Phamous Phil’s to be Featured on Food Network Thursday

Phamous Phil’s BBQ and Grille will make its Food Network debut on Thursday night at 10 p.m. when Rocko DeSpirito’s “Restaurant Divided” explores the possibility of a new concept at the Collegeville restaurant.

The Germantown Pike restaurant has been open for just over three years, and co-owner Robin Schmidt has said that business has started to slow down over the past year.

Phamous Phil’s food has earned many awards, from Best in Philly to placing on the Philly Hot List, so Schmidt reached out to the Food Network for an outside assessment as to what could be wrong.  She was quickly hooked up with DeSpirito’s new show.

Restaurant Divided split the restaurant into two – one serving the traditional Phamous Phil’s fare, and one providing chophouse dishes. The customers voted to decide which concept they preferred, and their choice will be revealed when the show airs.

“They shut us down for one week and sort of took over our lives,” Schmidt said, according to The Phoenix. “We were constantly (on microphones) and it was very intense. We were working 12 hour days and there was a lot of repetition (with scenes). Everyone had to put their lives on hold for the show.”

Another important part of the story is how Phamous Phil’s came to be.

Phil Schmidt, a Methacton graduate, has a long history with southern-style barbecue, after “after spending time in Tennessee and falling in love with the food and preparation,” according to the restaurant’s website.  Phil Schmidt has judged for the Kansas City BBQ Society, and has a passion for bringing the style of cooking to the Northeast.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Robin Schmidt said. “It will be great to see (what concept) will win and how it will let us keep giving our customers what they want.”