Restaurant owner who created Philly cheesesteak to cook at Long Island pizzeria in Knicks gear after losing bet
Maybe it was a error.
Descendants of the brothers who supposedly created the first Philly cheesesteak will make the famous sandwiches at a Long Island pizzeria — while wearing head-to-toe Knicks gear — after losing a bet with the restaurant’s owner.
Frank Olivieri, the proud owner of Philadelphia king Pat’s Steaks, will dress up as a bum while tossing sandwiches at Dario’s Pizza in West Hempstead after the Knicks destroyed the 76ers 144-114 on Sunday.
Olivieri inspired a friendly bet with the owner of the pizza shop, Louis Cretella. The two make bets on which teams will win, Olivieri with the 76ers and Cretella with the Knicks – and the loser will have to go to the other’s restaurant and cook for the day in the winning team’s gear.
“[Olivieri] he wanted to make a bet on the third game. I said, let’s bet the whole series,” Cretella told The Post.
Olivieri is used to losing, but he put hope in his Philadelphia team until the end.
“We always have a feeling that the 6, or someone in Philly will come back. We’re used to saying ‘maybe next year’,” he told The Post.
He dismissed the impending scandal, adding that he “intended to try.” [Dario’s] cheesesteak anyway.”
“I realized that it would be a good way to convey brotherly love to our brothers in New York and Long Island,” he added.
Olivieri and Cretella haven’t set a firm date for when the cheesesteak expert will grace the Long Island pizzeria, but hinted that this may not be their end game.
“We’re willing to make another bet in the next round, whether it’s Cleveland or Detroit, so we’ll see,” Cretella said.
The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals and will play the winner of the Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers series.
The friendly bet came about after Olivieri heard that his ancestors’ cheese, meaty creation had been heated during the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Knicks were drawn against the 76ers.
Several restaurants in New York City took issue with it and defaced their Philly cheesesteaks from their menus, including Dario’s Pizza.
Cretella changed the menu item from Philly cheesesteak to Philly SUCKS cheesesteak on the restaurant’s computer system. The hard copy menus also have the words “Philly” and “F*** Philly” written in black marker on them.
Olivieri noticed and held out his hand to place the now abandoned bet.
