Sammy's Restaurant
(212) 673-0330
157 Chrystie St
New York,
NY
10002
40.7205
-73.9927
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Lower East Side
What People Are Saying About Sammy's Restaurant
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
Every night's a bar mitzvah at this Lower East Side landmark, where the combination of frozen vodka bottles, immense garlicky skirt steaks, the strains of a Casio keyboard playing "New York New York" and "Havah Nagila" are as unmistakable as the Great Neck basemet decor. Sammy's is the last of the great Jewish restaurants on the Lower East Side, and Jews from all over the Eastern seaboard return there to touch their roots. And Sammy's always delivers, right down to the bowls of chicken liver that are mixed at your table, with a pancake syrup dispenser filled with chicken fat.
User Reviews
foodcritic106
April 23, 2009
I went to Sammy's Restaurant a few weeks ago for dinner with a group of 10 people. It was the worst restaurant I have ever been to. I'd rather eat at Taco Bell with dead animals in my food. The service was awful, the food was awful and the entertainment was the worst of all. It's better watching a Hobo crossing the street. The atmosphere was terrible, for a second when I walked in I thought it was a subway, but then I saw them serving food. It was an embarrassment taking group of friends there. Then when I looked at the Bill, I almost died. Over 750 dollars for eating nonsense. They should be paying me. What is this? If you dare to take someone to this Restaurant I recommend bringing a throwup bag and extra food because you'll get hungry after not eating the atrocious food. Also they have Alka Seltzer waiting on the Table for you there so they pretty much expected you to have a stomach ache. Dont get me started with the Bathrooms; I'd rather make a dudi in my pants; its worse then a gas station or a train. Sammy's Restaurant was an awful experience and good luck if you plan on dining there. I thought I was being Punk'd by MTV.
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tortuesd
February 09, 2009
I have been to Sammy's last Saturday with 5 friends and among them a Romania friend. What a disappointment. The food was just not good at all. I promise. I don't even know how the chief could have dared serving this. Run from the veal cutlet. It is overpriced and uneatable. The only thing you may try is the steak. That is it. We were all so disappointed. The food was a kind of joke.
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nookienate
January 27, 2009
Last Saturday, went to Sammy's with 30 close friends for a fantastic birthday party. The aftermath: this was one of the best nights many people ever had going out in NY (and a very rough Sunday). The secret: great atmosphere, a dozen bottles of vodka, dancing and non-uptight friends. I'm sure there are nights that the crowd doesn't vibe this place but we were into it full-force like the year was 5999. If you have ever had eastern european food, you will get the cuisine. Form that perspective, the food was terrific. Everyone loved it and and lots of folks even sampled the more exotic stuff. The steak was spectacular. On the other hand, if you're from fly-over country, and Outback is the fanciest restaurant in your town, this steak is not for you. I was p*ssed they took some of the steak away while we were dancing around the place to Fiddler on the Roof or something like that. The prices: we got the prefix menu which came out to around $60. This is fantastic for the amount and variety of food they kept bringing us, especially by NY standards. The alchohol probably came out to about $40 per person. Considering what drinks cost in NY and how much we drank, we were thrilled with this as well. Add tax and a very well deserved tip and the bill came to around $130 per person. We'll worth a night of eating, drinking, and dancing. Bottom Line: Come with a big group, relax, get drunk, get up and dance.
read full reviewThe Details on Sammy's Restaurant
Know Before You Go:
The steaks come in three sizes: huge, gargantuan and ridiculous. Order accordingly.
What to Drink:
Vodka will come to your table frozen in ice. Be careful drinking it though: Sammy's charges dearly for it.
The Extras:
The chopped liver is a whole show, with the waiter mixing all the ingredients tableside.
