Steak fries, Original Freeway Steak Sandwich, sausage sandwich, combo (half-club), onion rings at Freeway.
Freeway Steakhouse has returned to Trenton, and the family that originally owned the Trenton eatery is involved.
Original Freeway Steakhouse, 322 E. State St., Trenton
“Everything dies, baby, that’s a fact,” sang Bruce Springsteen in his song Atlantic City. Sadly, it’s sometimes as appropriate to Trenton as well the famed seaside resort town.
It certainly applies to the casual, family run food vendors that have been disappearing from the local scene over the past decade or so. But the Boss isn’t completely pessimistic: “But maybe everything that dies, some day comes back,” he also sang.
And so it is with the reincarnation of the fabled Trenton landmark sandwich shop, Original Freeway Steaks. The shop existed on Perry Street for three or four decades before losing out to “urban renewal.” For awhile, the family tried to operate out of a bar on North Olden Avenue in the city’s Top Road section, but that didn’t last.
Now they are back, with a partner who is part of the original family, in a little store front on East State Street directly opposite city hall.
Original Freeway Steaks is a throwback to a Trenton of another time. A city that hummed with industry around the clock. The shop was a place to go for a bite after you got off work from a late shift; after a dance or a night socializing.
Sure, you could sit down at one of the few tables and enjoy your sandwich and some fries, but more often then not you’d grab your order to go and head out for home.
Not much is different today. You can take a seat in the plain-Jane shop or you can grab an order and take it back to your office to eat. The menu is limited but on the money: a few basic sandwiches, some wings, fries and onion rings. For dessert you can get the locally made Arctic Ice Cream ($3) or some baked goods from the display case.
As you would imagine, it’s the sandwiches that are the draw. Freeway’s steak sandwich is a little different than your run of the mill cheese steak.
The basic sandwich is the typical, shaved slices of beef cooked on the flat top griddle. Quality meat is key here, with none of the excessive fat or gristle of lesser products.
The sandwich is assembled with cheese, cooked onions, slices of fresh tomato and seasoned with an oregano-forward Italian or Pizza seasoning. As the hand written sign on the blackboard says, they “don’t serve lettuce!”
Associate Muncher proclaimed the Freeway steak a delicious variation on the more common “Philly” version. It is a different taste that defintely leaves you wanting more. The standard sandwich is $5, the larger “half-club” costs $8.
The sausage ($5 regular, $9 half club) comes in your choice of hot or sweet and is assembled the same way. Like the steak, the sandwich is juicy and delicious.
Can’t make up your mind? Go with the Combo ($9 half club size only) which is the cheese steak with your choice of the hot or sweet sausage as well. It’s junk food nirvana that will satiate two people.
There are other options available. The steak burger is two beef patties, cheese, tomato, onions and seasoning ($5 regular, $7 half club). The submarine is made with pressed ham, cooked salami, cheese, tomato, onions and the seasoning ($7 half club size only). Of course you can get a pork roll sandwich ($5 regular, $7 half club) and, in a nod to modern trends, the chicken cheese steak ($5/$8).
Hot or sweet peppers and pickles are optional for all sandwiches.
Steak fries and onion rings ($3) are available sides. There are also sweet potato fries with sugar and cinnamon sprinkles) or mozzarella sticks for $4.
Jump on the Freeway and take a ride down memory lane.
Eat in or take out. Some delivery. Phone: (609) 695-3733. Hours are Mon–Fri 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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