DrumThunder Anonymous

Food: 5/5  Vibe: 5/5  Service: 5/5  Value: 5/5  Overall: 5/5

Sammy's has been a family favorite since 1971 when my father found it after working late near downtown Fort Worth. I will be a lifelong Sammy's customer and have already passed on my love for those folks to my kiddos. You can bet we'll be heading to Sammy's everytime they come home from school for a visit. The Pantojas and their relatives who own/work at the restaurant really make their customers feel at home and always go above and beyond to make your visit as nice as you could want, and if you become a regular they sincerely remember you and welcome you back like one of the family. Heck, when you park in the parking lot and approach the restaurant you'll typically see good ol' Sammy himself sitting on the porch greeting folks and welcoming you to walk on in through the back door venturing through his kitchen on your way to the dining room. Ask yourself - how many restaurants not only allow, but INVITE you to walk through their kitchen and see what is normally hidden from public view? Sammy's is the only one I am aware of and they have good reason - they keep that kitchen sparkling clean and in good order. And the friendliness first encountered with Sammy is carried right on into the kitchen staff who offer up warm "Hellos" with a smile and a nod (and a kind gesture towards the dining room door if you seem to not know the way).

Walking into the dining area you explode into 1971! Not only are the red vinyl booths just as they were when I was a child, the panelled walls still bear everything from family photographs and Mexican blankets to Christmas lights, framed newspaper clippings, and beautiful reproductions of many Remington and Russell paintings that reside right in our very own Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. We love the artwork!

But it's really all about the food, right? Well, the price can't be beat and the quality of the food totally matches the quality of the service. I won't go without ordering the potato soup to start with...just can't miss out on that! Then the sky is the limit - if you hanker for some great home cooked Mexican food they have a nice variety of traditional fare. If you are leaning towards more American tastes they do provide a sampling from burgers to steaks. I can honestly say that I have never ordered anything that I didn't like - a lot.

Sammy's was closed for awhile and when it was gone we felt the loss in our house. The surprise and joy we felt when we happened back along Central Avenue and found it had reopened were boundless! Here's to hoping Sammy's is here to stay for another thirty years and beyond! And may God bless Sammy Pantoja with a long, healthy life so that he can invite our children's children to walk through his kitchen.

12 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )