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The Snyder Avenue Lunch Bar opened its doors in 1930, 82 years later readers’ have named the Whitman eatery, now known as John’s Roast Pork, 14 Snyder Ave., as having the top pork sandwich.
The meat is seasoned, roasted and then served weekdays (and Saturdays starting April 7) until close or when the bread from Carangi Baking Co., 2655 S. Iseminger St., runs out.
“Our roast pork — it’s really a nice story because my grandfather, [Domenico], he was an immigrant,” third-generation owner John Bucci, 46, said. “He came here from Italy. It was really his recipe, his brainchild. He was really ahead of his time.”
Bucci’s father, John Sr., never witnessed the recent success, which includes being named a 2006 James Beard Foundation American Classics winner, as he passed away in 1991.
“He never got to see us ever written up in the newspaper,” the Mantua Township, N.J. resident said. “He never thought of us as anything more than making a living, putting his kids through school.”
Bucci entered the operation as a teen and took over after his father’s death. At that point, only Bucci and his mother, Vonda, 79, knew the secret recipe. However, when Bucci was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005 and needed to take time off following his bone-marrow transplant about four years ago, he supplied his niece Bethany Messick, 24, with the inside knowledge.
“Even my wife [Victoria] doesn’t know the recipe,” Bucci, a native of the 2300 block of South Rosewood Street where his mother still resides, said. “… It’s just the three of us. We keep it very safe. We keep it close to our hearts.”
And the staff remains mostly family members with the exception of manager Vince Long.
“It’s very important we always have a family member on premises because no one cares like family,” Bucci said.
Tony Luke’s scorched at second whereas Old Original Nick’s Roast Beef sizzled at third.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
2012 Readers’ Choice Award winners
Cuisine
Fuel: Soup; Hummus; Lunch menu (sit down); and healthiest menu
Geno’s Steaks: Cheesesteak
PrimoHoagies: Hoagie
SliCE: Specialty pizza
Penrose Diner: Diner
Ippolito’s Seafood: Seafood selection
Scannicchio’s Italian Restaurant: BYOB; Italian Restaurant; Dessert menu; Chef
Cantina Los Caballitos: Ethnic restaurant (non-Italian)
Birra: New restaurant
Night on the Town
South Philadelphia Tap Room: Craft beer selection
Popi’s Italian Restaurant: Celebrate a special occasion
Chickie’s & Pete’s: Friday happy hour; Bar menu; French fries
Sweet Tooth
Termini Bros.: Cannoli; Cookies
Italiano’s Water Ice: Water ice
Caffe Chicco: Iced coffee
People
Barbara Capozzi: Civic leader
Dr. Steven Moskowitz and Dr. William Mestichelli: Dentist
Johnny Looch: DJ
D. Olivieri Jewelers: Jeweler
Rev. Joseph Kelley: Priest/minister
Dr. Gail Avicolli: Principal
Sports
Carl Arrigale: High school coach
Neumann-Goretti Saints: High school team
St. Monica: CYO program
Mike Schmidt: All-time pro athlete
Antonio "Scoop" Jardine: Local current college athlete
And the Rest …
Mummers Parade: South Philadelphia tradition
East Passyunk Avenue: Shopping center/district
Headhunters Hair Design: Salon
Roast beef sandwich: Category not on this list
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