Sammy’s Famous Corned Beef

Sammy’s is a Pittsburgh institution that’s been around for as long as I can remember and I’d be willing to bet it hasn’t changed since its inception. It’s got a very casual atmosphere. The food service is almost «cafeteria style» meaning you get in line, place your order and by the time you get to the register your sandwich is either wrapped for takeout or in a basket ready to be paid for. You can then seat yourself at either the bar or at one of the tables. It’s unique in the fact that it could be classified as either a deli a restaurant or a bar. As a deli you can purchase corned beef and other lunch meats and deli items by the pound. As a restaurant you can get a good sandwich, salad, and/​or side for lunch. But then again, it’s a full service bar with a few craft beers on tap and you could get a cocktail or beer and also enjoy some grub.
I was in the mood for a quality sandwich today so I stopped in and had the «Famous Special» — a sandwich that sports a generous portion of corned beef with your choice of slaw or kraut (I got the kraut), a slice of Swiss cheese and Russian dressing all between two slices of fresh bread from a local North Side bakery called the Breadworks (I got the marble although I could have chosen rye, wheat, white, Russian rye, a Kaiser roll or an onion roll). A pickle wedge on the side compliments the sandwich nicely. Although there was a line of about ten people in front of me, I don’t think it took more than three minutes to get my sandwich. The staff behind the counter don’t do much chatting with the customers and its clear efficiency (without being rude) is the rule.
I had wanted a quality sandwich in and a quality sandwich is what I got. No disappointment at all. I left the place feeling satisfied.

I walked into Sammy’s expecting a ny style corned beef sandwich and that is not what you get. I don’t think Sammy has ever even had a good corned beef sandwich. Meat was dry under seasoned and Luke warm. The bread was just sliced supermarket bread. I hate to say it but giant eagle makes a better sandwich than this place. Don’t waste your time

I don’t understand why this place think’s it has famous Corned Beef. I can only believe it’s because there are no other deli’s downtown. The restaurant/​bar is a dive. The Corned Beef is nothing great and their side dishes are nothing special. Not worth the trip.

I like a dive restaurant as much as the next person, but this is not my kind of place. It smelled dirty, the bartender and the lady who took our orders were both very unpleasant, and the food didn’t taste fresh. It just doesn’t look clean in there, so that is a major concern. You can be a bit hole-​in-​the-​wallish, but you still need to keep the place clean. Our table smelled like a moldy washcloth had been used to wipe it. Won’t be eating there again.

The corned beef may be famous but the service is awful. I’ve been here several times and the service was always lacking. Today it was just awful and the three broads behind the counter made sure I’d never be going there again.
The food is pretty good. Nothing spectacular and I’m not sure how famous it is. I’ve had the corned beef and the roast beef. Both of which the slice fresh for you. The pickles are good and the bread’s fresh.
But the girl’s making the sandwiches never smile. They also have small talk the whole time they’re making your sandwich with each other. If you are going to be jibberjabbering while making my sandwich, why don’t you at least direct it towards me? No one wants to here about how much you hate your job, your bills or how so and so got fired for doing this and that.
Today was the deal-​breaker though. I’ve never tried their pastrami so I ordered a large pastrami with swiss on rye bread with mustard. When I go to the cash register to pay for my sandwich, there’s commotion.
I told the unsmiling old lady what I ordered and the two younger gals start hollering that I ordered a salami sandwich. I say, «No, I ordered pastrami.» The one girl says, «Well, I heard you say salami.» I shake my head and say, «I have a soft voice, maybe you misheard me but I wanted pastami. I actually said pastrami twice.» She says, «Well you said salami».
Really?
«Look, I wanted a sandwich, not an argument.» I put my money back in my pocket and turn around to leave. They told me I still had to pay for the sandwich. I told them, «But I didn’t order THAT sandwich» and walked out.
I can forgive alot of things. But, even if I did say salami (which I did not), there’s no excuse to start arguing with me about it. I’ve worked in restaurants. You apologize for not getting their order right and you make them the right sandwich. You put a smile on their face and then talk about how much of an a-​hole that moron was when you have a chance with your coworkers.
Oh well… their loss. I won’t be back to this place ever again.

Sammy’s is still the best place in Downtown Pittsburgh to get a good corned beef sandwich. It’s still a little dive hole-​in-​the wall place across the street from Kaufmann’s – ahem – Macy’s. Still as popular as ever with the lunch crowds, but a great place to go for an inexpensive lunch.

Oh Sammy’s…how glad I am to reconnect. I had first sampled the famous about five years ago and hadn’t had one since. Now, that I’ve moved the office downtown it’s convenient for me to visit as much as I’d like. Ray, Tom and I found ourselves wondering around the city around lunchtime trying to get a lay of the land and find the good lunch spots when we spotted Sammy’s… I had almost forgot about this place. There are a few locations around the city with two downtown (I think?). The one we went to is close to 6^th St. I think. You walk in and it looks like anyother dumpy yinzer bar with a poke machine to the left next to the cigarette vending. There is a large bar in the center of the restaurant with plenty of regulars having a lunch beer. It’s relatively dark inside and for somereason really muggy, not sure why because it’s relatively cool outside. There also is a few larger tables on the right where we decide to sit. At first we all sat down thinking that there was a server, there wasn’t. So, we looked a little dumb (not the first time), then we realized that you actually order and pay yourself in the back. In the back there is a deli counter with large coolers to also purchase beer by the 6 pack (I guess). I order for Ray and myself. I get one corned beef on rye with swiss and a side of dark mustard. I also get another corned beef with cole slaw as the topping for us. Tom gets the corned beef with cole slaw ontop. I also order a couple orders of macaroni salad and grab a couple of iced teas out of the cooler. We walk back to the table and I first sample the macaroni salad, not good… not good at all… The flavor is somewhat offputting and there also is something sweet like cinammon in it. I only have a bite. Now, the sandwiches are great! I had a ½ of the Corned Beef on rye wiht mustard and it’s great! The bread is fresh, the mustard is cgood quality and the corned beef is delicious piled high packed with flavor. The other ½ I tried with the coleslaw on top is also delicious the coleslaw is creamy and is the perfect topping for the savory corned beef. I’m glad I re-​discovered this place and the next time I’ll just get a sandwich to go.

Well the place looks like another junky Pittsburgh bar, but there is definitely something to check out here. And that would be the «famous corned beef» sandwich. It’s not an exaggeration. It’s good. Not sure why you would end up in downtown Pittsburgh, but if you do and want something tasty, this is a place to check out. Expect a busier crowd when lunchtime hits for all the poor little office workers.