Hidden Hudson Valley Treasures: Order '1 Whiz, Wit' Like It's Philly

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — No matter where you go, the locals will try to convince you there's a place in town with a cheesesteak as good as any found in Philadelphia.

They're almost always wrong.

In Montreal, they might be able to make the case that their bagels show-up NYC's best efforts, but when visiting, stick with poutine, because the "Pilladelphie sandwich steak et fromage" ain't all it's cracked up to be.

For those of us lucky enough to live in the Hudson Valley, however, the boast isn't just bravado. A modest storefront tucked just around the corner from the busy Iona campus corridor of North Avenue in New Rochelle serves an authentic cheesesteak that will make you understand why people line up for as long as an hour or more in South Philly for the signature sandwich.

When Joe Crotty was forced to shutter his popular Riverdale bar and grill in 2020 because of strict city-wide Coronavirus restrictions, the tough break afforded him the chance to finally partner with his daughter Lindsay Walsh who had previously been a stay-at-home mom with two little girls of her own.

"My girls had just started back to school full-time and my dad asked me if I was interested in being his partner," Walsh said. "I said 'yes,' I'd love to be your partner. It felt right. He partnered with his parents and now I had the same chance. The timing was just right."

Walsh said that she and her dad spent time at the iconic Philadelphia cheesesteak purveyors to make sure they were bringing the real deal to the hungry foodies of the Hudson Valley.

Late on Friday night, it was clear that Walsh and Crotty had paid careful attention during their field trips.

Maybe it was the early fall chill in the air, or the rowdiness supplied by Iona students refueling before heading to and from the nearby Beechmont Tavern or the fact that Crotty himself was manning the grill, but as I sat outdoors hunched over a steaming sandwich, I was momentarily transported to a similar experience on a night in 2005, hours after the Philadelphia Eagles earned a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX.

So, yeah, Crotty's is the real deal.

I expected my three-word order, "One Whiz, wit" to be met with a blank stare. The busy, but smiling worker behind the counter, however, simply replied, "That's one traditional with Whiz and onion."

And this might be where Crotty's diverges from the authentic Philadelphia cheesesteak experience —they're just too damned nice.

At Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia, people can actually be heard practicing their order in line to avoid annoying the order taker and being sent to the back of the line. The beverage window attendant once reduced one of the strongest, most confident women I have ever known to tears, all because she made the mistake of ordering a hot tea from the menu board.

To be clear, ordering a Crotty's cheesesteak in traditional South Philly code is the equivalent of using a pirate voice to impress the waitress at a seafood restaurant, but my cringey attempt didn't even provoke a hint of an eye-roll. Despite the remarkably legit cheesesteak, there are a few other subtle and not so subtle reminders that Crotty's isn't in the The City of Brotherly Love (beyond the anatopistic courteous service).

There are remarkably few choices at most of the iconic South Philly steak spots. And some of the options are available, but frowned upon. Politicians have dropped in the polls after ordering provolone, or choosing Geno's instead of walking across the street to Pat's. There is considerably less pressure at Crotty's and a near embarrassment of choices, a decidedly local flair.

There's the "Cheeto Pitino," topped with Cheetos, a tongue-in-cheek reminder that the Gaels rule the roost on North Avenue. If you still find yourself forgetting that you're in New York, and not in the Keystone State, Italian rainbow mini-cakes and even traditional egg creams are on offer.

In addition to the black Angus beef, roast pork, grilled chicken and even vegan Beyond Meat are available.

"People are usually surprised to learn that I'm a vegan," Walsh explained. "In a family of meat-lovers, I'm the only one who doesn't eat meat."

The available toppings are considerably more adventurous than you might find on Passyunk Avenue in Philly. With available toppings like fried pickles, eggs cooked-to-order or even Mac n' Cheese, your cheesesteak might start faithfully traditional, but it doesn't have to stay that way.

With a growing reputation like Crotty's, the nearly two-year-old business is more of an open secret than a Hidden Hudson Valley Treasure and with the helpful and patient staff, insider knowledge isn't required to navigate the fun menu with seemingly endless combinations possible. The special delivery-only "ghost kitchen" in Yonkers and occasional delivery-only "pop-up" kitchens (most recently in Port Chester), however, might just fly under the radar if you're not paying attention, but don't worry because the Crotty's website will keep you in the loop.

"We started to do the 'ghost kitchens' because, we had so many people calling from places just a little bit further away than we can deliver," Walsh said. "So, we found a way to do it. It's an extra expense, but it's fun for us and people get really excited about it when we do it."

A sign in front of Crotty's reads "Philly only wishes it had a Crotty's Cheesesteak." Alright Crotty's, simmer down just a little.

On the other hand, if I had traveled to Philly for my fix of beef and cheese and onions on a perfectly chosen fresh-baked roll, I would have never been able to expense the late night meal that was as much a spiritual experience and a mood-elevator as it was sustenance — mostly because I would have been too afraid to ask for a receipt.

For the most up-to-date information on Crotty's delivery-only "ghost kitchens" and pop-up events in your neighborhood, follow Crotty's Authentic Cheesesteaks on social media or visit their website.