Nicky’s Undefeated has opened in the former Burger 21 space with a menu focused on Philly cheesesteaks, hoagies, chicken cutlet sandwiches, and Italian roast pork sandwiches. The restaurant draws heavily from Philadelphia and South Jersey food culture, using Liscio’s rolls from South Jersey, deli meats from the Philadelphia area, and ingredients such as Cooper Sharp cheese and Italian long hot peppers.
From Philadelphia to Atlanta
Nicky’s Undefeated was created by longtime friends Michael Lo and Walt Gebelein. Lo grew up in North Philadelphia, while Gebelein is from the Camden area of South Jersey. The two met while working for The Home Depot in the early 2000s and found plenty of common ground in Philadelphia sports, sandwiches, and their family backgrounds. Lo grew up around his family’s restaurant business, while Gebelein’s family operated a liquor store in South Jersey.
Lo later entered Atlanta’s restaurant business himself, with experience behind concepts including Salaryman, Ramen Station, and Suzy Siu’s Baos. Nicky’s became his first restaurant partnership with Gebelein, built around food both men had missed after spending roughly two decades in the South.
The first Nicky’s Undefeated opened on Main Street in Tucker in August 2024. The restaurant quickly established its identity around Philadelphia cheesesteaks, hoagies, chicken cutlets, and other Italian American foods associated with the Delaware Valley. Kennesaw is the second location.
The Story Behind Nicky
The name is another Philadelphia reference. Gebelein has joked that practically every Philadelphia friend group has several guys named Nick or Nicky, while Lo has pointed to the long roster of Philadelphia sports figures named Nick, including Nick Foles, Nick Sirianni and Nick Castellanos. “Undefeated” taps into boxing and Philadelphia’s sports obsession, with Rocky Balboa as another obvious influence. Even the restaurant logo gets in on the act, replacing the apostrophe in Nicky’s with the Liberty Bell.
Cheesesteaks Done the Philly Way
Cheesesteaks are a large part of the menu. Nicky’s uses ribeye sliced and cooked to order on Liscio’s rolls, with the same type of cheese they use in Philadelphia sandwich shops.
The Founders Special is a good place to start, with shaved ribeye, onions, and Cooper Sharp on a seeded roll. Cooper Sharp is a sharp white American cheese with deep Philadelphia roots and the melting ability required for the sandwiches. An Italian long hot pepper can be added for a little extra bite. Chicken cheesesteaks and an Impossible version are also available.
Hoagies, Not Subs
Nicky’s takes the hoagie side of the menu equally seriously. The Italian Hoagie features ham, mortadella, prosciutto, Genoa salami, hot capicola and sharp provolone onto a roll. It comes dressed in what the restaurant calls the “Philly Philly Way,” with shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.
Other choices include roast turkey, maple turkey, ham and cheese, and a vegetable hoagie with broccoli rabe, roasted red peppers, and provolone. The bread is also one of the most important parts. Nicky’s specifically buys their rolls from Liscio’s Bakery in South Jersey.
Chicken Cutlets and Roast Pork
The chicken cutlet sandwiches are also a traditional Italian American Philadelphia specialty. Chicken breasts are pounded, breaded, and fried to order before going onto Liscio’s rolls.
The Rocky Balboa is chicken parmesan with mozzarella, Parmesan, and marinara. The Nick Foles combines fried chicken cutlet with broccoli rabe, sharp provolone, roasted red peppers, and balsamic glaze. The Rizzo uses arugula, sharp provolone, tomato, pesto, red wine vinegar, and olive oil, while the Meadow Soprano tops fried chicken with a kale Caesar combination of kale, red onion, pecorino Romano, and Caesar dressing.
Nicky’s also makes an Italian roast pork sandwich with herbed pork, pork jus, broccoli rabe, and a seeded roll. Roast pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe is one of Philadelphia’s other signature sandwich combinations, often lost in the shadow of the cheesesteak.
Beyond the Sandwiches
The menu also includes wings, mozzarella squares, pretzel bites with Whiz or Cooper cheese, cheesesteak egg rolls, chicken tenders, and oversized hot dogs. Crinkle cut fries can be ordered plain, dusted with Old Bay, or paired with Whiz or Cooper cheese sauce. There are also onion rings, salads, Italian peppers, and Herr’s potato chips, another familiar name for people who grew up around Philadelphia.
Lo and Gebelein built the concept around the ingredients, sandwich styles, and foods they knew growing up, then brought those details south.
Nicky’s Undefeated held their soft opening on September 3, 2026. The restaurant is located in Kennesaw Marketplace Shopping Center near Whole Foods at Barrett and Cobb Parkway.
Address:
Kennesaw Marketplace Shopping Center (Whole Foods)
1300 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway NW, Suite 310
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone:
(404) 434-0115
Online:
NickysUndefeated.com | Menu | Facebook | Instagram