ATXReview
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Sammie’s feels like it was plucked out of a movie set for a film about the Italian mafia set in some city with long alleys. Where comforting bowls of pasta and warm, dimly-lit interiors are more features of necessity than design. It’s the type of place where The Office and Sopranos fans alike can come in, order a martini, and ask for the gabagool (sadly, not actually on the menu). Sammie’s is the luxury version of a classic Italian-American red sauce restaurant, where they’re serving excellent comfort food at fine dining prices—and if you’re willing to pay for it, it’s an experience that’s difficult to replicate anywhere else in Austin.
There’s kind of a formula for these classic red sauce joints. A martini menu is, in our opinion, essential. It must contain more than one variation, but no more than five (unless we’re just calling everything in a v-shaped glass a martini now). There should be plenty of simple, comforting pasta dishes doused in a thick, tasty tomato sauce. And there are usually enough framed photos hanging on the walls that you’ll feel like you’re back home visiting your grandparents (Sammie’s even has Werther’s Originals in the bathroom).
photo credit: Richard Casteel
photo credit: Richard Casteel
photo credit: Richard Casteel
That’s exactly what Sammie’s is—a red sauce restaurant that feels like it grew up in New York’s Little Italy before moving to downtown Austin. But while most places that fit this mold come with a rich history—secret recipes and family drama included—Sammie’s is young and new, but playing its role with the grizzled expertise of that regular at your local dive bar who’s been through it all and probably seen some sh*t.
The tables are packed in tight, and they’re always full. It gets loud in here, but in a way that feels more lively than chaotic. If you didn’t make a reservation last month, you can usually snag a seat at the bar, where you can chew your pasta in sync to a cocktail shaker soundtrack and a display of red suit jackets. And there’s an energy that’ll make you want to start talking with your hands in pinched fingers, as if it’s something you’ve been doing your entire life.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Familiar apps like cheese sticks are packed full of housemade mozzarella—a small touch that manages to turn even a humble little bar snack into a dish you’ll still be talking about on the way home. And a bit of chile crunch on top of a caesar salad feels like a twist that’s been passed down the Sammie’s family for years. The pasta menu is mostly made up of comforting classics like spaghetti with meatballs and rigatoni bolognese, and all of the noodles are made in house. Definitely plan on ordering a couple different pastas, with at least one of them featuring some red sauce. They also offer a few items from the grill—like a pork chop or a NY Strip—but you’re really missing the point if you build your meal around a steak here.
Then there are the “Sammie’s Classics.” These are the menu items that get outlined in gold trim—something we also do when we want people to know we’re serious. Here you’ll find things like chicken parm, veal marsala, and some of the best lasagna in town. At $44, the chicken parm is probably one of the most expensive chicken breasts you’ll ever set your eyes on (it does come with a side of spaghetti), but the massive takeout box of leftovers you’ll be eating well into next week will hopefully soothe the burn, just a little.
This isn’t really the type of place you’re going for a low-key, last minute dinner on a Tuesday night, or if you’re looking for a good value. This is where you go when you want a fun, high energy night out with one-too-many martinis and a credit card bill you’ll probably regret in the morning.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Mozzarella Sticks
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Caesar Salad à la Tommy
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Chicken Parmigiana
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Mafaldine
photo credit: Richard Casteel
Tiramisu