISTORY:
Before Amato’s, the Cheesesteak Shop, and other joints in the Bay Area, there was Calvin’s of Mountain View (opened up Jonné Aleeson back in 1981). Four years later, Aleeson opened up on the Alameda in San Jose and it became a hidden gem, hole in the wall lunch spot. After 1993, he want away for nearly 15 years. He reopened in 2008, in his current location on the Alameda. At his location, you can see old Polaroids hung up all around of very happy customers enjoying his «World Famous» cheesesteak concoctions.
And how exactly are these sandwiches world famous? Well, as story goes (according to various articles hung up on his walls), way back in the ‘80s, Aleeson really wanted Philadelphia native and star of «The Cosby Show,» Bill Cosby, to try his sandwiches.
LEGEND:
One night in San Jose, Cosby was performing at a local comedy club. And as legend has it, Aleeson went over to the show armed with a cheesesteak and a hoagie and said they were for Mr. Cosby to try «on the house» courtesy of Calvin’s Cheesesteaks. He just wanted to hear Cosby’s opinion on them, but he didn’t hear it that night. A couple months later, Aleeson was watching «The Cosby Show» on television, Bill Cosby’s character «Cliff Huxtable» says he is going to run out and get some cheesesteaks from Calvin’s. Aleeson doesn’t think this line was coincidence and boom, his sandwiches are «world famous.»
FLAVOR:
So if you’re new to Calvin’s and doubt how «world famous» they can actually be, just know this place has the most authentic, highest quality cheesesteak sandwich you will find in the Bay Area, if not everywhere. I have been to Philadelphia and all over for delicious cheesesteaks, and nothing compares to Calvin’s. The owner, Jonné Aleeson, only uses quality Philadelphia ingredients. The rolls come from Philly. The meat comes from Philly. The cheese comes from Philly. But of course, his onions, peppers, and mushrooms come from California.
Combine all of those ingredients and you get a $ 10 (or more) cheesesteak sandwich that blows away the competition. You get what you pay for. Seriously, since Aleeson only uses the finest ingredients, you can actually taste the beef that is sliced thin and never chopped. The onions and peppers are grilled to order. The mushrooms are thick and fresh. The rolls are very toasty on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. Take you time enjoying your «sandmich» as the bread never goes soggy like other mediocre cheesesteak joints.
BOTTOM LINE:
Do yourself a «flavor» and please visit Calvin’s World Famous South Philly Cheesesteak. It truly is as good as it gets.