I went here years ago, double lobster dish, and it was great. Very cozy. I've been reading the other reviews, and it seems that nay-sayers don't know how to eat. Pasta and sauce is not fine dining, and if that's what you like, stay home!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 2 Whole Maine Lobsters, Steak for Two, Half Order of Vodka Pasta, Stuffed Mushrooms, Famous Fries, Oil and Garlic Spaghetti, French Fries
TheISSbreaker3
Been living in the area for most of my life, but never went to Sammy’s until last night, with my family. Heard great reviews, but was not expecting how bad it really was.Got there and was greeted by a stingy, mildew scent. We gave our order and proceeded to walk downstairs to the bar, where we greeted by another smell. This time it was much worse, reeking of sewage.The bartender gave us our drinks, which were mainly alcohol, no real other flavor. When our food was ready we had to head back up stairs and through the rancid smell, again….The meal was awful: Salad was basically just thrown together and drowned in red wine vinegar, while the “For Two Steak” was butchered into chunks and severed under a mound of greasy fries. My “Bone in NY Strip” was supposed to be medium, but was cooked twice as rare. The dessert is the only thing that keeps it at one star; if you can call store bought, premade food the reason why I keep that rating.Over all, the food was horrible, and got me and my uncle sick, while the smell lingered in the building and food all night. If you want a good quality steak, go to The Station in Mountain Lakes. I don’t consider this place a “Steak House.”
mike s
Can’t believe this dump still around. Locals including former Gov avoid the place. If you want to wait in old dungeon basement, be treated like it’s a privilege to eat there, super soggy salad, Mediocre at best steak and lousy service this place is for you.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Sunny Orchid
I have mixed feeling on how to review this restaurant! Pro, I love local restaurant for its story and uniqueness: example I never have pasta in load of olive oil and delicious crispy garlic (I mean tons of garlic) before, not like this. Con, some dish like salad red wine vinegar can use a new twist to refine its taste and appeal.
Michael Egan
Daughter's Birthday food is still great. Place is pricey but worth it. No wait, however went on a Sunday. Weekends expect a wait. It is pricey. Bar with games downstairs while you wait for a seat.Penne Vodka is excellent.Place is open air and can be noisy but it doesn't seem to bother to many. NOT for a Romantic evening. More like where you go with family and friends for a good time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fries
TJ Daniels
I've been going to Sammy's my entire life and happened to stumble upon its Google profile for the first time. I am incredibly disappointed that some tasteless and negative buffoons would come here and give this historic family-owned establishment a 1-star review. Let me do you a favor -- if you've never been to Sammy's, this is the only review you need to read.Sammy's has the ambience of a restaurant that has been family owned since the 1920's. You know why? Because that's exactly what it is. If you're looking for something that has been designed by some trendy upscale dining consultant, you will be sorely disappointed. If you can bear for one night being in a place that is singular and historic, you will enjoy yourself.You order when you walk in and go have a drink downstairs with Woody who is a phenomenal guy while you wait for your table. Again, if it is too emotionally taxing for you to do things slightly differently for one of the thousands of nights out you will have in your lifetime, then maybe Sammy's isn't the place for you. If you enjoy having a prohibition-era experience and can take 10-15 minutes to soak in a classic atmosphere, you will enjoy yourself. If you like Manhattans they do a good homemade barrel-aged one.Now to the food -- we order some combination of fresh mozzerella, shrimp scampi, penne vodka, spaghetti with garlic & oil as appetizers and every single time I get the NY strip medium rare. I think I got the chicken once and enjoyed it. I would eat literally anything that comes out of that kitchen but in full transparency, those are my regular orders that constitute 95% of what I've eaten over 30 years.Dinner comes with salad, fries (the best ever), a vegetable and dessert. I saw some people complain about the salad -- I just want to apologize to them firsthand for being given a free iceberg lettuce salad. That must have been really tough!Sammy's is a thoroughly original experience as new dining options feel more and more homogenous every year. If you're expecting the same exact experience as some of the high-end chain steakhouses, you might be disappointed. It's a special place, and they're not making any more like it, so enjoy it for what it is!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Peter Capalbo
This place is one of a kind and very unique. Great food too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Charlie Batilo
Great tasting steak and lobster! Service is amazing!Parking: Arrive early for best parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Salad, Bone-In Dry-Aged New York Strip, 2 Whole Maine Lobsters, French Fries, Creamed Corn, Oil and Garlic Spaghetti
Ashley Jay
How is this restaurant in business? Horrible food. Arrived at 6 pm and still had to wait an hour in the dirty loud basement for a table. Salad is iceberg lettuce with spoiled vinegar. Penne was fine. Both our steaks came out rare when I ordered medium well. They re-cooked it and was still rare. Served with "creamed corn" which was all cream and no corn. My steak eventually came out charred. Both the steaks were under-seasoned with no flavor. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Corynne
I'm baffled at how there are reviews with more than 2 stars. I was hoping for this unique experience everyone talks of and was so disappointed. The ambience is terrible; you walk into a florescent lighting mess hall, give your order, and walk into a musty basement bar with rude bartenders. The servers everywhere were frustrated with any requests. The food was disgusting! We had a table of 12 and not a single person left saying they had a good meal. Salad tastes like it has nail polish remover, scampi was freezer burnt, the steak (star entree) was mediocre at best, Pork came out entirely raw, and one of our guests has been vomiting for hours after the veal. At $150 the entire experience is completely unacceptable. There are so many places to bring your business, this is not it.
The greeting was nice, the food was poor!! We ordered a filet med well that came out rare. The other was a sirloin that was ordered medium that came served burnt on the outside and rare in the middle. The fries were so thin that they cane burnt! The broclie had no flavor at all. Desert was an apple crisp that also had no flavor at all. The wine was $14 a glass for a wine that costs $14 a bottle. Over priced and under florvored was consistent!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Dennis Stellita
Horrible should be closed
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
W Dowling
We have enjoyed dinner at Sammy’s over the past 40 years. At one time I believed the steaks were comparable to the Palm in NYC and Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn. However, our last meal was extremely disappointing. We ordered ribeyes. We should have returned the steaks and requested a refund but we were eating with out of town guests and I didn’t want to embarrass them. The meat was tough and gristly for everyone. Sadly, I don’t think we will be eating there again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: French Fries
Dan C
Excellent food the idea is great it just needs some updating to the
I went here years ago, double lobster dish, and it was great. Very cozy. I've been reading the other reviews, and it seems that nay-sayers don't know how to eat. Pasta and sauce is not fine dining, and if that's what you like, stay home!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 2 Whole Maine Lobsters, Steak for Two, Half Order of Vodka Pasta, Stuffed Mushrooms, Famous Fries, Oil and Garlic Spaghetti, French Fries
Been living in the area for most of my life, but never went to Sammy’s until last night, with my family. Heard great reviews, but was not expecting how bad it really was.Got there and was greeted by a stingy, mildew scent. We gave our order and proceeded to walk downstairs to the bar, where we greeted by another smell. This time it was much worse, reeking of sewage.The bartender gave us our drinks, which were mainly alcohol, no real other flavor. When our food was ready we had to head back up stairs and through the rancid smell, again….The meal was awful: Salad was basically just thrown together and drowned in red wine vinegar, while the “For Two Steak” was butchered into chunks and severed under a mound of greasy fries. My “Bone in NY Strip” was supposed to be medium, but was cooked twice as rare. The dessert is the only thing that keeps it at one star; if you can call store bought, premade food the reason why I keep that rating.Over all, the food was horrible, and got me and my uncle sick, while the smell lingered in the building and food all night. If you want a good quality steak, go to The Station in Mountain Lakes. I don’t consider this place a “Steak House.”
Can’t believe this dump still around. Locals including former Gov avoid the place. If you want to wait in old dungeon basement, be treated like it’s a privilege to eat there, super soggy salad, Mediocre at best steak and lousy service this place is for you.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
I have mixed feeling on how to review this restaurant! Pro, I love local restaurant for its story and uniqueness: example I never have pasta in load of olive oil and delicious crispy garlic (I mean tons of garlic) before, not like this. Con, some dish like salad red wine vinegar can use a new twist to refine its taste and appeal.
Daughter's Birthday food is still great. Place is pricey but worth it. No wait, however went on a Sunday. Weekends expect a wait. It is pricey. Bar with games downstairs while you wait for a seat.Penne Vodka is excellent.Place is open air and can be noisy but it doesn't seem to bother to many. NOT for a Romantic evening. More like where you go with family and friends for a good time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Famous Fries
I've been going to Sammy's my entire life and happened to stumble upon its Google profile for the first time. I am incredibly disappointed that some tasteless and negative buffoons would come here and give this historic family-owned establishment a 1-star review. Let me do you a favor -- if you've never been to Sammy's, this is the only review you need to read.Sammy's has the ambience of a restaurant that has been family owned since the 1920's. You know why? Because that's exactly what it is. If you're looking for something that has been designed by some trendy upscale dining consultant, you will be sorely disappointed. If you can bear for one night being in a place that is singular and historic, you will enjoy yourself.You order when you walk in and go have a drink downstairs with Woody who is a phenomenal guy while you wait for your table. Again, if it is too emotionally taxing for you to do things slightly differently for one of the thousands of nights out you will have in your lifetime, then maybe Sammy's isn't the place for you. If you enjoy having a prohibition-era experience and can take 10-15 minutes to soak in a classic atmosphere, you will enjoy yourself. If you like Manhattans they do a good homemade barrel-aged one.Now to the food -- we order some combination of fresh mozzerella, shrimp scampi, penne vodka, spaghetti with garlic & oil as appetizers and every single time I get the NY strip medium rare. I think I got the chicken once and enjoyed it. I would eat literally anything that comes out of that kitchen but in full transparency, those are my regular orders that constitute 95% of what I've eaten over 30 years.Dinner comes with salad, fries (the best ever), a vegetable and dessert. I saw some people complain about the salad -- I just want to apologize to them firsthand for being given a free iceberg lettuce salad. That must have been really tough!Sammy's is a thoroughly original experience as new dining options feel more and more homogenous every year. If you're expecting the same exact experience as some of the high-end chain steakhouses, you might be disappointed. It's a special place, and they're not making any more like it, so enjoy it for what it is!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is one of a kind and very unique. Great food too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great tasting steak and lobster! Service is amazing!Parking: Arrive early for best parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Salad, Bone-In Dry-Aged New York Strip, 2 Whole Maine Lobsters, French Fries, Creamed Corn, Oil and Garlic Spaghetti
How is this restaurant in business? Horrible food. Arrived at 6 pm and still had to wait an hour in the dirty loud basement for a table. Salad is iceberg lettuce with spoiled vinegar. Penne was fine. Both our steaks came out rare when I ordered medium well. They re-cooked it and was still rare. Served with "creamed corn" which was all cream and no corn. My steak eventually came out charred. Both the steaks were under-seasoned with no flavor. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I'm baffled at how there are reviews with more than 2 stars. I was hoping for this unique experience everyone talks of and was so disappointed. The ambience is terrible; you walk into a florescent lighting mess hall, give your order, and walk into a musty basement bar with rude bartenders. The servers everywhere were frustrated with any requests. The food was disgusting! We had a table of 12 and not a single person left saying they had a good meal. Salad tastes like it has nail polish remover, scampi was freezer burnt, the steak (star entree) was mediocre at best, Pork came out entirely raw, and one of our guests has been vomiting for hours after the veal. At $150 the entire experience is completely unacceptable. There are so many places to bring your business, this is not it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
When in area best steak house in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The greeting was nice, the food was poor!! We ordered a filet med well that came out rare. The other was a sirloin that was ordered medium that came served burnt on the outside and rare in the middle. The fries were so thin that they cane burnt! The broclie had no flavor at all. Desert was an apple crisp that also had no flavor at all. The wine was $14 a glass for a wine that costs $14 a bottle. Over priced and under florvored was consistent!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Horrible should be closed
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We have enjoyed dinner at Sammy’s over the past 40 years. At one time I believed the steaks were comparable to the Palm in NYC and Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn. However, our last meal was extremely disappointing. We ordered ribeyes. We should have returned the steaks and requested a refund but we were eating with out of town guests and I didn’t want to embarrass them. The meat was tough and gristly for everyone. Sadly, I don’t think we will be eating there again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: French Fries
Excellent food the idea is great it just needs some updating to the
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4