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Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
157 Chrystie St(between Delancey St & Rivington St)
New York, NY 10002
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
(212) 673-0330
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bowery (J)
Grand St (B, D)
Spring St (4, 6, 6X)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
118 reviews for Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse
Review Highlights
"The chopped liver is enough to convert some vegetarians."
(in 44 reviews)
"Actually liked the stuffed cabbage as well."
(in 12 reviews)
"Yes, but its chicken fat, tastes amazing with some chicken..."
(in 25 reviews)
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118 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer C.
Newark, CA
Came here on the last day of 2011 to bring in the new year and boy was this the right choice. This restaurant is FESTIVE to the max, with balloons and decorations everywhere.
We LOVED the live entertainment by Dani Luv (http://www.facebook.co...). He was so much fun, interacting with the audience and getting everyone to get up and dance around the restaurant (take a look at my photos!)
Our server, Eric, is awesome. I'm not sure if he is the owner, but he sure acted like it. He took the time to order for us and came back time and time again to check up on us. As parting gift, he gave each of us (5 total) free Sammy's T-SHIRTS! What an awesome guy.
The food is EXCELLENT. I hear Sammy's is famous for their chopped liver dish, but unforunately my friends were not adventurous enough to try it this time. The dishes we did try:
Sausage appetizer
Rib steak
Skirt steak
Stuffed cabbage
Potato pancake
Everything was excellent. The meat is good quality and cooked just the way we ordered it - medium rare!
The bill came out to be about $47 pre-tip.
P.S. Get the Ketel one vodka shots. It'll help you get the party started! -
Review from Dylan K.
Culver City, CA
1/24/2012
I had a great time but, I was drunk on Vodka 10 minutes after arriving. I don't know how much it cost because someone else paid--but, I have a feeling it's pretty pricey. As everyone else is saying--it's a great place for a birthday party with a group.
I'm not all that into Eastern European/Jewish/Polish food--but this place seemed authentic and it's a ton of fun.
The steak is so big that it has to fold up on each end to fit on a plate--I would probably share a portion next time.
Does anyone remember how much a bottle of Vodka is? -
Review from Lena L.
1/16/2012
Shiksa reporting in here! Ventured here for a friend's 30th with 20 other people. We sat in the basement room off to the left of the entrance. The walls are covered with pictures (think wall paper) of drunk happy people, I knew we were headed in the right direction.
There is a keyboard player singing with an obviously contrived jewish accent and cracking cheesy jokes as they pass around appetizers and start your frozen ketel one flowing. There are shout outs to the various parties and lots of cheers.
Once they notice you've gotten about the right quota of vodka in you, off goes Uncle Goldberg and on turns club Sammy's. Everyone was dancing, grinding, and fist pumping better than Snooki herself. In between making drinks, you dance and eat a bit.
The food was very eastern european jewish food, or so I was told. I tried liver for the first time and it wasn't bad. The steak wasn't Morton's but it held its own. I loved the roasted peppers and the stuffed cabbage.
Overall it was like the best shitty wedding you've ever been too, if that makes any sense. I would certainly recommend for a special drinking occasion.
*PS they also let us bring in our own dessert. -
Review from Brad K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2012
This is one of my favorite restaurants in New York. Be prepared for some digestion problems the next day and to have a garlicky order about you. The aftermath (especially if you order an ice encased vodka) is painful but it's worth it, assuming you like meat.
The place is loud and obnoxious and always crowded so be prepared and have a reservation. This isn't a date place. It's a place to celebrate a birthday party or a guys night out. And oh yes, if anyone in your party, much less 4 people (I'm looking at you Alisa K) are running late most NY restaurants will not seat you until they all get there.
I've been here a few times and the last time I was there I asked the waiter for some recommendations, explaining that I always get the same thing. He went wild and recommended we all share a bunch of different cuts and it was one of the best and meatiest meals I've ever had. -
Review from Jonathan G.
Jersey City, NJ
1/1/2012
Chopped liver prepared table side with schmaltz served in a diner-style maple syrup container.
Kettle One in a block of ice.
Cheezy bar mitzvah music.
Hands down, one of NYCs best restaurants. -
Review from Michael L.
Brooklyn, NY
10/17/2011
5 stars for being the most hysterical dinner I've had in New York City. When was the last time you went out to eat and couldn't find a phrase to describe your dining experience better than "hysterical dinner"?
If you do the price-fix menu you are greeted with pickles, wine, and a bottle of vodka to get the night started. Sooner than you can remember you are up dancing the hora, then back to the table for more bottles of vodka (unlimited!) and the largest portions of all of your favorites from grandma's house.
I was at this place for well over 3 hours, and the night ended much faster than I wanted it too. I walked out with a Sammy's t-shirt.
Anyone who gives this place 1 star on Yelp just went with the wrong crowd or didn't buy into the experience. Come here only if you're ready to accept the experience for what it is, which is a ridiculous night to let loose with close friends.
Same goes for any niche restaurant experience (like Ninja or Medieval Times). You go for a very specific experience, and Sammy's PERFECTLY delivers. -
Review from Ari B.
Valley Stream, NY
11/1/2011
How can you walk in and not feel like you entered into your grandmother's house? The man that plays the music and makes the jokes has been there for god knows how long and is truly a staple of the place!
I must admit, if you're watching your figure or are on a diet...wrong place! However, if you want some old fashioned Jewish cooking with the works, this place may be worth visiting. Oh, and "goyim" are more than welcome! Don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this experience! -
Review from Jonathan N.
Floral Park, NY
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for dinner for a birthday we had 6 people in our party. First impressions are nothing fancy looks old with lots of pictures on the wall. The service is good the food is good. We had the family special where it was a little of everything. They have a dj playing music and telling jokes. The atmosphere is dark and quite a few drunk people dancing and screaming. There was 5 birthdays going on at the same time including our party. When receiving our bill there were these extra charges we were unaware of what they were so we asked the waiter and he said 1 charge was a entertainment charge and another was a charge for a bottle of seltzer that we did not order. These charges were not announced to us. This I thought was unfair. Minus the extra charges this place was pretty good.
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Review from Seany B.
Manhattan, NY
9/30/2011
After reading all the mixed reviews I felt COMPELLED to share my experience at Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse. There are very few places I would describe as "magical": Disney World is a f--king magical place. Said words from the first time I slapped hands with Donald Duck at age 6. It is just not a term I use freely.
To fully enjoy the experience you MUST have a sense of humor. Because that is the only way you will survive this dining adventure. And it is an adventure my friends. My party consisted of 2 others, one who had been multiple times and the other person like myself was completely new to Sammy's. After we were seated our server greeted us, asked which menu we wanted to see (Holiday, Regular, or Prefixed) we selected the regular menu & ordered a bottle of vodka. It was just the logical thing to do after taking the homely decor in.
The bottle is served in a block of ice w/ a plastic bucket. We each ordered a medium steak which is the best size/value out of the 3 options. Mainly because the small was $34.65 & the medium was just $36.95. I know right? Don't order the large as you will not be able to finish it alone, unless you were looking for a heart attack mid-meal. We each ordered a different side (fried onions, latkas, mashed potatoes).
Once you order, start pouring the drinks and prepare for the highlight/entertainment of the evening. A "young Adonis" looking man will grace the stage and take a seat behind the keyboard. He will quickly begin his smooth, comedic, serenade, a routine that has been mastered for decades. I was too busy laughing and enjoying myself that once the food did arrive I could not tell you how long it took because time tends to stand still in magical places. Everybody knows that. What I can say is that the steak was great, the sides were not amazing but complimented the meal.
Everything tasted-- well it's more of a blur at this point since we had consumed 1/2 the bottle of Kettle One by the time the food arrived. Collectively we consumed everything we ordered. Looking at the other reviews, the food descriptions are very accurate. Delicious in the (drunk) moment, highly questionable tomorrow.
Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse is not for everyone. And there are certain people I would send here to do a "friend check". If their reaction or response is negative, I will then know we are clearly not on the same page and can terminate the relationship immediately. It's like that. The crowd while I was there ranged from older couples, to tables of young twenty-somethings (like us) to families with little children. But at each table everybody was smiling and enjoying themselves. Just like the thousands of pictures that align the walls. It really is a memorable, unique experience.
I have been to various steakhouses in the city. And for all the reviews comparing Sammy's to Peter Luger's or Benjamin's, or any general steakhouse is absurd. The best way to describe Sammy's came from the keyboardist himself, "This place isn't real-- This place doesn't exist." To be honest, I am still not sure if I did dine in the Twilight Zone or not. I'll be back to confirm. -
Review from John E.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
4/12/2011
Yes another 5 star rating.. if they had 8 stars Sammys would get 8...
Does the Health inspector belong here? Probably
Do they actually sell unborn eggs? Yes
What the hell is an unborn egg? Exactly what you thought it was.
Is that a syrup bottle of Lard? Yes, but its chicken fat, tastes amazing with some chicken liver and even better on those unborn eggs.
Is my waiters thumb in my skirt steak? Yes! (You should see what he does with his thumb when he is in the kitchen)
Is every single item on the menu absolutely delicious?
ABSOLUTELY and it only gets better when they take out the vodka frozen in ice and some lemons and sugar.
Is the music terrible? YES, thats what makes Sammys Roumanian Steakhouse so special... Its so wrong in so many ways its just PERFECT
Timeless, unique, never ever let it close. Look over at the table next to you, you never know who may be sitting there, staring back wondering who the hell you are. -
Review from R S.
Providence, RI
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is great. It is full of Kitsch, in a great way. Lively music. A real old-world attitude. If you don't want to interact with the evening's entertainment, you might miss out a but, but no one's forcing you.
When one goes to Sammy's, I recommend the following:
* Delicious garlic-y ground beef Karnatzlack.
* Chopped Liver, made with rendered chicken fat (Schmaltz), fried onions (gribenes), and radishes.
* Roumainian Tenderloin. A delicious and tender slice of beef. I have a great appetite and a small was enough. I wouldn't recommend larger than their medium.
This place truly delivers a great meal and a great experience. -
Review from Elizabeth D.
New York, NY
7/26/2011
Ummmmkay, so boost my lipids into the 4 digit range, pay $100, risk gastroenteritis, and it ISN'T EVEN KOSHER? Okay, that was the worst mistake I never made. Cross the bridge and get the real thing in Williamsburg for a fraction of the price, and spare the humiliation of accordion karaoke.
Better off eating real bacon than fake kosher. -
Review from Jennifer F.
Astoria, NY
3/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
The chopped liver was delicious
Schmaltz is an amazing condiment
It's like a Times Square theme restaurant - but the theme is Bar Mitzvah.
The Jewish patrons started off the dancing - but the Irish and Australian tourists quickly joined in.
I'd go back with friends who were pining for a Bar Mitzvah party without all the boring relatives. -
Review from Seth H.
Manhattan, NY
4/8/2011
Came here for my friends birthday back in January and it was probably the craziest experience I've ever had at a dinner. People dancing, singing, eating mounds of chopped liver (it was like a bizzaro bar mitzvah).
When you get down to it, the food is actually very good (try one of the steaks). The bottles of vodka are a little overpriced, but they make up for it in the free t shirt you get at the end!
Great place for a birthday or group outing, just dont try to come for a nice, quite meal -
Review from Bruce F.
La Jolla, CA
12/26/2010
When it's clear they're selling food and not decor, you have to go with the flow. I don't mind eating in a YMCA (JCC?) basement play room with plastic chairs if I'm going to be rewarded with something unique.
I count 78 reviews to date and only 18 contain the term "schmaltz" and exactly zero contained the term "grivenes". (Google it)
For the sake of fairness, let's not consider too seriously the reviews that lack these terms or that refer to the honey dispensers on the tables as containing "chicken fat" and those that fail to make reference to the seltzer or chopped liver. Not that those reviews are pointless, but let's just that they come from a point of view that lacks proper contextual backdrop.
Now, concentrate on the remaining reviews and average the stars. -
Review from Chris H.
2/28/2011
This place was amazing.
I went here with a group of friends and came away a huge fan. The food was great and if I remember right, we had the $55 prix fixe which has a lot of stuff including, sausage, grilled peppers, chicken liver with onions, vegetables, steak, pickles, and some other stuff.
Also, you order vodka by the ice block (have to see it to believe it).
There was also live music in the form of accordians and singing.
Just ignore the decor. It looks like a basement in my church or Y. I promsie, just ignore it.
Note though that I remember there being something weird about the seating process (like people can sit at two times: like 4pm and 6pm, or something like that). I could be wrong there.Listed in: Quirky fun in NYC
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Review from Megan B.
Washington, DC
4/5/2011
The food was absolutely disgusting for the $50 I spent. Maybe I'm not Jewish enough? Ok, I'm not Jewish at all. In fact, amidst the dancing and vodka swigging I was repeatedly identified as a shiksa.
But, the atmosphere was great. And I can at I can at least thank this place for helping me to understand that I'm never going to be a chopped-liver-lover. Gross. -
Review from Dave W.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2010
Obviously from the other reviews you know that it's a fun place so I'm gonna stick to the food. I'll do my best to remember considering our table of nine went through five bottles of Kettle.
First thought... quantity. It just keeps coming, similar to many E. Euro restaurants. The initial dishes (liver & onions, salad) were pretty bland but it got better as it went on. The steak was by far the best food served as it was cooked medium rare and had good flavor. The rest of the items consisted of Salmon (I didn't try), Chicken (kinda dry), and various potato dishes.
All in all I wouldn't come back here for the food and would only come if I planned on drinking in a large (5+) group. I did enjoy the free t-shirts though and will wear it with pride in SF. -
Review from Dan S.
Manhattan, NY
3/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decadent and crazy to the extreme. You'll laugh, you'll cry - you'll come back twice!!
Definitely venture here with a group of people so you can partake in the iced bottles of booze they have on offer - though I'd recommend that you do NOT use the chicken fat on your table as mixer for it!! Unless of course you like that sorta thing - in which case, proceed... -
Review from Cassy S.
Brooklyn, NY
"Your vegetarian friends will have to see you another time."
This is what I told my good friend when she announced her birthday dinner will be at Sammy's. Of course there are vegetable dishes to be had but this place is definitely a meatfest kind of restaurant. No complains really.
We opted for the $55 prix fixe which translates to endless plates of food - sausage, grilled peppers, chicken liver with onions, vegetables, rotisserie chicken, steak, pickles, rugelach and plenty more other dishes I don't recall. The food is not spectacular. But you know what is? The old man singing and entertaining us as we stuff our faces with overflowing plates of food and countless shots of ketel one. Now that was fun!
I would come back for the liver dish drizzled with fat and to see the old man who serenaded us. I would also come back for the giant chilled ketel one bottle. Shots anyone? Just watch out because they give you free rounds which might end with one face down on a plate of.... I'm just sayin (please refer to pics).
P.S. $55 prix fixe does not include liquor. You will get a round or 2 free if you keep drinking though.Listed in: Dining Out With Friends
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Review from Evelyn N.
Manhattan, NY
9/30/2010
UGHHHHH! I'd give this place a -1 if it wasn't for the dude on the electric piano playing a jewish version of Sinatra!
Went there with a group of friends on a Friday night. From the second we stepped through the door our server became an official salesman. Don't get me wrong, I never deny that it's hard work to be a salesman in general, but i can't say i appreciate it when you're shoving a specific menu in my face just because it's family-style and i have to ask FIVE times to get the regular menu instead.
not only that - a bottle of kettle one, yes you heard me right... Kettle One.. was $99!
I could have gotten over all of this bs if it wasn't for the fact that the food isn't that good. Average at best. And after all was said and done, a bill for 9 people was close to $700.
Please don't do it to yourselves.. there are a million other places in the city where you can have a great time and not break the bank to the point of government cheese. -
Review from Jen W.
8/25/2010
From the limited knowledge I do have of Judaism, I can at least say for a fact that Sammy's is most definitely not kosher. Sammy's is an experience. And by "experience" I mean "a drunken shtshow."
I had heard rumors abound about this kitschy dive restaurant that serves traditional Jewish comfort food and features live entertainment that induces patrons of all ages, shapes, and colors to start busting a move to Hebrew folk songs. People were dancing in congo lines, twirling their napkins in the air, mosh pitting, and icing tables. Perhaps the plethora of vodka bottles encased in ice blocks had something to do with it...
All the dishes here are crafted as tributes to garlic, onions, fat, and the culinary art of deep frying. If that sounds ideal, then this if the dining experience for you. Dishes I loved included the potato pancakes, chicken chopped liver "Sammy's Way," stuffed cabbage, and broiled chicken. Pass on the fish dishes... in fact, I'd stick to all the apps and sides and skip the mains except for the chicken probably...Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Yan G.
San Francisco, CA
7/22/2010
Entertainer: "Is anyone here NOT Jewish?"
Patrons: [silence]. *2 people reluctantly raise their hands.*
Entertainer [looking in their direction]: "I am very sorry."
--Overheard at Sammy's on July 10, 2010.
Exactly.
If you've never experienced Jewish family dining, you will most likely hate the experience with a passion. Are you prepared to have dinner with the Seinfelds and the Costanzas at Del Boca Vista? Are you prepared for the loud parlor music, sporadic dancing, stuffed cabbage and chopped liver? Are you prepared to spend $100 a person? If you've never experienced it, it could be a little overwhelming.
For me, this is the way things should be. The nostalgic and sentimental value of this dinner is worth its weight in gold. It reminded me of dinners at my grandparents' house when I was a little kid. Heck, our family dinners today are a little too loud, and my mom's traditional Jewish dishes have a little too much fat. My grandfather was actually born in Romania, so I can relate even more than others.
My friend, who, by the way, earned major points for dragging me over here, is practically a regular at Sammy's. I am not going to lie, it may explain why the four of us (my friend, his wife, their baby and me) were offered a better table. While we waited, the owner's son regaled us with Sammy's stories and pointed out a few pictures on the walls (yes, Derek Jeter did dine there, thanks for asking).
By the way, it must be noted that you should not expect a five-star looking establishment, despite the fact you are forking over $100. Let's face it, you're still dining in the basement of an old building. The ceilings are low, the waiters are wearing Sammy's t-shirts and the decor reminds you of a rec room at your local retirement center. A collection of photos on the wall is most impressive: everyone who's anyone has dined at Sammy's, including one rich dog that was there for his "bark mitzvah." If only I were kidding....
This is not a great place if you are on Atkins, South Beach, Slim Fast, Nutrisystem or any other diet. If you're worried about cholesterol, refill your Lipitor prescription early and stock up on those Omega-3 pills at Costco. Each table has a syrup dispenser filled with schmaltz (melted chicken fat), and they are not afraid to use it. A number of dishes are garnished with grieven (crisp chicken or goose skin cracklings with fried onions).
We started with some of the best chopped liver you'll have anywhere (sorry, Mom - it's true). We then had some chopped egg with onions and some Romanian Karnatzlack (minced beef garlic sausage). We also got a variety of pickled vegetables on the house (cukes, tomatoes and bell peppers - my favorite). Side note: if she still wants to kiss you after all these appetizers, it must be true love.
We also had some of Sammy's famous seltzer in their vintage seltzer soda makers. Aww, I remembered those from my childhood. How fun! The seltzer is free, and we must have finished at least a gallon of it. Sammy's signature item, a $99 bottle of Ketel One or Grey Goose frozen in a block of ice, was a bit too much for us... so we just had a shot each to get the full experience. These are twice the size of a regular shot, so be forewarned.
For our entrees, we split some stuffed cabbage, Romanian tenderloin and lamb chops. The lamb chops were surprisingly good, as was the tenderloin, It's skirt steak, and it is huge. As with any other skirt steak, you can expect it to be a little fibery. It is not the USDA Prime, dry aged cut of beef as you would see in other steakhouses. The stuffed cabbage was just OK, but I am not a fan of stuffed cabbage in general (sorry again, Mom). We had latkes with applesauce and mashed potatoes with schmaltz and grieven, just like my grandmother used to make.
I was overwhelmed by the authenticity and the nostalgia of the entire experience to the point where I had to fight back tears. I tried to distract myself by watching kids ages 5 to 85 dance between the tables. Even our waitress, the owner's daughter-in-law, took a few minutes from serving food to sing one of her favorite songs. She was pretty good, too.
By the time we were done, we were quite full. We politely said NO to dessert because it was just too much for some of us. Me, I could always have a little more. However, what kind of Jewish mom would send you home without a doggie bag? So, we walked out with a Sammy's t-shirt for me, a Sammy's onesie for the baby and 3 pieces of rugelach "for the road." This was the second time I had to fight back tears during the meal. I've never had this happen to me before.
That said, I would like to give Sammy's six enthusiastic Stars of David. It's an incredible experience which gives the phrase "home cooking" a whole new meaning. I already told my parents about this place, and I cannot WAIT to take them here on our next visit to New York.Listed in: Unique New York, Steak-ation
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Review from Neil B.
1/16/2011
Finally a restaurant with nothing green and nothing healthy! But if I got to go, I want to go Sammy's style! I think the food was pretty good but after a few of those bottles of vodka packed in ice, I don't remember it all that well!
What I do remember was being with about 7 other people and having a great time (until the next morning when my system said...okay son, pay back time!).
Seriously the food here is really good if you are into the old time schmaltz and other high cholesterol foods that made going to Nana's a real treat! Couple that with a few bottles of vodka, a group large of friends and some borscht belt humor and you will have an evening worth remembering (if you can...)
By the way I have heard that their Passover Seder is wild...but don't expect to meet the Bostoner Rebbe at it! -
Review from Brian H.
Astoria, NY
6/27/2010
Oy vey! Chopped liver!
I've never been a fan of liver. I remember (as every good Jewish boy does) growing up having chopped liver out on the table with the veggies and potato chips at a family gathering. Now ours was most likely store bought (sorry Mom!) and I remember eating it on some Ritz crackers. And although I had difficulty stomaching that metallic, livery flavor, I was hungry (dinner was still cooking) and it was there, so I ate it. But it must have been close to twenty years since I dipped some carbs into chopped liver. But I never forgot that it was a huge part of our tradition and heritage.
And I don't think any restaurant in the city does a better job at maintaining that Jewish heritage than Sammy's Roumanian Steak House. It's not that they just make the right food and do it well, but they offer an entire experience, which explains why there is a cover charge on Friday and Saturday nights. When you walk down the stairs into the basement restaurant (which smells slightly of mold), you are transported to your grandmother's living room (circa 1976). If your grandmother had a habit of hosting Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.
The walls are covered with party photos and there is even a live performer. We got there early enough to see some behind the scenes. Dani Luv arrived, set up, ate his dinner, and then went into his schtick. Once he started playing his Semitic version of Sinatra tunes and the joint started jumping with parties of 5 or more, I had an overwhelming desire to bring my mom and dad to this restaurant. And my brother and grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles.
He wasn't the only show here. The servers toss the chopped liver in a big bowl with fried radishes and onions and a nice helping of schmaltz (chicken fat). They season it with salt and pepper, and toss the shakers up in the air, very much like Tom Cruise in Cocktail. And during this extravaganza, Dani is cracking jokes and calling the server a "schmuck"!
This place was amazing! And to top it off, the food was great. That chopped liver was creamy and rich, but didn't have that overwhelming metallic bite. Maybe it was the schmaltz that balanced the flavors. It was crunchy from the vegetables and it worked so well on the warm bread. I'm not sure if it's because my palate has matured or because Sammy's knows how to sweeten a previous daunting dish, but I loved this stuff. Not that I really need to find a reason to eat it - it's not like these are lima beans.
-eatthisny -
Review from Sue B.
Providence, RI
6/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
You have to try this place. I can't review it any better than the other insightful reviews on this page, but I can vouch for every one of them! Chopped liver - check. beef sausage - check. tenderloin - check. Ice cold vodka shots - double check!
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Review from Mercedes V.
New York, NY
8/13/2010
Giving this place a rating is a pickle for me. I LOVED everything leading up to the main course (who knew that chicken fat could make everything so yummy?). But when we got to the main course--the steak/chicken/fish--I was less than pleased. The steak, the chicken, the fish? Eh. One star. But everything else before then? Five stars. But since this place is referred to as a steakhouse, I'll let my rating of the steak prevail.
As for the atmosphere, yes, this place was very entertaining. And I stupidly let the waiter have a look at my iPhone. He took a goofy picture of himself and set it as my wallpaper. Excellent.
And aside from the bland tasting meats, there was music. There was dancing. There was good natured heckling of the guys at the other table. A fun place. But I wouldn't go here if you're looking for good steak. -
Review from Jeff D.
Oakland, CA
3/9/2007
Oy veyz Meir!
I don't know where to begin telling you how wonderfully, authntically, cheezily, weird this place is....
From the suburban rumpus room decorations, to the cheesy singer with a synthesizer in the corner, to the "maple syrup" dispensers filled with schmaltz, this is one fully realized vision.
Whose vision, and what he's trying to tell us, I'm not so sure.
My friend and I shared the chopped liver, which is prepared at table, a la a 1950's restaurant doing a Caesar Salad, and then followed with the brisket. I had an egg cream.
The guy in the corner was singing "Feelings" in Yiddish, follwoed by "Danke Schoen". I almost died laughing.
All of the other meals I had in NYC that weekend paled in comparison. Babbo, Tabla, Union Square? Got nuttin' on Sammy's Roumanian...... -
Review from Georgeann G.
Phoenix, AZ
12/8/2009
We come here every time we're in NYC and always have an incredible time. I'm pretty sure we hijacked a wedding reception once. Sorry about that. Though I personally feel we made it better.
Can't go into too much detail on the food because I'm generally sloshed by time the 3rd or 4th round of apps comes out. I can say with absolute certainty that they serve bottles of Grey Goose in gigantic blocks of ice, which is pretty incredible. And probably the #1 contributing factor as to why I can't remember much beyond appetizers.
Their chopped liver is hands down the best I've ever had, as are most of their appetizers. The servers have personality like you've never seen and always take excellent care of us. My family and I spend Christmas in NY so I'm sure I'll be back in the upcoming weeks. I'll try not to get so hammered so I can actually remember some entree details. But I'm not making any promises.Listed in: Hi, my name is Georgeann..., Where I get Crizzzunk
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Review from Mike B.
New York, NY
9/18/2010
Please do not let anyone tell you the food here is good: most of it is terrible! And it has not improved in all the years I've been coming here.
But that's not the point! The atmosphere here is unmatched anywhere in the world: from the grumpy but accommodating waitstaff to the truly superb entertainer...I've never seen this place not burst into spontaneous dancing at some point...
And after a few frozen (and surprisingly expensive) vodka shots...you'll stop noticing how bad the food is and just have a good time. (Actually the Romanian steak isn't horrible...and people say the chopped liver is good...but avoid the chicken, the salmon, the mashed potatoes, the kishka...) the fried kreplach are OK. -
Review from Marlo G.
2/25/2009
If anyone is lacking for funds, this isn't a good choice.
If anyone doesn't eat slabs of meat, is a vegetarian, or may gag at the sight/sound/smell/thought of chicken fat, this isn't a good choice.
If anyone breaks out into hives at the site of their parents'/relatives' panelled rec room/den/basement, this isn't a good choice.
If anyone is disabled, this isn't a good choice.Listed in: Where the boys are!
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Review from Megan C.
3/12/2007
Not your Bubba's Basement Again??!! Oy Vey!
I kept staring at hundreds photos that adorned the walls only to be distracted by everyone schvitzing on the dance floor! "All we need to do now is put someone up in a chair and raise them up when we're dancing" my friend replied, "you missed that!??"
Yes I actually took a number off of a business card on the ceiling and tried to call the person!! No answer yet!
Though I wasn't a huge fan of the food -- I can say I was a huge fan of the music man and the fun! Love the seltzer bottles that squirt out bubblies, the excessive Vodka, and the awkward little makeshift dance floor.
Apparently if your Yiddish Grandma didn't show you the way then this substitute Grandma can!
Come on shiksas if you've always wondered how Jews get down you can check it out here!!
5 Yelp Stars for being disturbingly fun!
Date Rating: 6
Pick up Scale: 7 (Depends on the night and your dancing ability)
Strong suggestions: Book a work party here -- very fun to liven up the group and the service is excellent.Listed in: STEAK STEAK STEAK STEAK
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Review from David B.
Brooklyn, NY
10/10/2007
Sammy's is where I take all my out of town friends, most of whom are goyum, for a great time. I brought my friend's parents here last year. They came in from Japan. Although they loved the karnatzlack, the schmaltz and bread, the big ass steaks, the chicken liver salad, and especially the vodka bottles encased in ice their favorite by far were the pickled tomatoes and peppers. In fact they made the waiter get two more bowls of them so they could eat them on the flight back to Tokyo and sneak the remainder through customs.
The food is beyond fattening and deadly, the lounge acts are funny if not bad and the decor is piecemeal. I heartily recommend this place for any type of celebration, and bringing your out of town friends. I am giving Sammy's five stars.
L'Chayim!
P.S. They also have the best chocolate rugellah west of the Wailing Wall.Listed in: Five Star Reviews, A Jew and an Arab are walking…
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Review from Andrea L.
New York, NY
4/27/2009
For larger groups, Sammy's offers a $50 per person set menu that is pure genius. It starts with chopped liver (mixed tableside with chicken fat, onions fried in chicken fat, and chunks of chicken fat fried in chicken fat) and ends with rugelach and egg creams -- in the middle are at least three kinds of potato (latkes, mashed, fried), a giant steak, salmon (!), deep fried dumplings, stuffed cabbage, sausage, and lots and lots of pickles. The food is good. When has fried fat ever tasted bad?
Clearly vegetarians and fat-phobes should steer clear, but it's not like the words "Roumanian Steakhouse" can be mistaken for "Juice Bar." -
Review from Debbie W.
New York, NY
1/30/2008
What an experience! You'll need to diet a month before AND after a visit to Sammy's. This Roumanian Steakhouse serves many typical jewish favorites, in a very unique atmosphere.
You will feel like you are in a friends basement back in the 70s when you enter sammys. In the corner, a nice guy plays yiddish favorites on a casio.
Order the chopped liver. Order the flanken or the skirt steak. Order the vodka in a frozen bottle, and dont forget the egg creams and ruggelach for dessert.Listed in: Authentic New York: Food
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Review from Rachel D.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2007
The vegan reviewer who hated this place must have been on crack to come here. But if you partake of animal flesh, you should definitely come to Sammy's at least once in your New York career, because you will never find anything like it anywhere else.
The last time I came here, Billy Crystal was having a rosh hashanah dinner with his family, and my mom befriended their whole table. that would have caused me and my siblings total mortification at any other restaurant, but at Sammy's it was just par for the course.
Again: do not bring vegetarian friends or anyone who is averse to drinking vodka and doing the hora around the table between courses. do not feel obligated to eat chicken liver just because its on the menu.
Do get a steak, get drunk, and be happy.Listed in: Hidden Gems
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Review from Warren H.
New York, NY
3/11/2009
I honestly don't remember what I ate because it was family style for a party of 15 (friend's birthday) but I do remember the chopped liver felt like it was going to give me a heart attack from the fattiness but at least i'd die happy cuz it was delicious. Steak was fair, but overall the food was plentiful and pretty damn good.
The reason this place gets a 4 star from me is because of sheer entertainment value. Yes it's pricy but we were here from 7pm til nearly 1:30 in the morning. This place is super kitschy and reminds me of someone's basement in queens but the Israeli keyboard player was awesome. By about 11pm every table is wasted (ketel one served in a block of ice - we finished 10 or so bottles somehow) and despite the crampedness, we were all dancing and having an amazingly good time.
This place is NOT clean and NOT for the faint of heart but as an asian american it was definitely an experience I am glad that my friends brought me to.
I had an awesome time and i'm willing to deal w/ the pretty decent food, and slightly above average prices for the overall experience, which for me was awesome. -
Review from eugene r.
Brooklyn, NY
1/17/2011
Sammy's is amazing. When it gets one or two stars in reviews, it's not a reflection of the experience, it's a reflection of the wrong expectations. I propose some screening questions, in no particular order.
1) Do you know at least 5 words in Yiddish?
2) Is schmaltz (Jewish bacon) appropriate for use as a universal condiment?
3) Is it ok to drink a half of a bottle of ice cold vodka with dinner?
4) Did/do you enjoy going to Bar Mitzvahs?
5) Is it ok to have the only vegetarian-friendly food on a table be pickles?
6) Is it ok to stand up in the middle of dinner to dance?
7) Can you sing along to Hava Nagila?
8) Is your cholesterol level less than 200?
9) Have you ever eaten/enjoyed a meal cooked by a Jewish grandmother?
10) Is Neil Diamond really the Jewish Elvis?
How many times did you say 'Yes'?
*7-10: If you haven't already been here, you should be ashamed of yourself
*4-6: If you're open to new things, perhaps you'll really enjoy this place
*0-3: You may be disappointed. If you come here and indeed don't enjoy it, please don't damage its reputation with a 1-star review. You have been warned.
That's about it. I should mention two more things. Like any place with 'Steakhouse' in the name, you should absolutely not come in here if you're a vegetarian. Unlike any place with 'Steakhouse' in the name, don't come here for the steak. Come here for the entire experience. -
Review from Judith G.
New York, NY
9/18/2006
All I have to say, although this place is not figure friendly, you must try it, at least once. You have been warned, though, it is addictive and may be harmful to your health!
My favorite is the chopped liver with the real chicken fat (oh my God - that will take a whole month of one hour work-outs on the treadmill to work off); and I also love the Romanian steak. All the side dishes are delish, and the vodka on the table helps make the whole thing go down with less guilt.
Yeah, it is a Jewish classic, and a bit tacky - with all the business cards all over the walls. But it is part of the gestalt.
I also miss the violinist who has sadly left us....he was so much part of the old world charm.
Bottom line: all you beautiful, skinny people, you must try this - if only once. Everything in moderation. Happy New Year! -
Review from Mike L.
Verona, NJ
6/13/2008
Scott S. broke the first rule of Foodie Club. He spoke about Foodie Club. He'll be dealt with accordingly.
As for Sammy's, it was a great time. Obviously the atmosphere of the place is half the experience. The food was quite good but by no means worth the price alone. Would I go back? In a heartbeat.
The chopped liver is enough to convert some vegetarians. It made believers out of some non-liver-eaters in our group. The family (or tasting) menu provided our party of seven with an overabundance of delicious Jewish fare. The pickles and peppers were a nice way to start the meal. Although we were full after the apps, our group pushed forward and ate our way through the main courses, many sides and even found room for the warm (homemade?) rugelach.
This was an exercise in pure gluttony. We all passed with flying colors.
Get the bottle of Ketel One frozen in a block of ice. Just don't pick my business card (they're hanging all over the walls) when you decide to drunk dial someone.
Be warned. Do not come here if you hate fun. There's no avoiding it.
