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Sammy's Po-Boys
Metairie 2: Orleans Line To Houma Blvd: 901 Veterans Blvd. 504-835-0916. Map.
Very Casual.
AE DS MC V
Website
WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
A tiny cafe in an old strip mall, Sammy's will not likely draw you with its looks. Chances are you have come for the first time because a friend told you he (probably a he) said it was good. In fact, it is--very good, in fact. All the cooking is done in house, including the manufacture of meatballs and the like. The fried seafood is fried to order, and comes out crisp and dangerously hot. Everything is laid down generously. Cold cuts won't top those of the best delis, but that is Chisesi ham (the local standard) and Genoa salami.
WHAT'S GOOD
The roast beef is a such a superb poor boy that it's hard to pull away from it unless you eat here often. But the fries seafood is unusually excellent. A recent oyster poor boy enclosed only nine oysters--not because they were being chinchy, but because the oysters were of such large size that nine was all that would fit. The red sauce on the Italianate sandwiches is more than respectable.
BACKSTORY
Sammy's opened in 1996 in a former grocery store in a location obscure to anyone except neighbors. The present owners--whose grandparents opened the legendary R&O's in Bucktown--took over ten years later, and in 2010 moved to the present, more obvious location.
DINING ROOM
Here's one of the only restaurants I've seen where the kitchen appears to be bigger than the dining room. (They do a lot of take-out business.) High and low tables are set barely enough apart so you can get through. The counter suggests that this is an order-and-pick-up place, but in fact they have full and friendly service at the tables. A video poker machine hidden behind the usual saloon doors adds its unsavory note. The thumping you hear overhead comes from a dance studio.
ESSENTIAL DISHES
Starters
»Fried pickles
Onion rings
»Stuffed artichoke
Cheese fries
»Fried artichoke balls
Seafood gumbo
»Chicken and andouille gumbo
Garden salad
»Caesar salad
Chef salad
»Greek salad
Chicken or tuna salad
Wrap Sandwiches
Chicken club wrap sandwich
Classic club wrap
Wrappaletta (cold muffuletta in a wrap)
Chicken or tuna salad wrap
Grilled or fried shrimp wrap
Greek feta salad wrap
Meatball, mozzarella & red gravy wrap
Poor Boy Sandwiches
»Hot roast beef
»Veal or chicken parmesan, mozzarella
»Meatballs, red gravy mozzarella
Panneed veal
Grilled or fried boneless chicken breast
Chicken cordon bleu (ham, Swiss cheese, honey mustard)
Smoked sausage
»Hot sausage
»Hamburgers
»Grilled ham and cheese
Fried or grilled shrimp
Fried catfish
»Fried oyster
Soft-shell crab
Two-way seafood combo
Turkey breast
Tuna salad
Chicken salad
Genoa salami
BLT
»Flickaletta (muffuletta on French bread)
Club on toast or French bread
»Ashell's special (roast beef, ham & Swiss)
Entrees
»Grilled or panneed pork chop platter
Grilled shrimp platter
Grilled chicken breast platter
Grilled fish platter
»Panneed veal cutlets
Fried chicken finger platter
Veal or chicken parmesan
Meatballs and spaghetti
»Fried shrimp, catfish, oyster or combo platter
»Soft-shell crab platter
FOR BEST RESULTS
Strangely, the small poor boy is a better deal than the big one. This is a good place to come with three others, which allows the ordering of a variety of sandwiches.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Video poker: is it really necessary?
FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.
- Dining Environment -1
- Consistency +2
- Service+1
- Value +2
- Attitude +2
- Wine & Bar
- Hipness -1
- Local Color
SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
- Open Sunday dinner
- Open Monday lunch and dinner
- Open all afternoon
- Unusually large servings
- Quick, good meal
- Easy, nearby parking
- No reservations
