Sam’s Place

i have been dining here for atleast 20 years — probably more. Max is an amazing man and owner. He treats everyone like family. The place has not changed much but that is a good thing. It’s small and cozy and just perfect for a small sit down. Or upstairs a large group is perfect and when in town for a show, a group of us have happily enjoyed that environment.
Love this place — love this owner. Food is wonderful and if you are lucky enough to get the special lasagna grab it. It’s wonderful.

We had dinner for 3 with 2 bottles of great house wine ($ 30 per bottle) and total bill was $ 170 plus tip. Great food, great cozy place, great menu and specials. Must do again. Keith

Wonderful all around! So I came here on business and although familiar with nyc, I’ve never heard of or been to Sam’s. Coming solo, I must have looked like a lost puppy on a cold night because I was greeted by only whom I can assume is Sam and without a reservation in this what I now know to be tiny place, he graciously said that he would squeeze me in. I had to wait about 20 minutes, but I was handed a nice house red to make up for it. So now I’m nice and cozy and settling into my indulgent mushroom risotto. Can’t wait for dessert!

A small cozy neighborhood place with good Italian food. Have been here twice. There is a tiny downstairs area — maybe 10 tables? — and an upstairs area that isn’t much larger. Bread basket has bread sticks and country Italian bread. Enjoyed appetizers of stuffed clams and mozzarella/​tomato, main dishes of veal with artichokes (can’t remember the name) and branzino. A tiny bit more expensive than ideal for the ambiance, but I’d definitely go back. A comfortable, casual, and delicious place for a meal.
One note of caution. The first time I was there, our bill got messed up and we were charged maybe $ 15 extra for beverages we did not have. They corrected it when we pointed it out. On second visit, bill was exactly accurate, so perhaps it was a one-​time error. But check your bill just in case.
Not recommended for a wheelchair user. Bathrooms are on the second floor.

Best fetuccini alfredo I can remember having. It was phenomenal! Service was ok, and my friends meals were also good– both got veal. Will definitely be back!

This a great neighborhood Italian restaurant. Always great traditional Italian fare in a small, intimate setting. Limited wine list, but you’ll find something. Service is very good. Did I mention the place is tiny? I love it for that. And it is a real value with great prices for excellent food in a place that is much more personal and unrushed than most of what you find in NYC.
I think every time I go there I get a special, so I can’t speak to many many items. I can say I really like dipping their bread in the sauce from the calamari. Don’t tell them you heard it here, but they probably make whatever you want if you don’t see anything that you like on the menu if you ask. Shhh!
I recommend. A lot.

We had a reservation for a Friday night at 8:30 pm and we waited, outside in the cold as the place is so small, for about 15 minutes past our reservation time. No one said: «sorry». When we were seated, it was quite nice and cozy. It was loud but it is all part of the charm, like a loud Italian family.
The bread was nice and the wine as well. I ordered the prosciutto and melone and the melon was very hard, ripe, and not cut properly. The prosciutto was ham and not prosciutto and very, very hard. They should take that dish off the menu if they cannot make it properly.
The tortellini with broth was spicy and salty but very nice and it was soothing on a cold night.
All in all, it was expensive but it offered some basic Italian food. I did not see a single Italian other than the owner? It was the older guy dressed in a suit.
I think we will be back.

I was looking for a place close to Grand Central and Sam’s Place came up on here.
I judge an Italian restaurant by their veal parmigiana and I was not disappointed. Tender veal, cooked perfectly, just the right amount of cheese and sauce.
I was surprised that it was not accompanied by a vegetable or something, though.
And while the Caesar salad was very good, it was absent croutons, another disappointment.
The owner was very gracious and attentive.
My date sucked, rounding out the four-​star rating.

I love Italian cuisine. I do adore it.
So decided to try this place after work with my date.
First of all, I would advice you to reserve the table: the place can be quite crowded in the evening.
Secondly, I need to admit that the atmosphere of this family restaurant is wonderful. It lures you to come back.
Turning to food: 4 out of 5.
Well, if you try the veil, any meat and seafood, it will likely be 10 out of 10. Really, something awesome.
But please, pasta is not Al dente. It’s as if your burger contained everything perfect, but the bread part turned out to be dry and rough.
Appetizers… Well, I would give 4 out of 5 as well.
Overall, definitely worth visiting, I would avoid pasta.

This place looks like nothing special from the outside, but very cute and very clean inside. The service was great. The bread and food were very good.

It should be said, before anything else, that my friend and I got in here at noon, 30 minutes before Sam’s Place was scheduled to open. They seated us and got us started anyway, and for that, they are bros for life.
So the whole staff was very nice, and that got lunch started on a good note. It was actually a smaller restaurant than I expected, just a handful of tables. A better place for a date than a party. It’s got a casual ambiance, nothing overwrought or try-​hard, but there remains a sense of old world class, which I really appreciated. Too casual for a wine list though — the server listed off the options, and we just stopped him when we heard one we liked.
Anyway, food. They started us off with a generous half loaf of bread that looked like if it were whole it’d be bigger than my head, as well as some breadsticks. I got the cheese ravioli (the prosciutto and cheese-​stuffed chicken is also good, but I didn’t want to repeat myself). I wished I’d asked for it al dente or something though, as it was a bit overcooked. The sauce, however, was delicious, and they did not skimp on the filling. My friend got a special, penne with bacon, onions, and red sauce, and though his only comment was «it’s good», I’ve rarely seen him wolf food down so quickly.
We were each just north of $ 30 for one entrée and one glass of wine, which is about average for a lunch in Midtown. Sam’s is not exactly innovative, but it is reliable.

Happened upon this place while in the city yesterday. The place I had in mind had no tables and we walked in here. LOVED it. Good was delicious, décor is quaint NYC Italian. They accommodated my party of 10. Service was awesome. Would highly recommend!

Decided to stop in while in between interviews. Never know what to expect with all the variety New York had to offer but I was pleasantly surprised. The service was friendly and quick. I came in an hour before their break before dinner service and they were in no rush for me to leave. There are so many regulars that come in everyone is treated like family. The owner, Massimo makes your experience here even better not that the food doesn’t do that on its own. I’ll definitely be back again and again. This little gem is exactly what you want when you go out for REAL Italian food.

The seafood fra diavolo was very good. The seafood was fresh and the sauce was awesome. I’m not a fan of tons of rocket on the house salad.
The service was great as well as the ambiance.
Probably more on the $$$ side then the $$

My husband and I came here to celebrate my dear friend’s birthday. Her mother introduced this place to us. It wasn’t a mistake coming here, it turned out to be one of our favorites. Perfect size portion and the interior is quite intimate, very good for loving couples and married couples; definitely not for divorced couples. We’ll go back. We heard about the owner that he’s extremely friendly but didn’t see any friendly owner at the time. However, we enjoyed the time celebrating my friend’s birthday. The place is small and cozy, quiet and peaceful, beautiful and wonderful. I ordered a sea bass plate from the special menu. Hubby ordered veal forestiere. My friend ordered cheese ravioli in pesto sauce. Wow! I can’t believe it’s not butter but it’s better! Everything that was served was superb! Sam’s superb place. Grazie!

I took my friend here for her next to last meal in NY. The outside looks a bit shabby. It looked quite fancy and cozy inside though and reminds me of Italy a little. I had the chicken piccata and she had the tortellini dish. The chicken piccata was sour with its lemon goodness. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t stand out that much for me. My friend’s tortellini tasted really overcooked though. It was way too soft and I couldn’t find the meat in them (they hid ‘em well even after biting in to it). The creamy sauce didn’t help it any. Creamy sauce plus sogginess.meh. Need I say more?
I know we’re the younger generation, but this restaurant really differentiates you on age and how you dress unfortunately. To me, it’s not that big of a deal, but to my friend… she was annoyed by the inequality since the restaurant wasn’t even busy.

Sam’s place is a small, quaint, romantic easy-​to-​miss restaurant in New York’s Murray Hill area that I am glad we did not miss. The restaurant has old-​time ambience, excellent Italian food and terrific service.
We rolled up thirty minutes prior to closing and were greeted with a happy waiter, named Arian, and owner who appeared really happy that we came in. Minutes later, the owner named Massimo, came over, undoubtedly because he realized that we were newcomers to Sam’s Place, and spoke to us for about five minutes. We immediately noticed that nobody left Sam’s Place without saying bye to Massimo and I know why; Massimo is a proud immigrant from Serbia who appreciates the opportunities he has taken advantage of in America. Massimo is a real character and if you are lucky he will come over to say hello. They don’t make business owners like Massimo anymore. He is a proud, funny interesting owner. Massimo is just a major dude.
The food was absolutely delicious. The ample bread was great and I tool some to my hotel when we left. I wanted penne with sausage that was not on the menu but Arian simply said «order whatever you want we will make it for you, no problem.» It was delicious. «Baby» had linguini and clams and loved them. By the way, the food is reasonably priced.
Sam’s place was a terrific late-​night romantic dinner experience and I will definitely return when I come home to New York.

This is a super cute old school Italian restaurant. We live close by and passed by it a number of times before finally deciding to grab a bite. The clientele is definitely swings to the older side. There are some families but mostly folks well over 50. It is tiny and squished so probably not good for groups.
We ordered the pasta near, squid ink linguini with cream and sauteed mushrooms, and
veal piedmontese sauteed with artichoke, procuitto, wine, and topped with mozzarella. And we ended our night with spumoni for dessert. Everything was solid. It definitely isn’t one of those family Italian restaurants with huge portions, but it was enough to feed me for dinner (but not enough for takeout). The food does slight on the salty and creamy side of things. Overall, very a-​ok experience with an a-​ok bill.

Definitely old school Italian except for the fact that the restaurant staff that night I visited was all Hispanic. Hmnn it’s like I never left Texas. The spacing was tight but I assume that was due to New York real estate.
Ordered the stracatella soup and angel hair primavera. Prices are high but so was the portion. Enjoyed my soup. The primavera dish was both heavy on the pasta and vegetables and not heavy on the cream sauce which I liked. My coke came in a small wine glass and was never refilled nor did the waiter ask to refill it so I assume that meant no refills. My water glass on the other hand was never empty.

Sam’s Place in my mind feels like dying and going straight to Purgatory. It is neither good nor bad but very consistent in their delivery of mediocre Italian inspired eats. What they serve isn’t cheap either. The restaurant offers just the right mix or comfort with discomfort. So pray-​tell why go?
Perhaps I like that Max welcomes me as though he knows who I am or that the head waiter is clueless? Both have been there well over the eight years that I’ve been going to SP. There’s typically a good selection of specials and a wholehearted push by staff for patrons to order the fish dish du jour; ton this visit it was all about the lemon sole and it looked fabulous. I’m partial to the friend chicken with the salad a top and for the likes of me I can’t remember what it is called. I also forget to order my dish sans dressing since I prefer to dress it up with lemon juice and EVOO instead of balsamic vinegar. C’est la vie…
Seltzer water for one I ask the alouf head waiter. An opened large bottle of Pellegrino is promptly brought to my table. But I didn’t order this? OK I’ll take it back; you cheap bastard I’m sure he thought in his mind. Three sets of eyes belonging to my guests are now staring at me. The moment of truth is upon me. Do I send it back or bite the bullit? «Three additional glasses for my guests» I softly demanded. «Right away señor» said my snarly Latin waiter as he victoriously whisked away.
Perhaps its the cozy second floor mezzanine that make vertically challenged folks – like yours truly – feel tall? Not much arm or leg room and despite were your you’ll be seated you will be able to hear conversation from the table across the room.
Diners are SP nonchalantly look around at every diner at every other table around them in the dimly lit rooms and then they quickly look away. Its a great out of the way rendezvous place for scheduled meetings with prospective new employers when cheating on the current boss.
Another way to describe Sam’s Place is my mind is how Howard Roarke responded to the antagonist in Ayn Rand’s classic novel The Fountainhead when Ellsworth M. Toohey asked: «Mr. Roark, we’re alone here. Why don’t you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us.»
Roark responds: «But I don’t think of you.» To connect the dots for those I lost four paragraphs ago: George why don’t you tell us what you think of Sam’s Place? But I don’t think about Sam’s Place.