Even Dalessandro’s only offers Cheeses Whiz or American Cheese, neither one is real cheese, unless you order provolone which isn’t that good. Common, somebody’s gotta offer a real cheese that’s good like melted medium cheddar or maybe swiss, or some other good, real, melty cheese.
(Well, like they say, there is no accounting for taste!)
I like provolone more than the traditional Cheese Whiz.
For me, the atmosphere of Jim's is all-important.
I lived in Philadelphia during a time in my life when I was very much down and out; a series of bad decisions put me in the worst spot I've ever been in.
I worked my way out of it over a period of three or four years — my mid to late twenties — and Jim's was a treat I allowed myself only when I made real progress, which wasn't very often.
When I go there (I live in New York now) the feel of those times comes back in stereo. Jim's has changed virtually not at all.
Last time I went I took my family. My children enjoyed it very much, and loved their first real cheese steaks. When I lived in Philly back in the early '80s, I never dreamed I would someday have a family. It seemed inconceivable to me at the time.
I grew up eating cheesesteaks made with American or Provolone - Whiz wasn't used back then. The first time I ever saw Whiz on a steak was back in the 80s when we stopped at Pat's en route to a Phillies game. Never saw Whiz used outside of South Philly.