But they took the pitcha off the menu!

Review of Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse:


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/di...ttom-well&_r=0

Funny. Fills me with nostalgia for a less fussy time.

I am not sure what to think. The "issue" about the food not being prepared as requested, and who knows what the attitude of the establishment about that is, would put me off more than the decor.

LOL, read that article last night and I knew from your title what the answer was before I opened thread!

oy vey!

Have not been there in 30 years. And I am not planning to go for another 30.

Ages ago, when I was young, and lived in Brooklyn, I frequented a restaurant in mid Manhattan which I believe the name was Mercurio's. The food and service was SENSATIONAL! The price was unbelievably inexpensive. It was located in a nondescript building, and you had to go down a few steps from street level. The thing that made the quality, service, and price was there was no menu. You ate what they cooked that day. It was always top notch and well presented. They had a reputation that was fabulous, and everyone I've ever known was crazy about that place.
I wonder if it'ws still in existence.

Only in New York!

Waldo-There is a place like that in Staten Island.

http://www.enotecamaria.com/wp/
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If Sammy's was more convenient, say mid-town, Theater District, or even Chelsea it could become another Ellen's Dinner where the food doesn't matter. But since it is downtown, I think it would only draw a small amount of tourists due to this review. The restaurant looks empty in the NY Times photo.

I could, however, see it remind NY'ers who have moved away and return to visit to go as nostalgia.

Not like Sammy's but does anyone remember Toffenneti's in Times Square? Considered great cuisine by a bunch of hick teenagers down from Connecticut.

..and remember that one of the Kutsher's (from the Catskills hotel of same name) opened a restaurant in Tribeca. But without the schmaltz!

I would have thought that Sammy's, bad food and all, would be more popular on the tourist circuit that it is now……but I guess the appeal is only for Jews of a certain age and certain background. I've never been there, though.

I am a native NY'er and I do not remember Toffenneti's. When I googled it was a huge restaurant near Times Square. And as a kid we went to old Madison Square Garden a lot and that was on 8th Ave between 49 and 50.

Toffennetti's… sigh… my college roommate and I went their for dinner after a matinee of
My Fair Lady. And…. we were able to order a drink legally - Don't much remember the food.
Anybody know when it disappeared? I worked in Times Square in the '70's and don't remember
seeing it.

http://nycvintage.blogspot.com/2011/...nt-famous.html

According to the above it closed in 1968.

Never heard of Tofannetti's.

But my one and only raffle win in my entire life was a black and white tv at an ORT luncheon at Mamma Leone's, when I was a guest of my grandma.

I remember Ratner's on Delancey, though!

Ratner's....blintzes....yumm! Mamma Leone's was a favorite for pre-theater with my family. Also the buffet at the Stockholm.

Does anyone remember O'Henry's, in the village, about where 10th St. crosses 4th St. (which to this day makes me crazy)?

I never heard of Toffenetti's either.

As for Sammy's, I loved reading about it, but not so sure I'd love spending my money there!

Absolutely remember Toffennetti's.

Anyone remember these other 'ladies who lunch 'restaurants of the 50's and 60's

Schraffts, The Bird Cage in Lord and Taylor's department store and of course Charlston Gardens in the fabulous B. Altmans store

We usually avoided Ratner's. The food was over rated and the waiters were a nasty bunch. We went there just because it closed because it was of the one guy's birthdays at work who kept kosher. There was a reason why it closed.

As a barbarian child Schraft's was the last place we would go or anyone would take us.

Mama Leone's was a tourist trap of the first order.

In addition to Schraffts etc. there was Stouffers at the bottom of the Top of The Sixes.