$5,000 Reward Offered in Philadelphia Cheesesteak Attack

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The owner of Pat's King of Steaks in South Philadelphia is calling for accountability after a customer threw a cheesesteak at the restaurant's longtime general manager in an incident captured on video.

According to the restaurant, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. Wednesday outside the iconic cheesesteak shop.

Video recorded from multiple angles shows a customer throwing a cheesesteak at general manager Tom Francano before running away.

Francano, who said he has worked at the restaurant for nearly 50 years, described the encounter.

"My first reaction was, 'He hit me in the face.' He stood at the window and then he took off running down the street," Francano said. "He hit me right in the side of the face, went all over the place, glass, everything."
Francano said the individual arrived with a camera and tripod, leading him to believe the person might be an influencer. After ordering a cheesesteak with whiz and onions, the customer returned a few minutes later and complained about the sandwich, Francano said.

"He turns around, he says to me, 'It's garbage.' I said -- there was another couple eating outside -- I said, 'Guys, how was your steaks tonight?' They said, 'Our steaks were great, they were good,'" Francano said.

Immediately after, Francano said the meat started flying, and the customer fled.

Pat's owner, Frank Olivieri, said he believes the incident may have been motivated by a desire for online attention, though it remains unclear whether the individual is a well-known influencer or someone seeking views and clicks through online content.

"Why would you throw a cheesesteak in someone's face? That's assault," Olivieri said.

Olivieri said police were called after the incident and that he wants the person responsible to be held accountable.

"I'm thinking about offering a $500, no, maybe a $5,000 cash reward, for the arrest and prosecution and imprisonment of this person for assault and battery on my manager," Olivieri said.

Police have been contacted regarding the nature of any investigation or possible charges.