Rick's Steaks

Typically, the most you stand to lose in a landlord-tenant dispute is your security deposit -- and that Hall & Oates box set you're sure you left on the closet shelf even though the suspiciously mustachioed new tenants swear they don't remember seeing it. Rebounding from a more epic lease war, Rick's Steaks

Today marks the opening of Rick's "Downstairs at the Bellevue", a thankful return that follows a year-long court battle involving high-powered attorneys, high profile politicians, rampant media coverage, a combined cost to both sides of $1M+, and ultimately the ouster of Rick's from the Reading Terminal Market after 25 unabashedly fattening years. Owner Rick Olivieri -- whose grandfather Pat is revered as the inventor of the steak sandwich -- plans to change little more than the logo (see left), still offering up whole slices of grilled steak (or chicken steaks) "wit" or "wit-out" onions, slathered in sharp, pepper Jack, Provolone, Whiz, or American (oddly, processed cheese is actually a Swiss invention, but they're obviously too neutral to fight for the credit). One addition: an expanded breakfast menu (available 8-10:30am) featuring egg and cheese sandwiches topped with meat, shrooms, or peppers served up on an English muffin or a mini steak roll, as well as omelets and home fries; nonetheless, in accordance with FDA dietary recommendations, steaks are still served all day.

Because this is a pretty big deal, a grand opening celebration is planned for June 25th, complete with local chanteur Kenn Kweder, guest grillmaster Al Roker, and a visit from Gov. Ed Rendell, who, whenever presented with free grub, most certainly can go for that.