Today, we review the Pitts-Burger and Cheese from Primanti Bros., a chain specializing in sandwiches. Primanti Bros. (sometimes called Primanti’s) was founded in 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it serves some of the most unique sandwiches anywhere. In 1933, Joe Primanti opened the first Primanti Bros. in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The restaurant primarily served blue-collar workers and truck drivers. Joe Primanti envisioned a unique approach by incorporating side dishes directly into the sandwich, rather than offering a separate meat sandwich with sides. Each Pitts-Burger is crafted on thick white bread and comes topped with a flavorful oil and vinegar coleslaw alongside house-cut French fries. Given the origins of Primate Bros. in Pittsburgh, the name resonates perfectly with the local culture.
Primanti Bros. is over 90 years old and a chain, but not a massive chain (there are 43 locations). They have locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Michigan, and Indiana. I visited the Linthicum, Maryland, location, which is just a quick jaunt from the BWI Airport.
The Construction
While there are customization options, the Pitts-Burger and Cheese was ordered according to the defaults. Unfortunately, this assessment was carried out remotely in Linthicum, Maryland, so I was unable to obtain precise measurements or weight for the sandwich.
- Burger (Default)
- Melted Provolone Cheese (Default)
- Sweet and Sour Cole Slaw (Default)
- Fresh Cut Fries (Default)
- Tomato (Default)
- House Italian Bread (Default)
- Size: n/a
- Length: n/a
- Weight: n/a
- Sandwiches Eaten: 2
- Location: Linthicum, MD
- Price: $9.99
The Experience
For this assessment, the scoring is very similar to what we do with other burgers. When we reviewed the Primanti Bros Capone, we scored it while combining cheese with meat. Since then, we have adopted the philosophy that cheese is a condiment.
- Meat 4 points
- Bread: 2 points
- Condiments: 2 points
- Intangibles: 2 points
Meat
From examination of the actual Pitts-Burger, it looked dry and potentially unappetizing. While I would say it was on the well-done side, it didn’t taste dry. It was seasoned really well, producing some nice smoky flavor.
Score: 2.50 out of 4.00 points
Primanti Bros is known for their thick-cut Italian bread. I find a thick-cut works quite well when you have a sandwich with many ingredients. The bread had a nice crust and was soft and chewy in the center. I could enjoy the bread on its own. In the past, when I have reviewed Primanti Bros, I found the moisture from the ingredients made the bread a little more soggy than I prefer.. In the case of the Pitts-Burger and Cheese, the situation was the same. Good bread, but this is just a little too soft.
Score: 1.0 out of 2.0 points
Condiments
Four condiments are on the Pitts-Burger and Cheese sandwich. When it comes to a Primanti Bros sandwich, these are key to the whole experience. In this case, they do the job well.
- Tomatoes: They had a nice amount of ripeness and sweetness. This was nice because in previous Primanti’s experiences, the tomatoes were not ripe enough.
- Cole Slaw: In most cases, I will pass on cole slaw. But that’s because most cole slaws have a mayonnaise base, which I do not like. The great news, at least for me, is that the Primanti Bros. cole slaw does not use mayonnaise but oil and vinegar. This is the way to go with a cole slaw. Primanti’s calls its cole slaw “sweet and sour,” and it’s the perfect description.
- Cheese: It’s a melted, mild provolone. I usually prefer American or Cheddar on a burger. It wasn’t bad, but the other condiments definitely overpowered it.
- Fries: They are not overly salty and are very flavorful. They were a little soft on the sandwich, but still enjoyable.
Score: 1.75 out of 2.00 points
Intangibles
First up, the key thing to a sandwich is whether the overall experience exceeds the sum of the parts. In the case of the Pitts-Burger with Cheese, the answer is a resounding yes. The Cole Slaw and Fries are key here. In particular, the Cole Slaw makes a much more flavorful component compared to lettuce. The ripeness and sweetness of the tomato were nice here. Yes, I could have done without the cheese as it didn’t contribute, but no loss of points here…