Sam’s Soul Food Restaurant Bar & Lounge

Definitely a Diomond in the ruff. I usually do take out which the take out side looks like a mom and pops kitchen made with great cooks.
Today I decided to stand the place was nice, clean spacious, a full bar and tv’s where I am watching the game. Who would of known. They they have a nice lol long area to sit and have drinks.
To get to the food. I had oxtails, rice and peas and mac cheese.
Is was DELICIOUS! The oxtail was good in flavor, just didn’t have no small kick to it, and the pieces were small and fatty.
Rice was nice and al dente. Mac and cheese held together and cheesy. Only thing I think could of been a slight better was the Oxtails. It was tender and juicy though.
Def will go back.

I loved their fried chicken. Initially they weren’t gonna sell me it as the chef felt the pieces were too dry but I insisted and it was soooo good (I love a hard fry fried chicken!) and big portions!

The music was amazing, they played a lot of oldies which I love. The food was not good at all. The fish was frozen and the batter was horrible. They jerk chicken is regular baked chicken with sauce out the can on it. The drinks are served in very small cups and they are watered down. I didn’t like the food at all. Great for music but pre game before you go.

I’ve eaten here a few times when I used to work in the area and the food has always just been okay. This restaurant is more popular as an after work hang out bar/​lounge than amazing soul food. I’ve tried the BBQ ribs and fried chicken lunch specials and it was just okay. The décor always seemed cold and dark too.
I’ve actually seen this restaurant highlighted on one of the food network channels for one of the best soul food spots in the Bronx and I laughed when saw the episode. I’ve never had their drinks but it does seem like it would be a cool spot to have a drink and listen to some good music after work.

My boyfriend and I usually visit this spot whenever we are in the mood for soul food but don’t feel like making the trip to Manhattan. Whenever we come here we usually order the same dish. I order the BBQ chicken white meat with Collard Greens. I love the chicken. Its always tasty, moist and tender, never dry. And I love the BBQ sauce that they smother the chicken in. I usually ask to have a little extra bbq sauce added on. The Collard greens are usually tasty as well. The Mac and Cheese is a hit or miss. I guess depending on what day you catch them on. Sometimes it will be fresh, nice and creamy and then there are times when I’ve received it hard, dry, crumbly and old tasting. But I always order it just in case I get lucky with a good batch :-/​The ambiance is always laid back and relaxing, good music however, the establishment could definitely benefit from a full renovation.

Man oh man. Where’s the soul in the food?
The food has no seasoning. It came out in 2 seconds. I guess it must be cooked and waiting. The Mac & Cheese taste like boxed mac and cheese. The tilapia… Well the hot sauce made everything taste a tad bit better.
Zero for your establishment.
This place is so old inside I thought Sammy Davis Junior and Rat pack was about to appear. Smh.
A spider crawled right on the booth :((
Lord help us. How are you guys in business. I mean you must be selling food to nursing homes. Wth!!!
Hospital food.

Food was good, staff is friendly and the happy hour specials are on point! I can’t wait to return.

I love this place. I have been eating here since I was small. Even though I’ve moved I still come here for Soul food.

$ 6 lunch fried chicken with candied yams and a sit at the park. Can’t go wrong. Plus I’m pretty sure their lunch specials are cheaper than a beer in the park.
You can also sit down and be served in the dining area next door.
And this place was on No Reservations 5 or 6 years ago!

I wouldn’t eat here again if the food was free! The service was poor but the food was even worse. We ordered the fish sandwich. They tasted and smelled like they came right out of a fish tank. Don’t eat here.

First time coming and I must say this place is absolutely delicious. I recommend this place to both people who have never tried soul food and are looking for a place and people who love soul food! This is the place to be. Great prices and great company. The atmosphere is awesome. Love this place, if I could give them 10 stars I would. I live in Brooklyn but I would definitely be back here again.

I came here for the first time today for the lunch special and loved it. I had the jerk chicken with mac and cheese and collard greens. My sister had the fried chicken with rice and candy yams. Everything had so much flavor from the juicy tender chicken, down to the sweet corn bread. I would definitely recommend this place and I will be coming back!

So happy to have stumbled upon this place. Had the coziest dinner, comforting and homemade classics on this cold NYE. The ambience is friendly and there’s a nice neighborhood bar for after dinner drinks.

I have visited this restaurant a few times over the years since I started working in the area. Its the only soul food restaurant in the immediate area and the food in my opinion is just OK. Over the years I have stopped here for food less than 5 times and it was mostly because I was too lazy to cross the bridge into manhattan. Aftetr reading these reviews I am not sure how they got such high ratings.
I havent tried everything they have to offer but I have tried a few of there dishes. The best option in my opinion is there fried fish because they cook it fresh and its seasoned perfectly. Their cornbread and collard greens are also pretty tasty. the cornbread is cake like and has just a touch of sweetness.
On the downside, I tried the jerk chicken once and threw half of it away. It was the worst jerk anything that I ever had. Its a soul food restaurant and they should seriously stick with what they know. The macaroni and cheese is also one of their worst dishes to me because I have never tasted a bit of cheese in it. Its yellowish in color but I can never see any cheese. On my last visit I stopped here with a co-​worker and immediately regretted it. She could not stop complaining about the food. She ordered a rice side dish that she said tasted horrible and she said that chewing the BBQ ribs she ordered was like chewing leather.
If your looking for good soul food I would not suggest this restaurant –sorry-​you couldnt go wrong by going ANY other place else but here!

This a GEM in the heart of the South Bronx. If you are too scared to venture to the «hood’ from some quality food then please STAY AWAY. This place is consistent with food, Service and Fun. Drinks are always flowing, they have a daily happy hour and the FOOD IS AMAZING! On the weekends if you are looking for a great party come eat early and stay late to dance the night away. Any night of the week this place can ensure you a great time!

Great take-​out food! Their collard greens and ribs were outstanding. Even the customer service was good.

I just had my mother’s 50^th Bday there Saturday ⁸⁄₉ & if was a great turn out. I party here every Saturday because the downstairs has a great space to get your dance on. Plus the bartender Seleste is my favorite! She brings the house down with her personality and bomb ass drinks. I feel they should open the downstairs Friday & Saturday but any who– The place is great! The food & drinks are very reasonable in price. The crowd is beautiful and mature. The owner Sam and manager David are good guys. They made sure my family was comfortable. The waitress & hostess were beautiful & sweet! Great vibes all the way around the board. It’s a complete circle at Sam’s! Another thing is you feel safe partying there with security always on top of things. I love it! If you’re looking for a place to hang out– eat & get your dance on… Sam’s it!
****Someone hit me about the cover charge.
The bar is open from Tues-​Sun and the only night there’s a cover charge is Saturday.
Ladies is $ 5
Men are $ 10
This is good because the dance area downstairs opens at ¹²⁄₁₂:30am
I just wished it closed at 4am or at would be wonderful but that’s wishful thinking. If it closed at 5am you couldn’t keep me out. Yet they start shutting things down at 3:30am. I love Saturdays there. Nice local spot with beautiful people, good music & great drinks.

Wow, pleasantly surprised. Just moved into the Bronx and found a go to spot for soul food.
Friends and I shared heaping portions of soul food at very reasonable prices, Well drinks were made STRONG, just as we’d hoped for and for only $ 3, this can’t be beat. Our waitress was also friendly and warm, with a hint of southern hospitality.
Thoughts on Food:
#BBQ chicken and BBQ ribs: great flavor, not too sweat with just the right amount of spice. The meat was surprisingly fall of the bone and tender for both chicken and the ribs.
#Meatloaf: you can’t screw up meatloaf and Sam’s doesn’t. Nothing special but very acceptable#
#Jerk chicken: I always get the jerk chicken. Not the best I’ve had but also great flavor. If I had to pick, get the bbq chicke over the jerk
#Fried chicken: great flavor from skin to bone. Skin could be crispier though and perhaps less oily. I’d still get this again.
#cornbread: moist, warm, and fresh, lots of cred.
#sides: potato salad is a excellent as are the collard greens. Don’t get the fries as they are fairly mediocre.
OVERALL: a go to for soul food on grand concourse

Went to Sam‘s last night too see DJ HOLLYWOOD AND WAS NOT DISAPOINTED MUSIC WAS HOT ITS FRIDAY Old SCHOOL justl like i like it@ its best, drinks are good and took a plate of whiting fish, collards,&mac & cheese. food was decent, will come back too the Lounge too went solo. will comeback.

If this place has on and off days, I was apparently there on an on-​day. I had the ribs with mac and cheese and collard greens. The ribs were fall off the bone good. They reminded me of my grandma’s. The collard greens tasted fresh and well-​seasoned without being encumbered by pork fat, and the mac and cheese was impeccable. It was that perfect texture – where it’s baked but not boring.
And did I mention that I got a cocktail too and only paid $ 18.75. I WILL be back.