Sammy’s Roumanian Steakhouse
“We had latkes with applesauce and mashed potatoes with schmaltz and grieven, just like my grandmother used to make.”
“This place is just like the best Russian Jewish wedding/Bar/Bat mitzvahs of my youth, without the awkwardness.”
“Apps- chopped chicken liver with onion and radish mixed together with chicken fat and shmeared on rye bread.”
Sammy’s Roumanian Steakhouse
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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I'm not Jewish, so sadly I never had a bar mitzvah. All I got for my 13th birthday was an 'autographed' black and white picture of Alfalfa from Little Rascals that ironically shared the same exact penmanship as my dad. My lack of Jewish friends growing up also meant I rarely partook in all the fun celebrations that members of the tribe got to experience throughout the year. Fast forward many years later as an adult, for all those times I want to live vicariously through my Hebrew friends, I head to Sammy's.
As emcee Dani Luv will tell you repeatedly through your dinner (so don't take umbrage if you're reading this, Sammy's staff), this place is a sh*t hole. It's likely never undergone a renovation in its storied history, and it has the ambiance of a moose lodge in Corpus Christi. But that just lends to the authenticity of the operation, as the shabbiness is what makes it special. That and the homestyle Jewish cuisine + frozen bottles of vodka, of course.
It's best experienced with a group, so grab a gaggle of friends and find something to celebrate. Instead of ordering in a bespoke fashion, opt for family style and get a taste of all they have to offer. Bowls of pickles, bread and butter, chopped chicken liver with schmaltz, stuffed + boiled cabbage, broiled salmon, mashed potatoes, and plenty more I'm sure I'm missing. Don't skip the egg cream at the end, and prep your vital organs for many bottles of Ketel One or Tito's frozen in a giant chunk of ice. After several visits, I've learned this is the recipe for success.
It's pricey, so it's probably best saved for special occasions. And don't worry if you get sassed by the crass, yet affable keyboard players in either room. They may call you a shiksa or ask if your Asian friend is from North Korea, but it's all part of the fun if you're not easily offended or work for the ACLU.
Blame Sammy's for my newfound and slightly weird obsession with chopped liver, because I'm pretty into it. Organ meats aren't usually my thing, but combined with a hearty dose of schmaltz, onions, something else I can't identify, and slathered on a slice of rye bread, there are few things more delicious. Maybe it's my Jewish ancestors coming through in my taste buds, I don't know.
Sammy's is an experience, and not for the faint of heart. The MC isn't shy, and won't hesitate to make an off-color joke (or five thousand) at your expense during the course of your meal. It's Catskills Vaudeville on the Lower East Side. My buds and I had a joke that it would be a great place to take a date, because you would quickly be able to judge the quality of their sense of humor. I digress, though. Go with a big group, make a reservation, get a bottle of vodka in a block of ice, don't skip the egg creams, and just go for the $55 family style meal because you don't want to think about anything (also the stuffed cabbage is great, tastes just like my mom's). Turn off your brain, stuff your face, and have a great time.
I grew up going to Catholic schools, so unfortunately I missed out on the joy of the bar mitzvah circuit in middle school. From what I hear it's week after week of crazy bashes where you get down on the dance floor, maybe do the hora, and get cool party favors like personalized screenprinted T-shirts. Needless to say I'm extremely bitter to have been left out of this kickass tradition, so I was excited to hear that there's a grimier adult version of this kind of party at Sammy's.
The space and the food are not much to look at. It's like they take pride in never updating their decor or menus. They don't bother with presentation, really – think more piles of steak and huge bowls of chopped liver if you get the family style meal for the table. But surprisingly everything was pretty tasty! I'm by no means a Jewish cuisine gourmand but I ate everything up and enjoyed it thoroughly. Also, it's a TON of food. Which is probably good since you'll also be drinking copious amounts of vodka. I thought I remembered there being bottomless vodka on my first visit, but that seems to be no more. They still bring the vodka bottles out encased in a huge block of ice though, so there's that.
But really, more than the food or drink you're there for the singularly weird experience that is Sammy's. You'll get berated and serenaded by their house DJ/lounge singer – expect foul language and tasteless (and lightly racist) jokes, but it's all in good fun. If you're not up dancing like a fool by the end of your meal you're doing it wrong. It's a guaranteed messy, drunk time and you'll probably walk out of there about $100 poorer but you'll have had a blast, I promise you!
Sammys was a blast & pretty much as expected as far as "atmosphere" but the food was BETTER than expected based on some past reviews. The entertainment was excellent. The singer/keyboard player was funny & also did a fantastic job playing & singing. We had a lot of fun. Best to go with a group as it adds to the fun. Highly recommended. A real NY experience; DEF NOT just for Jews (there was a table of 20 Asians behind us) but DEF NOT for anyone who isn't a party animal. Well definitely go back at some point in the future with different people
Of all the places I've ever been to in my entire life, this is the first one that makes me wish there were 6 stars.
An incredible middle-aged, bald Jewish man turned up the dance floor with radio pop hit after hit, even gracing us with his own lovely voice from time to time.
The food was EXCELLENT (minus the chicken – pretty dry) – chicken and liver, salad, latkes, steak – all of it was so good. The Stoli bottles come frozen in buckets so your drinks are cold all night.
Come with a group and you're going to have an amazing time.
Every time I'm at Sammy's, I am claustrophobic from the low ceilings and cramped quarters, taken back by the shoddy ambiance, gasping at the expensive markup, shaking my head at the cheesy music, feel a tinge of guilt for not being Jewish, and only eating a portion of my above average food. Yet, I still have a great time here. In short, Sammy's unique nature is unmatched; there really is no other steakhouse like it.
Get reservations. Have the hostess seat you anywhere in the house. Establish what you'd like to order (go for the set deal at $100 a head) and begin drinking copious amounts of vodka encased in ice. While eating a cornucopia of Jewish foods fit for any bar mitzvah party, be tickled at the older Jewish gentleman sitting at the keyboard and trying to get the crowd fired up. Eventually everyone will get up and dance. They'll start screaming, clapping, and eventually laughing. At some point you will end up wondering how you got here. During my first experience, I was eventually called a North Korean Jew. (#1)
The atmosphere went from drab to electric in only a matter of minutes. No one is safe from the torments of the MC and ladies, expect many fruitful comments to come your way as well. Uptight people stay home. Shy and introverted folks will have the night of their lives. Keep an open mind and appetite and everyone wins.
On the food front, the chopped liver (while looking somewhat unappealing and loaded with chunky onions) is actually quite tasty. Smear a ton on some bread and it tastes tons better than it looks. The latkes are Jewish potato pancakes and are dynamite with the applesauce. It might be a little to easy to down three or four of these babies. Then there is the stuffed cabbage, which is nothing short of awesome. Each one is massive and the cabbage to filling ratio is just perfect. Just beware that even though it is classified as an appetizer, it is just as easy getting full on them.
The Romanian style skirt steak deserves its own paragraph. Whether one orders small or large, it is worth its weight in meat. I always order mine at medium rare and it is perfectly cooked, while remaining incredibly juicy and tender to the bite. There is usually a pool of juice that collects at the bottom of the plate and it will eventually become room temperature and cake itself into a solidified mound of grease. One would almost thing this slab was cooked with a stick of butter.
I can't stress it enough: Everyone should go at least once. Sammy's doesn't try to be classy or refined like so many other steakhouses in the city. Instead, it highlights a traditional take on Jewish classics and instills a lot of fun that all patrons should experience at some point during their time in New York.
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(#1) Not offended in the slightest. Plus, I'm happy to be out of North Korea and eating steak.
Wow! And when you start a review with a "Wow" exclamation point you must know the place is kick ass.
Romanian food, hhhmmm. Not too sure I've had Romanian chow before, so let's check it out. The entrance appears to be a basement level Bowery hump hump, graffiti ridden, bring your anti bacterial, perhaps get out of Dodge bodega. Take a few steps down under and your thoughts will not change. I kept thinking to myself that some of the best 3rd world countries food establishments I've been to have been rather divey. Polaroid type pics cover every inch of the entire surrounding walls. Low ceilings and out door spot lights beam down like a tanning booth. So are you wondering why I stayed? Me too and glad I did.
Full vodka bottle options entombed in a block of ice offered up from $100 for Stoli on up. Seltzer water in the old school siphon bottles like on the 3 stooges are placed on each table for a cost of course. Less then 20 four top tables, don't expect a seat without a reservation.
Chicken liver mixed with onions and "Schmaltz" is insane. I love chicken liver, but this was on a whole new level for this over the top foodie. Stuffed beef cabbage with red light tomato gravy was marvelous, and coming from a Russian/Ukrainian I know my
Holubtsi. Lamb and garlic chops may very well have been the most tongue tantalizing chops I've ever had. Skirt steak medium rare to live for. Pressed breaded veal chop left me speechless. Combined with complimentary half sour pickles, green tomato's and roasted green pickles and it's on, it's soooo on.
The best part was Danny the solo performer, kicking it on the organ. What charm and charisma, NOT. But, a very good singer, hilariously gut wrenching. I believe he referred to Jews in just about every song in the most comedic sense. Quite the entertainer to say the least, just over look his insane Larry ala 3 stooges hairdo.
The bill will be hefty if you splurge as we did. A party of 3 ran about $400, but please keep in mind we ate the menu and drank like Jewish Vikings. We asked for a after dinner drink and the waiter comically told us to f**k off, lol.
So, if you want to experience a true NYC dining one of a kind and don't mind dropping some coin, then make a reservation. You'll thank me. Yes, the experience almost out ways the food, but the food is what will bring you back.
This…. Thiiiiiis. What. IS. This? Who cares?! Gather up your favorite crew and head on down to Sammy's for a fun night out with surprisingly good food.
Singer / comedian Dani luv is the host with the most (racist jokes) and makes this an incredibly fun dinner. Sure, the bottles of Kettle, encased in a block of ice, help to loosen things up, but nothing beats poor jokes and live tunes. There are 2 shows on most weekend nights.
As for the food, we rocked the family style selection ($55/pp) where they brought out all the hits. From chicken liver mixed at the table (very good), stuffed cabbage, latkes, pickles, huge pile of skirt steak, salmon, salad, chicken, home fried potatoes, ruggelach and more… There was easily enough food for 2-3 more people than our table for 7. As I mentioned, they could've thrown some scrappy eats at us and we would've had fun, but it was a pleasant surprise that most dishes were solid!
Come here. Dance. Drink. Dance more. Get an egg cream. Leave.
Protip: there is a food min pp on Fri/Sat, so don't bring anyone who is planning on just hitting the frozen cocktails