Sam's Philly Steaks opened in mid-May on Church just south of Dundas. This new takeout spot is a good addition to the neighborhood, aiming to service the Ryerson crowd and locals alike.

The small space was empty when we dropped by on a Monday evening to try out a Toronto take on a Philly cheesesteak. It's pretty low-key with some nicer rustic wood furnishings along the counter, and an eat-in bar with exposed brick along the north wall. We consulted the chalkboard menu and the cook to see what's been popular in the first couple weeks.

Amongst the various 'Philly specials' we obviously opted for the traditional cheesesteak ($6.99). In a soft baguette was a large portion of thinly sliced steak chunks, sautéed green and red peppers, onions, all doused in 'cheese.' That's right, the sandwich was covered in that yellow, slightly rubbery cheese sauce you'd get with your stadium nachos. The meat was overcooked and stringy, and the peppers and onions were sadly undercooked. A disappointing start.

As our next order came out we had to reach past the topless man who had sauntered in off the street to order some grub. Appetizing! The burger ($6.59) is served with traditional toppings — onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles — and was pretty good. The pleasantly seasoned and well-cooked patty is made with some quality tasting ground chuck.

For sides we went for the fully dressed cheese nachos ($3.99) and the beef and cheese fries ($4.99).

Both dishes were underwhelming in quality and smothered in the same pump-style cheese sauce. The nachos were sparsely topped and the fries were covered in a soggy ground beef.

The surprising winner at Sam's is their Haddock sandwich ($5.99). It comes with a thick-cut of fresh haddock in a light a crispy batter. Cooked well, the filet was still a bit flaky and tender. Dressed with tartar sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles and red onion, this was a hearty and tastier version of your traditional fast food fish sandwich.

Open from lunch to late night (closes at 4am on weekends), Sam's will likely do just fine as the Ryerson students start to repopulate the area. Their low prices, wide variety, and fairly large portions will attract many to this small shop.

Looking for a cheap and quick bite and have a taste for gooey processed cheese? Then Sam's will work just fine for you.

Photos by Marni Wolf