The New Jersey Restaurant With The 'Best Cheesesteaks On The Planet,' According To Bruce Willis

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There are plenty of stellar cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, but you don't need to cross the Pennsylvania state line to get a great combo of meat and fromage. Just take a tip from actor Bruce Willis, who says Roman Pantry in Penns Grove, New Jersey, has the "best cheesesteaks on the planet," an endorsement the eatery proudly displays on its website.

Willis, who grew up in nearby Carneys Point, swears by the family-owned restaurant's signature sandwich. Roman Pantry has been feeding the local community for four decades and has won multiple Best of Salem County Awards for its cheesesteaks. Its standard cheesesteak comes with fried onions and American cheese. You can also get a Philly-style cheesesteak piled high with mushrooms, fried onions, sweet peppers, and Cheez Whiz, a heat-and-eat cheese sauce that's essential to the sandwich in its namesake city. (Philly is only a 40-minute drive from Carneys Point.) There's also a pizza steak covered with mozzarella and homemade marinara, and a buffalo chicken cheesesteak doused in vinegary hot sauce.

"The portions were huge with lots of meat and not just some thin Steak-umm strips. We're talking good, tender, moist, juicy steak bites," writes one Yelp reviewer. "Awesome cheesesteaks. One of my favorites, and I live 45 minutes away," says another customer on Facebook.

The no-frills gem specializes in Italian favorites like pizza, but its steak sandwiches are the true linchpin. As of 2013, Roman Pantry sold between 700 and 800 pounds of tender, frozen ribeye every week, so their cheesesteak rep is no secret to locals (via NJ.com). As if that wasn't impressive enough, owners Luigi and Maryanne DiMarco also own Italian Kitchen in nearby Pennsville.

Both locations have similar menus, but it seems Italian Kitchen has more of a penchant for family-style catering (gargantuan sandwich trays, deli platters, and an array of proteins, ranging from meatballs to porchetta) and crowd-pleasing baked goods, while Roman Pantry is more of a casual sit-down. That said, both eateries offer burgers, wraps, salads, and sandwiches along with Jersey-adored Italian fare such as pizza, stromboli, and pasta. You can also treat yourself to breakfast at either spot.

Take a look at some of Roman Pantry's online reviews and you'll see that Bruce Willis' recommendation rings true for many patrons. One Google reviewer called her sandwich "the most amazing mushroom cheesesteak hoagie I've ever eaten." Numerous others call out the cheesesteak pie for its splurge-worthy flavor, while some swear by the chicken cheesesteak or substituting provolone cheese. Multiple reviewers say the cheesesteaks are very generously portioned, so be sure to bring your appetite. "In my 42 years of life, this is the first cheesesteak I have not been able to finish... And it was a SMALL!" one diner confirms.