This Unassuming Pennsylvania Grocery Store Has Sandwiches Worth Going Out Of Your Way For
A grocery store sandwich has to be seriously good to make people reroute their day.
This unassuming Pennsylvania stop has that kind of pull, where a simple counter order can turn into the reason you remember the whole drive.
The charm is in how unexpected it feels. You are not walking into a glossy restaurant with big promises.
You are finding the kind of place where the food does the bragging quietly, one stacked hoagie or steak sandwich at a time.
That is often where the best road food lives: behind a modest storefront, served without fuss, and talked about by people who know better than to pass it by.
I have learned to trust the places that look almost too ordinary, because those are usually the ones that make me glad I took the long way.
A 4.8-Star Rating That Speaks Louder Than Any Billboard
Some places hang awards on the wall. Big Mike’s Steaks & Hoagies at Forksville General Store lets hundreds of online reviews do the talking.
With a 4.8-star Google average reported by Restaurant Guru and 4.7 on Tripadvisor, this spot has earned one of the most impressive ratings you’ll find for rural Pennsylvania food stops.
That consistency is rare. It means first-timers and repeat visitors alike are walking away genuinely happy, which is hard to pull off when expectations keep climbing.
The sheer volume of five-star reviews signals more than luck.
What drives that score is a combination of fast service, flavorful food, and a setting that feels like a reward for the drive.
Travelers from Philadelphia and beyond make the trek and leave impressed. When a small-town sandwich shop racks up hundreds of glowing reviews, you pay attention.
The Address You Need To Save Right Now
Punch 22 Bridge St, Forksville, PA 18616 into your GPS and prepare for one of the prettiest drives Pennsylvania has to offer.
The route winds through the Loyalsock State Forest, past rolling hills and dense tree canopy, with the kind of scenery that makes you slow down and actually look around.
Forksville itself is a tiny borough in Sullivan County, so small that blinking might mean you miss it. But once you spot the general store building, you know you’ve arrived at the right place.
The location sits right beside a historic covered bridge, which adds a postcard-perfect backdrop to the whole experience.
Parking is manageable, the outdoor seating is plentiful, and the vibe is immediately relaxed.
Operating Hours Worth Planning Your Weekend Around
Big Mike’s keeps a schedule that rewards the weekend adventurer. The shop opens Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM, giving you a solid window to plan a day trip around a seriously good meal.
Monday and Tuesday are closed, so mark those days off your planning calendar. The hours align perfectly with a morning hike followed by a well-earned lunch.
Many visitors pair a visit with nearby World’s End State Park, hitting the trails early and arriving at the store right when doors open. That timing usually means fresher crowds and shorter waits.
I’ve found that showing up closer to opening tends to give you the best shot at snagging one of the prime outdoor seats by the covered bridge.
Arriving late on a Saturday can mean a longer line, but most people agree the wait is absolutely worth it every single time.
The Cheesesteak That Makes Philly Locals Do A Double Take
There’s a certain boldness in serving cheesesteaks within three hours of Philadelphia. Big Mike’s Steaks & Hoagies pulls it off with confidence, and visitors from the city itself keep coming back as proof.
The meat is seasoned with real care, the rolls are soft and fresh, and the cheese gets layered in a way that actually reaches every bite.
One standout detail that fans consistently rave about is the construction. The ratio of meat to bread to toppings hits a sweet spot that feels intentional rather than accidental.
Lettuce goes on top, the way many argue it should, keeping the texture sharp and the bread from getting soggy.
Signature options like the OG and the Godfather have developed loyal followings. The Dean Martin version adds garlic to the mix, which takes the whole experience in a different direction entirely.
Every choice on the menu feels like it was built by someone who genuinely loves cheesesteaks.
Crabby Fries And Sides That Deserve Their Own Fan Club
Ordering just a sandwich here and skipping the fries would be a genuine mistake.
The crabby fries have built their own reputation, with a crispy texture and seasoning that makes them stand out from standard side orders.
Cheese gets applied in layers rather than just dumped on top, which means the fries at the bottom of the basket are just as loaded as the ones on top.
That layering detail sounds small, but it makes a real difference. There’s nothing worse than finishing a basket of fries only to find the last half sitting in a sad, cheeseless pile.
Big Mike’s clearly thought that through.
Cheese fries are another popular pick, and the overall side menu gives you enough variety to mix things up across multiple visits.
Pair the crabby fries with a buffalo chicken sandwich and you’ve got a combination that earns serious repeat mileage across the state of Pennsylvania.
A General Store With More Personality Than Most Restaurants
Walking into the Forksville General Store feels like stepping into a place that hasn’t forgotten what it’s supposed to be.
The building functions as a general store, a gift shop, and a full sandwich operation all under one roof, which gives it a personality that purpose-built restaurants often lack.
General merchandise lines the shelves alongside local goods, and the layout feels genuinely lived-in rather than staged for Instagram.
It’s the kind of place where you might grab a souvenir alongside your cheesesteak, and somehow that combination just works.
The ordering setup is straightforward. You place your order at the window, and the food comes out fast, usually within five minutes on a regular day.
That efficiency doesn’t feel rushed, though.
The whole operation has a rhythm to it that keeps things moving without losing the relaxed, small-town energy that makes the place so appealing in the first place.
Outdoor Seating Next To A Genuine Historic Covered Bridge
The outdoor seating situation at Big Mike’s Steaks & Hoagies at Forksville General Store might be the most scenic lunch spot in Sullivan County.
Picnic tables spread out across a clean, well-maintained area, with the Loyalsock Creek nearby and a historic covered bridge sitting right next to the property like a natural piece of art.
Pennsylvania has more covered bridges than any other state, and Forksville’s version is one of the more accessible ones to actually sit beside and enjoy.
Eating a hot cheesesteak with that view in front of you is a genuinely special experience that doesn’t cost extra.
The space stays clean, which is worth noting because outdoor eating areas at busy spots can get messy fast. Even during peak summer weekends, the grounds hold up well.
Bring your appetite, find a table near the bridge, and take a minute to appreciate the fact that Pennsylvania still has places like this.
Dog-Friendly Perks That Make Pet Owners Very Happy
Bringing your dog on a road trip through Pennsylvania usually means leaving them in the car while you eat, which nobody enjoys.
Big Mike’s Steaks & Hoagies actually thought about the four-legged travelers in your group. They offer what fans affectionately call puppy bowls, small portions of cheesesteak meat sold specifically for dogs.
It’s a small detail that makes a big impression on pet owners, and it shows up in reviews constantly because it’s genuinely unexpected and thoughtful.
The outdoor seating area makes the whole setup work perfectly, giving dogs space to hang out while their owners dig into a proper meal.
I’m a sucker for places that remember dogs are part of the family road trip experience. Finding a spot that feeds both you and your pup equally well is rare.
It’s one of those quirky little touches that turns a good visit into a great story you tell people later.
Vegetarian And Vegan Options In A Cheesesteak Shop
A cheesesteak shop offering vegetarian and vegan options might sound like an unexpected combination, but Big Mike’s Steaks & Hoagies at Forksville General Store makes it work without making the plant-based options feel like an afterthought.
The menu covers enough ground to bring groups with mixed dietary preferences without anyone feeling left out.
There’s also a kids menu, which rounds out the family-friendly appeal considerably.
Whether you’re hiking with a group of friends who eat differently or traveling with young children, the menu has enough range to keep everyone satisfied without requiring a second stop down the road.
This kind of menu flexibility is increasingly important for road trip planning, and it’s one reason Big Mike’s draws such a broad mix of visitors.
Outdoor adventurers, families, cyclists, and day-trippers from across Pennsylvania all find something that works for them.
Covering that range while keeping quality high across all options is genuinely impressive for a small-town spot.
The Perfect Pit Stop Between World’s End State Park And Ricketts Glen
Big Mike’s Steaks & Hoagies at Forksville General Store sits in one of the best geographic positions of any food stop in northern Pennsylvania.
World’s End State Park is just minutes away, and Ricketts Glen State Park is within reasonable driving distance, making this the natural refueling point for anyone spending a day in the Loyalsock corridor.
The Double Run Trail, the canyon loop at World’s End, and the scenic drives through Sullivan County all funnel hungry hikers and riders directly toward Forksville.
Arriving at the store after a morning on the trails with a cheesesteak waiting at the finish line is a motivation strategy that actually works.
The $-rated price point keeps things accessible, which matters when you’re already spending on gear, gas, and travel costs.
Getting a high-quality meal at a fair price after a full day outdoors in Pennsylvania feels like the universe rewarding good decisions. Plan the hike first, then plan the sandwich.