Sammy’s Downtown Bistro & Bar

One of the many great restaurants in Bronxville. The décor is lovely and chic, and the exterior is beautiful also. The staff is very friendly as well. My favorite dishes are the wild mushroom risotto and the short ribs. The risotto in particular is just delectable and addicting. Their desserts are also delicious as well. Very good food in a lovely spot.

The majority of people frequent the same restaurant day in and day out. Hell… I shouldn’t talk, because I fall in that same category and will dine in my favorite City Limits restaurant for, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, if I could!
Thanks to Chloe C’s, mouth-​watering picture postings and continuous visits to her own favorite, Sammy’s Downtown Bistro, it was high time to visit. Since Mr. Man and I didn’t want to dine at our favorite restaurant, I suggested Sammy’s. I quickly made reservations, and were there, in no time.
Sammy’s flashes a nice Tudor-​style exterior with an inviting landscape. Interior design, however, gives you soft, warm lighting, and a pleasant open dining area– and if that wasn’t enough, risqué paintings from an Ukrainian artist… I’d say, a little racy for Bronxville folks! As a side note, our server mentioned to us that Rosie’s Italian Bistro, literally, a few minutes away, is Sammy’s sister restaurant– that explains the similarities in art, décor and menu. Table service was very quick with crusty hot bread and a scoop of honey butter on the side (sh*t) and our server couldn’t be any sweeter and so attentive throughout.
For a very quick nano second, Mr. Man and I did not fit their demographic. But on the flip side, Sammy’s Downtown Bistro offers you an upbeat environment with hearty and delicious food. The Mushroom Risotto appetizer, was maliciously delicious oozing with Parmessan creaminess and rich Porcini mushrooms and my Halibut was melt in my mouth delicate.
Thank you tons Chloe C. Dining experience couldn’t have been any better and there’s absolutely no problem being a constant fixture in the same restaurant– over. And over. And over again. Sammy’s has excellent service, great cocktails and above all, rich food.

We took advantage of Westchester’s Restaurant Week back in March 2016. Dinner was a prefixed menu for $ 29.95 (App, entrée, dessert)
We chose this restaurant because of the location (Bronxville) & the style of food we were in the mood for (Italian). Talk about a positive experience. The staff was nice and attentive. The food was bomb! Stuffed mushrooms for sure had me wanting more! I’d def go back and pay full price for the dishes we had. Pay them a visit!

I found Sammy’s on Unilocal and have to agree with the great ratings. The food was absolutely dee-​lish! We had the duck and and halibut special. The duck was fresh, crisp on the outside, tender and the potatoes au gratin were so good my husband didn’t want to share. It was ok with me because the halibut in champagne sauce was excellent, not too rich and served with a perfectly creamy risotto. We will come back!

This is a nice Italian restaurant in the cutest area. The waitress was nice and the food was delicious. I ordered the stuffed mushrooms appetizer and that tasted great! Then I got the chicken parmesan which was pretty oily because of the cheese, but tasted good anyway. It’s a large portion so you’ll probably take some home if you order it!
Over all I don’t think I’d come back here because the menu selection is pretty small, but it wasn’t a bad experience. I also didn’t like that the restaurant was completely empty when I went. It was a Friday at 2:30, so I guess that’s pretty far from prime time, but anyway I just thought I’d share

Another very good restaurant in Bronxville sister to Rosies food always good never had a bad meal it comes out very hot staff always friendly.

I look forward to getting Sammy’s take-​out every Wednesday. Whatever their fish of the day is, I always want it… mostly for the delicious risotto that comes with it. I’ve been here with at least a dozen different people and everyone always loves what they get. My grandmother says they have «continental» cuisine, but she’s bougie. It’s American. It runs more French/​Italian, but the randomness of it just makes me call it American. Either way, all the dishes have been great.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is very pleasant with a vintage classy vibe. It’s a good place for date night. I’ve been here with kids and while they were very accommodating, frankly other than a pizzeria there’s no good place to take toddlers. I’m sure they are family-​friendly, but the dark quiet atmosphere to me suggests leave them at home. I wish my in-​laws did. ;-)
So far, this is my favorite place in Bronxvville.

This place is nothing special about Sammy’s. Nice Italian food, average service. The food was good I got the mushroom ricotta ravioli – the flavor was good however nothing original. The food was a bit. Over priced ($ 17 for the ravioli) however that is Bronxville. I probably wouldn’t come back unless the menu and prices change. However maybe it is different now 2 months latter.

This was my first visit to Sammy’s Downtown, and with all the excellent reviews, the bar was set high for my expectations. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed. I was there on a Wed. night, the establishment was 70% unfilled, though the atmosphere was lovely. One would think, that on a night like this, the service would be impeccable, but such was not the case on my visit. My entire party of six, all experienced what could only be described as race to the finish. We were there for an office Holiday gathering, a night to relax and enjoy a leisurely consumed meal and each others company. We were not there for «fast food» .
From the moment we asked to be seated for our 6:00 reservation, our waitress seemed to be in a very big hurry. She apparently had an agenda: to be out of there ASAP. Well, six diners, ordering drinks, appetizers, main courses, desserts, & coffee– takes time, especially if the experience is to be properly enjoyed.
I must give attention and praise to the chef, because 5 of the 6 meals where at least «5 star» (Cod, Pork, Lamb, Ravioli, were all fairly amazing) however, if we just wanted a good meal, take out would have been appropriate. We went their for an entire dining experience, which this restaurant, thanks to our waitress, severely lacks.
Even after our waitress threw the check at our table, without so much as inquiring if we desired anything else, we provided her with a tip, that, in retrospect, was too generous. (We also discovered that she apparently lacks the vocabulary to say «thank you.») She left immediately after we paid the bill, we saw her make her exit.
After our exhausting evening of «marathon» dining, the good will of the holiday season was nearly extinguished.
Sammy, maybe some re-​training with a seminar in attitude adjustment is in order for some of your staff!

Went here with my family on a Sunday evening. It was early when we went so it was nearly empty. Everyone was pleased with the food– I had the ravioli rustico which has braised short rib in it. Pretty good, I would just say the onion based sauce it was in was a bit fatty. They also offered a decent amount of specials and I liked that the menu overall was pretty diverse; especially coming with a party of 7. Had the chocolate cake for dessert, tasty as well. For how empty the restaurant was I thought the staff could have been a little more attentive– I basically had to stare down the waiter in order to get another glass of wine and the hostess was not the most warm and friendly. Overall a pretty good place, I would likely come back
PS– my family & I had a pretty good laugh at their artwork…

Been here twice now and I can honestly say, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU’VE GIVEN ME! This is a cute, quaint spot in downtown Bronxville where the service is awesome, your friendly server Laura will put a smile on your face, and you’ll wish you had the stomachs (yes, plural) to fit the entire menu selection in one sitting!
I think I tried the Chicken Samantha on my first visit, but can’t recall, as it was several months ago. What I do remember, is being so unbelievably satisfied (especially by the marvelous polenta croutons) that I could not stop thinking about my meal in the days that followed.
Last night’s dinner was equally satisfying, but I had the opportunity to sample a few more dishes than I had the first time around. Again, my only regret about this place is that I literally don’t have the room to try everything on their menu, all at once.
1. Porcini and Wild Mushroom Risotto– this mushroom risotto’s only issue was that it could’ve been a few degrees hotter, but after popping the first spoonful into my mouth, I realized that I probably would’ve sacrificed my teeth and eaten it frozen, if I had no other option. Creamy, rich in flavor and even someone who isn’t all about the FUNGUS AMONGUS would have to admit that this parmesan-​laden delight was cripplingly delectable!
2. Ravioli Rustico– stuffed with braised short rib, served in a savory au jus and mascarpone drizzle with shitake mushrooms and caramelized onions. Wow. This dish sounds heavy, but the pasta was fresh and light and the mascarpone drizzle – I’m ready to die now that I’ve experienced Heaven. The dish was rich in flavor and extremely filling, but when it was all gone, I somehow wanted more. Yes, I have a problem.
3. Fromage fritter – This little fried circle of brie served with grilled shrimp and rosemary. Melt in your mouth, mouthwatering and exquisite. I was very impressed and this appetizer was plated beautifully.
4. Chicken Scalloppini Fina– Simple, very thinly sliced chicken breast, laywered with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. This dish is swimming in a shallow pool of lemon and white wine sauce that is absolutely to die for. The sauce is perfect – not too citrus-​y or salty – and served with a giant heap of perfectly sauteed spinach.
And there was no way I had room for dessert. Laura, my server, said she was disappointed in us. I’m disappointed in us, too. But we’ll be back for the sweet treats.
Not sure why you’re still reading this, but you should be making your way down to Sammy’s. I can guarantee satisfaction. I actually have asked about a position here because I want the discount on the food. I hope they’ll consider me – fingers crossed!

Love this restaurant. Food is always amazing. My favorite restaurant, so far, in Bronxville.

One of my favorite restaurants in the area and I have dined here many times for different occasions. The food is consistently good and I’ve never had a bad experience. I highly recommend Salad Nicoise for lunch and Seafood Nicoise for dinner. I also enjoy their special entrees.
My favorite dessert is the warm chocolate cake that melt in your mouth :-)

Good spot for a nice dinner. Wine list is good also.
Had the Osso bucco which was very good. The sauce was rich and the entire dish came together very well. Pasta was the choice overall and the wine list was reasonable with a very nice range.
Will have to come back.

I was here last year for a celebratory dinner. Everything was delicious. The service was outstanding and attentive. Because of that wonderful experience, I came back for another celebratory meal.
The bread was delicious, as was the stuffed mushroom appetizers. The Caesar salad was okay. There was too much bland dressing. There were impressive shavings of Parmesan cheese but remarkably, the cheese had no flavor!
We both ordered a dish of shrimp and scallops over linguine and a pink vodka sauce. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the pink sauce and seafood were delicious. Until I found a hair.
While I was upset by the hair, I was more upset by the way the manager handled the situation. First, he blamed the air conditioning and fans and said that it must have blown from another table. C’mon!
When I pointed out that the hair was at the bottom of my bowl, he changed his tune. He insisted on making another serving but I said I was finished. My friend took home the second dinner and said it was delicious.
The bill came and they charged me for the meal! They did take off our appetizer but still charged for the meal with a hair in it. Finally, they took the pasta dish off the bill but did charge me for the salad and the desert. They were two thirds of the components of the special meal. I thought that was pretty lousy of the manager but was not going to fight it because I ate them.
It was very disappointing how the manager chose to handle the situation. Things happen, even a hair in food but the mark of a great restaurant is how the staff handles adversity. They missed the boat on this one. The stars, or lack of, reflect the staff more than the food. Of course, hair in food counts for a lot, too.

My friend and I love trying and exploring new places, he knew I would get a kick out of this place. It was out in Bronxville, so nice and quiet, love that.
The restaurant is cute, great décor, intimate setting. The only negative is the fake candle they use for the tables, So0o0 tacky for such a nice place, please change that quickly!!!
We ordered the stuff clams as our appetizers, s0o0o0o go0o0od!!! Sucks that it comes with only 4, Bo0o0o0o!!! The bread was ok, but the Honey butter they use wo0o0ho0o0o just great, awesome!
I ordered the Ravioli Rustico… stuffed with braised short rib, savory au jus, shitake mushroom,
caramelized onion, mascarpone drizzle. Yes!!! Winning! YUMMY!
My friend had the Pork Tenderloin Paillard ‘Espanola’ … tomato sherry-​mushroom sauce, broccoli rabe, mashed potato. It was also very good, especially the mash potato.
The service was ok, nothing spectacular. Overall, great place, especially for a date night!

My gf and I went to Sammy’s on New Years Eve for an early dinner (5pm). I have driven past it many times but decided to try it.
Well worth it. I called in a reservation, the staff were very polite and accommodating to us. We were seated right away, and our waiter came over very fast to take our drink order.
We were given bread to start, then we ordered the Calamari. I just wish the sauce had a little «kick» to it, but it was fine. We ate it all.
My date went with the braised veal ravioli and I went with the braised veal special. Bother were very good, and the veal was so tender!!! All of the food tasted great. The food came out fast, but not to fast, so it was perfect timing. The wait staff came with fresh cracked pepper and grated cheese if we would like it. They were also so nice. The manager came over to make sure we were having a nice dinner.
My one and only complaint, and its a theme with many of my restaurant reviews– the place was to dark. Two older individuals actually used flashlights to read the menu. Im not a big fan of the dark restaurant but some like it.
Overall I’m a fan and will try it again soon.
*Please remember this is from my experience and yours may differ. I write these reviews as my honest experience to give you an idea of what I encountered. Use this review as you would please.

When we first entered there was an overwhelming pleasantness to the atmosphere and ambiance of this restaurant.
It was okay. Host, service, food all just okay.
Don’t judge a book by its cover (the cover here is AWEOME) the book is just okay.

I went to their sister restaurant Rosie’s Bistro (also in Bronxville, down the street on the other side of the station) on my birthday once, which is more of an Italian menu and had a good experience. A friend & I decided to try to this place out last week for dinner.
Starting from the greeting, the coat check, the server & staff… everyone was friendly & efficient. Our server was great.
The menu is more Continental/​American. The ambiance is nice, intimate, upscale– casual. It was fairly quiet when we got there but got busier around 8.
The bread basket… amazingly fresh, hot out of the oven. Good selection of reasonably priced wines. My friend accidentally spilled her wine (ooops!) and they were quick to move us to another clean table, refill her wine & get us a new bread basket (can’t take her anywhere LOL jk).
Our server informed us of the specials for the night. We started with the Maryland crab cakes which were quite good, served with some greens and corn. My friend got the Steak Frites & I decided to go for the Lobster Ravioli. Everything was perfectly cooked & delicious. Nice portion sizes too. For dessert we got their Red Velvet cake with vanilla gelato… yummy!
Had a really good time & look forward to coming back.

«The right attitude is the key to success…» –Me
What are the odds everybody with a Friday night reservation are coming to eat at the same time? My exact thought when I was told it would be an hour after we enjoyed a few drinks near the small bar area that gave a clear view of the almost empty dining room. In the hour I was there, a majority of the ten people who came in were having drinks at the bar and the fairly spacious dining room had several available tables.
Now granted I wasn’t dressed in my best winter attire; jeans, snow boots, a fleece and a down jacket; but it’s winter and it snowed earlier.
They have an obvious hostess so I’m guessing the woman who couldn’t move the muscles in her face to a grin was the manager? Interest in our business was non-​existant, so we politely accepted her one hour dismissal and left.
These things I would normally overlook due to a busy Friday night crowd could no longer be excused when we walked up the street to Underhill (which had half the already much smaller restaurant closed off to a private party) and were seated immediately.
It’s a shame because their food has always been good but in all honesty, Sammy’s local competition effortlessly makes a significant difference with simple customer service.
«The right attitude is the key to success» –yours truly