Owner of eatery that created the Philly cheesesteak will cook at Long Island pizzeria in Knicks gear after losing bet
The iconic rivalry between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks took an interesting turn recently, leading to a unique bet between the descendant of the creators of the first Philly cheesesteak and a Long Island pizzeria owner. Frank Olivieri, the owner of Pat’s King of Steaks in Philadelphia, found himself on the losing end of a bet with Louis Cretella, co-owner of Dario’s Pizza in West Hempstead.
The bet was simple – the loser of the bet would have to travel to the winner’s restaurant and spend a day cooking in the winning team’s gear. In this case, the Knicks’ resounding victory over the 76ers in a recent game sealed Olivieri’s fate. Despite his loyalty to his Philadelphia team, Olivieri graciously accepted his loss and will now don Knicks gear while making cheesesteaks at Dario’s Pizza.
Olivieri, known for his delicious cheesesteaks at Pat’s King of Steaks, saw the bet as an opportunity to extend some brotherly love to the New York and Long Island community. He mentioned that he had been meaning to try Dario’s cheesesteak anyway, so this bet was a good excuse to do so.
While a firm date for Olivieri’s visit to Dario’s Pizza has not been set, both parties are open to the idea of another bet in the future. With the Knicks advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, there may be more opportunities for friendly wagers between the two establishments.
The friendly bet stemmed from the rivalry between the 76ers and the Knicks during the NBA playoffs, where many New York City eateries took the opportunity to playfully mock the Philly cheesesteak. Dario’s Pizza even went as far as changing the name of their Philly cheesesteak menu item to the Philly SUCKS cheesesteak, showcasing their support for the Knicks and disdain for Philadelphia.
Overall, this unique bet between Frank Olivieri and Louis Cretella adds a fun and competitive element to the ongoing sports rivalry between Philadelphia and New York. It’s a lighthearted way for fans to show their team spirit and enjoy some delicious cheesesteaks in the process.
