Pete & Sam's Restaurant
Memphis, TN 38111-6635
Phone: (901) 458-0694
- Price:
- $$
- Best of Citysearch:
- Family-Friendly Dining 2006
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 4:30pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 4:30pm-11:30pm, Sun 4:30pm-10:30pm
Editorial Review for Pete & Sam's Restaurant – by Bobby Anderson
The Scene
Large parties of spry seniors, families with children and romantic couples fill two dimly lit rooms. The decor is rather modest--stackable banquet chairs, wood paneling, vinyl tablecloths--not fancy Italian, but family Italian. Service is fast and friendly; say hi to Pete or Sam when you pay at the door.
The Food
Soft, warm loaves of bread are in glorious abundance on every table. A crisp iceberg salad is the perfect prelude to cannelloni--tubes of pasta stuffed with seasoned beef, topped with mushrooms, marinara and several cheeses, served piping hot in its metal pan. Juicy, sliced tenderloin, bathed in a rich wine and mushroom sauce, is slow cooked to peak flavor. Meat-and-cheese ravioli, made from Sam's own family recipe, and garlic spinach laced with egg whites are among the excellent side dishes. End with spumoni--layered Italian ice cream filled with whimsical, chewy candy flecks.
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Insider Tips
BYOBTo make you feel even more at home, Pete & Sam's serves beer ice-cold in a can, but you can bring your own bottle of wine for dinner.
User Reviews for Pete & Sam's Restaurant
07/12/2007 Posted by dannyw98
After over half a century, Pete and Sam's is still the best. The atmosphere is refreshingly non-stuffy and perfect for a large family, the wait staff is always friendly and most importantly, the food is outstanding...time-tested recipes unchanged by trends or fads. The Veal Scallopini with a side of sausage pizza and ravioli with a fresh, crisp Italian salad is an incredible feast that I have enjoyed for years. Occasionally, I will sample my wife's eggplant parmisan and it's very, very good as well. The wine list is up to you. Stop by Buster's Liquor at Poplar and Highland on the way...Pete & Sam's is BYOB for a small corkage fee. If you are looking to spend $$$$ for modern ambience and food that is more suitable to the eye then the palate, may I suggest another restaurant. But, If you are looking for the very best Italian food in Memphis, go to Pete & Sam's.
Pros: Family friendly, Great Food, Great Service, BYOB (wine)
Cons: Parking
07/31/2006 Posted by aodhan51
I've been eating there 40 years, but in the last 3-4 years the restaurant has diminished greatly. The food is now only fair, the kitchen is mismanged - food comes irratically to your table, often cold, and the service is non-existent. On my last visit, and I emphasize LAST visit, there were 6 of us, and every entre came at a separate time. The first entre didn't arrive until an hour after we ordered. It's sad. It has been extended-family run for years, and the manager/nephew who held things together left about 3 1/2 years ago. Now the owner's kids run it, and they have failed. It's one of those situations where they take the customers for granted, and the old-time customers have had enough.
Pros: Pizza is still good-if you get it hot
Cons: Everything has gone downhill
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