Sammy's Restaurant

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.

Editor's Tips

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.

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User Reviews (28)

ambiance	70.37000179290771% positive	“The atmosphere was amazing, a cheesey Yiddish piano bar singer kept us well entertained, it only got better after 2 bottles of red.” “The secret: great atmosphere, a dozen bottles of vodka, dancing and non-uptight friends.” “The atmosphere was terrible, for a second when I walked in I thought it was a subway, but then I saw them serving food.” “Rude host, sub-par food, entertaining atmosphere” “Schmaltz on the table, rib steaks so big the bones poke the folks at the next table, and your Uncle Sol's basement rec room for decor.” “The live music was great and the atmosphere was unique.” “We've been to Sammy's before with large groups because of the highly entertaining atmosphere; it certainly is not the food that has kept us coming back.” “The music is super fun, the guy on the microphone really keeps the mood upbeat and everyone ends up dancing around the restaurant after a couple of bottles of vodka.” “The service is obnoxious (an imitation of the brusque waiters at Luger's - the major difference being that this place doesn't serve edible food), the cuts of meat are as bad as they get, and the atmosphere (which is this restaurant's only redeeming qualit”
drinks	100.0% positive	“The atmosphere was amazing, a cheesey Yiddish piano bar singer kept us well entertained, it only got better after 2 bottles of red.”
food quality	68.39000225067139% positive	“Rude host, sub-par food, entertaining atmosphere” “All of the steaks are big skirt steaks with plenty of garlic.” “We shared the rib steak, huge but done to perfection with garlic.” “Great Eastern European Jewish non-deli food” “It is difficult to describe how you can make a steak taste so bad.” “The stuffed cabbage was outstanding, plus the family style meal is all you can eat for $60 which is not bad in NYC.” “The food was just not good at all.” “work in the food industry and for my money there is nothing greater than a great meal at a great spot.” “Maybe it's because I'm not Jewish and I don't "get it", but bad food is bad food.” “We could have gone to chinatown and had REALLY good food for a fraction of the cost.” “You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy the food, but it sure helps to understand what Sammy's is all about.” “The food was good -- juicy steaks, flavorful if fattening appetizers and side dishes.” “The food was good - but who wants to pay $30 for a veal chop with no sides?” “The steak was tender and smothered in Garlic, the potato pancakes were crispy, the pickled vegetable were excellent.” “Great food, great service, great everything.” “Great food just like my Jewish mother used to make.” “Great price for a couple of pieces of bread, a vodka with dirty seltzer and a veal dumpling.” “The atmosphere was terrible, for a second when I walked in I thought it was a subway, but then I saw them serving food.” “The only thing on the menu which was good was the salmon.” “The service is obnoxious (an imitation of the brusque waiters at Luger's - the major difference being that this place doesn't serve edible food), the cuts of meat are as bad as they get, and the atmosphere (which is this restaurant's only redeeming qualit” “First came the chop liver, then the cabbage rolls, then the veal sausage, then we each order the largest steaks i have ever seen.” “The service was awful, the food was awful and the entertainment was the worst of all.” “Schmaltz on the table, rib steaks so big the bones poke the folks at the next table, and your Uncle Sol's basement rec room for decor.” “The food is delicious.” “We've been to Sammy's before with large groups because of the highly entertaining atmosphere; it certainly is not the food that has kept us coming back.” “However the food was inedible.” “did not get the garlic on top so they must use so much of it so it masks the awful taste of the meat.” “Form that perspective, the food was terrific.” “These steaks were unreal, cut with a spoon, slathered in garlic, the best piece of meat I have ever had, and I have eated a supposed "best steak in the world" for twice its price.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Everything I have tried here and I just checked the menu and have sampled everything over the years is great!” “The only thing on the menu which was good was the salmon.”
overall	100.0% positive	“This is also a great place to take your Jewish grandmother.”
service	60.0% positive	“The aftermath: this was one of the best nights many people ever had going out in NY (and a very rough Sunday).” “Our server was amazing.” “The service was awful, the food was awful and the entertainment was the worst of all.” “Great food, great service, great everything.” “The service is obnoxious (an imitation of the brusque waiters at Luger's - the major difference being that this place doesn't serve edible food), the cuts of meat are as bad as they get, and the atmosphere (which is this restaurant's only redeeming qualit”
value	70.0% positive	“work in the food industry and for my money there is nothing greater than a great meal at a great spot.” “We shared the rib steak, huge but done to perfection with garlic.” “These steaks were unreal, cut with a spoon, slathered in garlic, the best piece of meat I have ever had, and I have eated a supposed "best steak in the world" for twice its price.” “Great price for a couple of pieces of bread, a vodka with dirty seltzer and a veal dumpling.” “quaint, expensive, bring tums”

05/01/12

Best Louis Armstrong Impression Ever!!!

by Srubin124

From the First time i was introduced to Sammy's, I thought by the look of the place that my friend was out of her mind. The place looked like an outdated basement. She told me to trust her and to give it a chance. As the night began, we were served with amazing food and vodka which eased my mood. I started feeling a bit more relaxed and enjoying myself once the musician started playing and entertaining us. He was hilarious and very talented. If I would have not seen his face, I would have thought Louis Armstrong was on the stage singing. Overall, I ended up having a great time and recommended the place to friends. "Never judge a book by its cover"

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01/08/12

Drink the vodka as fast as you can.

by BillyBilly

It would have been easier if Sammy himself came to my house and kicked me in the face ten times while I wiped my you know what and then flushed a fist full of 20 dollar bills. To be fair however, the place was packed.

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05/14/11

Food is great and very entertaining

by MAsha

Dined at Sammy's last night. Food is great, the entertainment was hilarious. Don't remember the last time I enjoyed food so much and I would definitely go back again.

If you are more into décor and high end service then food then this might not be the place for you, but if you want great food check them out 

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03/03/10

Great Eastern European Jewish non-deli food

by BobGourmand

Great food just like my Jewish mother used to make. Everything I have tried here and I just checked the menu and have sampled everything over the years is great!! The bad reviews cannot be from Jews from an Eastern European origin. Israeli or Sephardic Jews may not appreciate the food. This is Jewish Ashkenazi cooking from Poland, Roumania, Russia, Ukraine, etc. It is not very spicy except for lots of garlic. I try to visit Sammy's every time I am in Manhattan.

Pros: Roumanian Tenderloin Steak
Cons: Music is too loud

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11/23/09

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAARF

by joereiter

By all that is good and holy, this is without question AWFUL. Maybe it's because I'm not Jewish and I don't "get it", but bad food is bad food. A group of eight of us spent $165 PER PERSON for family style crap (chicken fat in chopped liver after the waiter duped the women into putting it on their bread). The highlights: the bread was edible and the Kettle One helped me not throw up from the smells. The waiter wasn't a complete tool. The homeless guy outside who loiters by the ATM (smooth move, Sammy's, you keep an ATM nearby for those of us not expecting to be prison-raped by the over-inflated prices) asking for money was entertaining. A once in a lifetime experience....hopefully I don't get re-incarnated and forced to return there. Isn't there a half-star option? No? F you too, Citysearch!!!

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Editor's Tips

05/01/12

Best Louis Armstrong Impression Ever!!!

by Srubin124

01/08/12

Drink the vodka as fast as you can.

by BillyBilly

05/14/11

Food is great and very entertaining

by MAsha

03/03/10

Great Eastern European Jewish non-deli food

by BobGourmand

11/23/09

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAARF

by joereiter

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