Johnny Longhots: Spicy food, free shots, and all six 'Rocky' movies on repeat all day

James McGinnis, Bucks County Courier Times
·3 min read
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Finally, we have a place to eat spicy sandwiches, gaze at pictures of St. Katherine Drexel and Frank Rizzo, or watch one of the six "Rocky" films on a big screen TV.

Stumble into Johnny Longhots Steaks on Levittown Parkway in Fairless Hills, and one of the workers will probably offer you a free "shot" of either Fireball, Jack Daniels, Johnnie Walker or DeWar's White Label Blended Scotch Whisky.

This selection of free liquor labeled "Johnny's Stash" sits beneath several crucifixes, a statue of Mary, and a large poster of the Lord's Prayer.

In the kitchen, Salvatore LoDuca — a first generation Sicilian American — is preparing what he calls the "Italian Hot Dog." That's three all-beef hot dogs topped with sliced potatoes, peppers, onions, ketchup and spicy mustard on a roll.

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Johnny Longhot's dining room boasts a large painted mural of Gritty, Franklin, the Phillie Phanatic, Swoop, Will Smith, and a young Sylvester Stallone in boxing gloves holding up a meatball sandwich.

The Johnny Longhot, pictured here with a side of cherry peppers, is made with ribeye steak, onions, mushrooms, sharp provolone and longhots.
The Johnny Longhot, pictured here with a side of cherry peppers, is made with ribeye steak, onions, mushrooms, sharp provolone and longhots.

The menu is even more colorful, with huge sandwiches, most of them named after Philadelphia icons or characters from the beloved "Rocky" film collection.

Fried eggplant, chicken, or veal cutlets are named "The Rocky," "The Mickey," "The Paulie," or "The Frank Rizzo."

The "Balboa" is pepperoni, roasted peppers, provolone and marinara. The "Fishtown" is peppered ham, prosciutto, salami, roasted peppers, and sharp provolone.

The "Broad Street Burger" is topped with bacon, BBQ sauce, pepper jack cheese, and fried onion rings. The "Gritty Special" is a cheesesteak topped with white cheddar and Old Bay-seasoned french fries.

Customers wait for their order at Johnny Longhots, in Bristol Township, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
Customers wait for their order at Johnny Longhots, in Bristol Township, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.

The "Dat Pickle-back Jawn" is a cheesesteak with cooper sharp cheddar, fried pickles, and Texas pedal sauce.

Order the "Franklin" and you will get a cheesesteak topped with bacon, onion rings, BBQ sauce, cheese whiz, and long hot peppers.

What's the healthiest thing on the menu?

Owner Joseph LoDuca said customers could order "a cup of water."

Johnny Longhots Steaks opened on Black Friday 2019. Among the 15 employees are Joseph LoDuca, his wife Laura, brother Fabio, daughter Katelyn, and sons Giuseppe, Lorenzo and Salvatore Jr.

The grandfather Salvatore LoDuca, age 78, is not technically an employee, but still comes to the kitchen most afternoons, he said. "I do it because I love it."

Joe LoDuca, owner of Johnny Longhots, in Bristol Township, tops off his signature sandwich, The Johnny Longhot, with peppers, on Tuesday, April 6, 2022.
Joe LoDuca, owner of Johnny Longhots, in Bristol Township, tops off his signature sandwich, The Johnny Longhot, with peppers, on Tuesday, April 6, 2022.

The LoDuca family previously ran a chain of Lavita's pizza restaurants in Mount Holly and Willingboro, New Jersey, before deciding to switch course with a new brand and, hopefully, other future locations to open soon.

The love of long hot peppers dates back to Joseph LoDuca's childhood in Brooklyn and an uncle with a serious passion for peppers and whisky.

"Johnny always had the long hots on the table," he said. "He'd picked at the long hots with some bread and he would sit there and sip on Johnny Walker. It's a slow heat. It's not like a jalapeño. It's a nice warmth that sticks with you."

The walls at Johnny Longhots, in Bristol Township, display photos of Philadelphia icons, like St. Katherine Drexel, top left, and Frank Rizzo, top right.
The walls at Johnny Longhots, in Bristol Township, display photos of Philadelphia icons, like St. Katherine Drexel, top left, and Frank Rizzo, top right.

Joseph LoDuca also said "there's no better way to celebrate Philly" than to constantly stream footage of "Rocky" (1976), "Rocky II" (1979), "Rocky III" (1982), "Rocky IV" (1985), "Rocky V" (1990) and "Rocky Balboa" (2006).

The family favorite is "Rocky III," in which Sylvester Stallone's Rocky loses a title fight with Mr. T, suffers the death of his beloved trainer Mickey, and later returns to boxing with the help of former rival Apollo Creed.

Creed, played by Carl Weathers, tells Rocky he must find the "eye of the tiger." Created for the film, the hit song "Eye of the Tiger" was released by the American rock band Survivor one day before the release of "Rocky III" and remained at the top of the Billboard charts for six weeks.

"I'm hoping someday Sylvester Stallone finds me here at the restaurant," said Joseph LoDuca. "If he comes, he can have any kind of sandwich."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Fairless Hills' Johnny Longhots serves up spice with Philly flair