Restaurant brings taste of Philly cheesesteaks to NY

NEW YORK - Known for his college bar Fenwicks in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, Joe Crotty was forced to shut down his beloved restaurant as a result of the pandemic.

But like many other business owners, Crotty had to pivot and come up with a new idea – so he created Crotty’s Cheesesteaks. 

The casual restaurant in New Rochelle became a family endeavor after he enlisted the help of his daughter, Lindsay Walsh.

"I’ve been a stay-at-home Mom for the past six years, and this was the first year that my kids were going back to school," Walsh said. "So I had the availability to jump in and help him, and he had a need for some support."

Crotty says that the family aspect is the most gratifying part of the business. When you think cheesesteaks – you think Philly. But Crotty felt there weren’t any good cheesesteak restaurants in New York City, so he did a little recon in Philadelphia. 

"There’s five very popular places, so I spent the week going back and forth, spending an hour at each location, day after day – they thought I was stalking them," he said.

After Crotty perfected his cheesesteak recipe, he brought it back to New York, for the Crotty’s menu, which features a variety of sandwiches – all with different toppings and sides. 

Crotty’s Cheesesteaks is located at 8 Eastchester Rd, New Rochelle, NY 10801.

You can find Crotty’s full menu, hours, and more at crottycheesesteak.com.