Tommy DX Roast Pork and Beef — Review by Bon Appetit
Philadelphia, United States — Italian-American / Sandwiches
Jon Nosi showcases how Tommy DX Roast Pork and Beef creates their iconic Philadelphia roast pork sandwich through a meticulous three-day process. The sandwich features perfectly sliced roast pork, sharp provolone, fresh broccoli rabe, and a crispy Italian roll, with each component carefully sourced and prepared to create a harmonious balance of flavors and textures.
What was great: The perfectly balanced roast pork sandwich with thin slices of tender pork, sharp provolone, broccoli rabe, and a crispy Italian roll; the depth of flavor from the three-day curing and cooking process; the quality of ingredients sourced from longtime market vendors
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
The star of the show is Tommy DX's roast pork sandwich, a deceptively simple creation that belies its complexity. The sandwich consists of just four main components: thinly sliced roast pork, sharp provolone cheese, broccoli rabe, and a crispy Italian roll from Sares bakery. The roast pork is the hero here, accounting for approximately 60% of the restaurant's sales, and it's prepared through an elaborate three-day process that begins with fresh hams sourced from Martin's butcher shop across the aisle in the market.
The Experience
Tommy DX operates within the historic Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, a location that provides significant advantages for ingredient sourcing and consistency. The restaurant benefits from longstanding relationships with nearby vendors like Martin's butcher shop (40 years) and Ivine's produce stand (35 years). The operation produces between 250 to 500 pounds of pork daily, with fresh bread delivered every single day to ensure quality. The preparation area showcases traditional meat-working techniques combined with modern equipment like commercial slicers and convection ovens.
Value & Pricing
While specific pricing is not mentioned in the transcript, the sandwich appears to be reasonably priced for the level of craftsmanship and ingredient quality involved. The restaurant's high volume of pork sales and daily preparation suggest an accessible price point for a casual market setting.
Notable Moments
After 72 hours, after three days, it's this. It's a simple thing, but it takes time and you can't rush it.
You get the lightness of the pork, you get the depth of flavor of the stock, you get the nuttiness of the sharp provolone and balance with the bitterness of the broccoli rob. The whole thing just works together really, really well.
Simple ideas, nothing that's too complicated, but there are strong fundamentals here. Everything has to be right in order for it to be right.
The Verdict
Tommy DX Roast Pork and Beef demonstrates that exceptional food doesn't require complexity, just unwavering attention to fundamentals and quality. This is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking authentic Philadelphia cuisine and traditional sandwich craftsmanship at its finest.