ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A business serving up “hearty cheesesteaks with serious local pride” has returned to Lehigh County.
Project Steaks, formerly known as Chopsteaks, reopened May 8 with expanded hours at Jay’s Local in Allentown’s West End, Project Steaks co-owner Dave Roberts told 69 News.
Roberts and his partner, Stephen Kilroy, originally launched the business – specializing in hand-crafted cheesesteaks – as a pop-up venture last summer at Jay’s Local.
Project Steaks
From July through September, the cheesesteaks were available on Thursdays as part of Jay’s Local’s Guest Chef Collaboration Program, but foodies can now score the cheesesteaks from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“If our time here continues to go well, we’d love to make it permanent,” Roberts said.
“The feedback’s been really great. People are telling us it’s the best cheesesteak in the Valley, the best they’ve ever had.”
Roberts and Kilroy also operate the five-year-old Chopfin, a fast-casual eatery specializing in sushi burritos and poke bowls on Cedar Crest Boulevard in South Whitehall Township.
Additionally, Kilroy operates Primo Hoagies franchise locations in South Whitehall and Wilson.
With Project Steaks, the partners are excited to serve up flavorful, high-quality cheesesteaks, which they believe are lacking in the Lehigh Valley.
“Since I was a teenager, I’ve been traveling down to Philadelphia to eat good cheesesteaks,” Roberts said. “So, I really saw a need, especially in the western part of the Lehigh Valley, for an elevated cheesesteak.”
Project Steaks
Project Steaks’ tagline is “serious cheesesteaks,” and customers can choose from regular and spicy varieties, with additional varieties such as locally smoked Cooper cheese, Italian black truffle and Lehigh Valley set to debut in the coming weeks, Roberts said.
“The Lehigh Valley-style cheesesteak will have the red sauce and pickles on it,” Roberts said.
“For the spicy cheesesteak, I blister long hots and fresh cherry peppers, and then I dice them up and add them into the cheese. So, you’ll be able to add that to any of the upcoming cheesesteaks as well if you want.”
Project Steaks’ menu features fresh-cut ribeye on 10-inch double seeded rolls from Corropolese Italian Bakery & Deli in Norristown, Montgomery County.
The steak sandwiches, priced $17 to $20, are available with or without onions.
“I get steak meat that no one in the Valley is getting, and it took me years to find it,” Roberts said. “So, it’s high-end meat from South Philly, and our double seeded rolls are from Corropolese.”
Project Steaks is open 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Jay’s Local, at 2301 W. Liberty St. in Allentown.
Individuals can place pick-up orders online at projectsteaks0500.s4shops.com or by calling 610-351-3100.
Jay’s Local, which opened in 2019, is an inviting cafe-style eatery serving “high quality local fare at affordable prices.”
Jay’s Local is located at Liberty and North 23rd streets in Allentown.
Jay’s Local
The eatery, open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, also regularly hosts children’s storytime programs.
“New name, more hours, same great taste!” Jay’s Local owner Lyell Scherline said in regard to Project Steaks.
“Dave Roberts of Chopfin is bringing the most authentic Philadelphia style cheesesteak to the Lehigh Valley and it’s now available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only at Jay’s Local!”
For the lates Project Steaks updates, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram.