Amazing food and service, very old time but elevated Italian decor, the lasagna is a HIT mozzarella sticks were some of the best I've ever had, and the calamari - chefs kiss read more

If you're searching for good Italian in Austin, I would check out Sammie's. There aren't many spots in Austin, but I would come back here in a heartbeat. Located in the West 6th area, you can conveniently go out afterwards for a fun night. The place itself is so cool - it's small and quaint but has lots of character. It looks like an old school Italian joint. With limited seating however, make sure you get a reservation in advance (like, at least a month). They do have some tables outside which is cool too if it's good weather. The service is also amazing. I had Kale both times as my server and he was very friendly and helpful. We all loved our food. The Lumache allá Vodka would have to be my favorite, but you should definitely try the seasonal pastas if possible. Don't forget to get their mozzarella sticks too!! Somehow, they're just better than most. The meatballs are also a great starter if you want some protein before the pasta. As for drinks, their espresso martinis are great, as well as their wine list. read more

Sammie’s - lumache allá vodka - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

A true gem if Austin with delicious food, amazing ambiance and a wonderful staff! It was so packed inside during SXSW that we had to eat on the patio, so I need to make a proper reservation to soak up the fun buzz inside the beautiful atmosphere of the main dining room! read more

Sammie’s - Menu. - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is a classic old world Italian restaurant in Austin. Reservations are not the easiest to get so if you can do some advance planning you should be fine. Valet parking is a nice touch. Four of us went for dinner. The ambiance is like an Italian home with black and white picture of people who look like your grandparents. We started with calamari and mozzarella sticks which were very good. I liked the calamari better. We split two Caesar salads and it was plenty. Entrees were penne ala vodka, a steak, another pasta dish and I had a pork chop. I have to say the sauce for the pork chop was amazing. We got desserts to go and they were great. The service was attentive without being overbearing. It is pricey but worth the splurge. read more

Always excellent- my top 3 restaurants in Austin. The appetizer shrimp are incredible and the Caesar salad is the best! Really recommend the vodka pasta and veal parm. read more

Sammie’s - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nestled on the iconic 6th Street, Sammie's Italian transports you from the bustling streets of Austin straight to the warmth and charm of old Italy. With its inviting ambiance, impeccable service, and rich, comforting flavors, this spot is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Italian cuisine. After much internal debate (and several menu glances), I settled on the Caesar Salad alla Tommy and Campanelle Cacio e Pepe--though I must admit, the Texas Red Snapper and Chicken Piccata had me second-guessing my decision until the very last second. Let's be honest: decisions this difficult should come with a cocktail. The Caesar Salad was a revelation. You think you've had Caesar before? Think again. A slight drizzle of chili oil elevated it from a classic to a masterpiece--crisp, creamy, and with just the right amount of kick. Easily one of the best salads I've had in years. The Cacio e Pepe was a study in simplicity and technique--al dente pasta coated in a velvety, peppery cheese sauce that let the quality of the ingredients shine. When done right, this dish is proof that sometimes, less is more. Sammie's got it right. To wash it all down, I went for the Paulie's Walnut cocktail--a boozy, smoky, and slightly nutty concoction featuring Overproof Bourbon, Campari, Sweet Vermouth, Pecan Amaro, and a whisper of Laphroaig. This is the kind of drink that makes you want to slip into a leather booth, tell stories about "the old country," and pretend you own an olive farm in Tuscany. We sat outside, but a quick look inside revealed a space that felt like the perfect mix of an old-school NYC Italian restaurant and a refined cigar lounge--dim lighting, dark wood, and the kind of ambiance that makes you want to stay for hours. The warm, rustic decor, the lively yet intimate atmosphere, and the unbelievably welcoming staff made the experience even better. Our waitress wasn't just serving food--she was curating an evening. She took the already outstanding meal and infused it with warmth and familiarity, making the entire experience feel like home. Sammie's isn't just about food--it's about hospitality, nostalgia, and the joy of a well-cooked meal shared among friends. Whether you're looking for a romantic date night, a celebratory dinner, or just a place to indulge in expertly crafted Italian fare, this is the spot. Would I return? In a heartbeat. Would I finally try the Texas Red Snapper and Chicken Piccata? Absolutely. But that Cacio e Pepe might just have me in a pasta-induced chokehold forever. Highly recommended. read more

Sammie’s - Campanelle Cacio e Pepe with lemon & bottarga - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

My boyfriend took me here for an early birthday dinner. We got 8:30pm reservations on a Friday night. This place has a super cool vibe. It's dimly lit and feels very romantic. The tables are very close to each other, so we could hear everyone else's conversations and definitely had to speak louder to hear each other. Dylan was our waiter for the evening, and he took such great care of us the whole time. I love to do plenty of research before going to a new place by looking at the menu beforehand and checking out TikTok's, so I knew exactly what I wanted. Dylan brought out some complimentary bread to start off with. It was alright, however I wish it was warm and they had some butter with it. We started out with the Caesar salad, the housemade mozzarella sticks, and the calamari. The Caesar salad was to die for!! One of the best I've ever had- and I've had my fair share of them. It had the perfect ratio of lettuce to freshly grated Parmesan cheese to dressing. The only thing is I wish it had more breadcrumbs. They topped it with some chili oil, which was something I've never seen before. It added a little kick to it in the best way possible. This was probably my favorite thing I ate here. I was super excited to try the housemade mozzarella sticks after I saw everyone raving about it, but it honestly just tasted like any ordinary mozzarella stick I've had. There wasn't anything about it that stood out to me. I did really enjoy the pesto ranch and arrabbiata dipping sauces it came with. Those 2 sauces were absolutely delicious! I've never had pesto ranch before, but that's the only way I want my ranch now! My boyfriend devoured the entire plate of calamari. For our entrees we ordered the lumache alla vodka and the spaghetti and meatballs. I'm a huge vodka pasta fan, but unfortunately this didn't wow me. The flavors felt like too much and it didn't hit the spot. I took my leftovers home and it honestly tasted better the next day. My boyfriend tried some of mine and he thoroughly enjoyed it. He got the spaghetti and meatballs. He said the meatballs had a weird taste too and he wasn't a fan, but the spaghetti with the tomato sauce tasted really fresh and delicious. Dylan brought out a birthday gelato for me with a scoop of chocolate and vanilla, which was very sweet! Overall the food was decent, but not enough to come back here. The total for everything we got came out to around $135. I've heard the chicken Parmesan here is delicious and if I were to come back here I'd definitely try it. read more

See all

This is my third time at Sammie's and I'm excited to keep it in my rotation. Though it's hard to get a reservation here, it's so worth it. This time I tried 2 new dishes, the Chicken Parm and the brussels sprouts. The brussels sprouts surprised me and were so good (I'm still thinking about them) The Chicken Parm was good but not a stand out. I recommend ordering the Lumache alla Vodka, Housemade Mozzarella Sticks, Meatballs, and Brussels Sprouts. I'm excited to go back and if you have any stand out dishes (especially entrees) let me know! read more

See all

Food was just phenomenal. The lemon cacio e pepe you must get. Meatballs also bomb. I don't recommend the vodka pasta though. Service and ambience were 10/10!! read more

Probably the best red-sauce Italian place in Austin. Fun, tasty, good service. Brink of a 5*.

Our server was amazing! Super attentive and sweet. The food was ok, for the price we expected more. The focaccia was pretty bad, super chewy, while I appreciate good quality olive oil, if you soak a bread in it, it should be in every bite not just randomly. The olives and herbs in the bread were nice but I was missing that classing crunchy top of a focaccia. The pasta was cooked perfect, however every sauce or protein was way too salty, even the appetizers. It was to a point that it wasn't edible. I'm unsure if some salt is used to garnish, but if it is, don't. It took away from the flavor completely. The desserts were quite frankly the best we ever had, don't skip on that. Everything was perfectly balanced, delicious and not too heavy. read more

I had high expectations for this place. And although I had a good time, I was a little bummed. The music does not go with restaurant lol. It just doesn't. Maybe they change it up everyday, I don't know but we were there on a Saturday night. I love old school hip hop music but not in an Italian spot that has romantic feels lol. There isn't that much space in there either. The service was good though. I got the chicken parm, it was a little overcooked but still good and my date got the Snapper (which doesn't come with pasta by the way). They give you bread but nothing to dip it in like oil. I asked for some and they gave me oil a vinegar for a salad. Usually Italian places have oil and parm cheese to dip bread in. The best thing about this place was the Caesar salad. It was really good and big enough to be a shareable. read more

Sammie’s - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Wonderful experience! Joe was great as was the hostess and every staff member we interacted with during by our visit. Food was delicious and reasonable given the atmosphere and service! Nice wine list and portions are generous! Definitely recommend!! read more

Went here for an anniversary date night and had a wonderful time! Food was delish and the staff was wonderful. After mentioning it was our anniversary, we were offered complimentary champagne. The ambience was great, did have to get a reservation a month in an advance for a Monday evening dinner. Absolutely LOVED the Caprese salad 10/10! read more

See all

Birthday celebration here and the family had a wonderful time! We ordered a little bit of everything. The appetizers stood out - calamari, meatballs were favorites. Pastas and drinks were solid as well. Ambiance is spot on and the restaurant interior is unlike any other spot in Austin which makes it special. Service was attentive even when it got busy. I wouldn't call Sammie's a hidden gem but definitely a gem. read more

Cramped, impossibly loud music in a claustrophobic environment. The pizza next door is very good.

Late night stop for us and they were able to accommodate a table for 2. We got there at aprx 11pm and they said 30+min wait but it was only about 10min. Love the dimly lit vibes and real candles all over. Our server Shay was very attentive and knowledgeable. We got a bottle of Cabernet. A mix of focaccia and grissini was brought out quickly while we looked the menu over. Shrimp Francese was breaded and cooked perfectly! We opted to share the Cacio e Pepe with added mushrooms which added a nice texture and creamy bite. To finish we got both a Sticky Toffee Cake and a cheesecake! Great sharing portions and so delicious! I'm excited to go back and try other drinks and other dishes! read more

Sammie’s - Sticky toffee cake - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

The food was great, but I feel Sammie's is overhyped mozzarella sticks were amazing though. I was hoping for a bit more of portion when it came to the main entrees, especially for the price. The customer service was outstanding, I will say, and the ambiance is very cute. Get there a little early than your reserved time, because parking is tricky! read more

Service was great, food was spectacular, and the lighting and atmosphere was so nice and moody. One of the best dishes I ever had here.

Went with a couple friends and shared everything. The Caesar salad was awesome but we enjoyed all of the dishes and drinks. I will definitely go back enjoy this restaurant. Worth the wait for a reservation! read more

I came here for a date night with my girlfriend. We had high expectations of the place but I left a little disappointed. To begin, I thought the ambiance was excellent. When you walk into the restaurant it feels like a nostalgic old "New York" style italian place. It is like stepping into another world. The service throughout the night was also excellent, but I was getting a bit annoyed as to how often the waiter would come by and ask us how our meal was or if we needed anything. For drinks, I got a glass of red wine and my girlfriend got a basil-flavored drink which was delicious. As for the food, we ordered the calamari, the rigatoni, and a side of broccoli. I thought the calamari was okay - what really made the dish was the warm marinara sauce that it came with. That was really delicious. The rigatoni was excellent and tasted exquisite. Strangely, we were served a whole head of broccoli for our broccoli side. This was weird - I have never been served a whole head of broccoli as a side. The broccoli was unremarkable and did not taste great, if I'm being honest. Overall, we had a romantic time at Sammie's. I am not sure if I would return after the broccoli incident, but the actual pasta itself was delicious. read more

See all

You can tell this place has been around for a long time. To start you'll get some bread and breadsticks at the table. The cocktail limoncello sidecar was SUPERB! Perfect for someone who likes cocktails on the sweeter/tart side. It tasted like an elevated lemonade. The Campanelle Cacio e Pepe was a perfectly cooked and seasoned. Definitely recommend! For dessert the Tiramisu was so delicious and definitely shareable. The Cannolis are HUGE, but delicious, so I'd recommend sharing if you get more than one dessert. They have valet parking. read more

See all

Visited Sammie's for my birthday and it was incredible! As a native Austinite, I was sad when Huts Hamburgers was replaced with Sammie's but now knowing how incredible it is, I'm happier than can be!!! I like that they kept a lot of the old charm of the building. The drinks we had were great - my dad claims the Sammie's martini was one of the best he's ever had. I drank the Margarita Milano and it was also amazing. Of course we got the mozzarella sticks and ceasar salad and they were both 10/10! For pasta, we ordered the vodka, cacio e Pepe and Joe Leoni. The cacio e Pepe was surprisingly my favorite - usually I don't order just because it can be plain but this one was very flavorful and unique. The vodka pasta was wonderful as well. We finished off with Limoncello and Tiramisu. Shoutout to our server Kale for making my birthday dinner special!! He was attentive and kind! read more

See all

We were excited to have secured a last minute reservation recently, having wanted to try Sammie's for a while. I will just cut to the chase and say our experience was a pretty big disappointment. Starting with a simple caprese salad... if a classic like this is being offered it needs to be about top quality ingredients. In this case the tomatoes were flavorless and the mozzarella, rubbery. The spaghetti and meatballs were the highlight of our meal, the meatballs not heavy with well balanced seasoning, however the pasta had no character. Our veal chop (a once in a decade or so indulgence) was actually spoiled and smelled and tasted of fish. The service was pleasant and attentive and the room has a fun, stage-set feel of a 50's Little Italy restaurant. Hard skip for $350 for 2! read more

Finally made it out to Sammie's and it was absolutely amazing! I went with a bunch of friends and had a great dinner. The food was really good. We got their calamari and Caesar salad and the Caesar had a unique kick to it which made it so good. I got the vongole pasta and it was filled with clams. I usually don't eat much but ate the whole thing. My friend got the lasagna and I will be getting that next time. Our server was exceptional! Very attentive and personable. There's only a couple of minor complaints. The music was very loud and therefore everyone else was talking very loudly and it was hard to hear. I also got a cannoli for dessert and wished the shell was a bit crunchier rather than just hard. Overall, I would come back! read more

See all

Amazing as always. Musts are the Caesar salad alla Tommy and the chicken parmigiana. Chicken piccata did not make the cut this time, but it's okay! Martinis are always made to perfection! read more

See all

If you're debating this place just go! Oh my goodness is this my new favorite spot? Certainly my fav Italian that I've found in Austin. When you walk in it feels like you've transported back to another time period. It's dark and romantic. The food portions are huge which is what I want when I'm getting Italian. Meatballs? Amazing. Bolognese? Wow. Mozzarella sticks? Must try. Tiramisu? Literally the best tiramisu I've ever had and I don't really care for tiramisu so that's saying a lot. Sommeliers are typically on the floor walking around to help with your wine choice. Small cons - we didn't have big problems with service they were actually on it but felt a little unauthentic? Waitress seemed to be almost annoyed with us for no good reason. One of the bathrooms was also pretty gross and smelt like urine.. the only reason this isn't a big problem for me is because I think it may have been a one off as the second bathroom was very clean. I'm truly surprised this place isn't rated higher in general.. 4.6 stars. read more

See all

What a great upscale restaurant. Very friendly, helpful staff. Every table was full on a Monday night. Four of us dined and each person raved about how the food was first class. Great Italian food for everyone. Check out their menu, a wide variety of Italian dishes. Will visit again. read more

This food is soooo good. The service is amazing. Definitely need to set a reservation to be seated, we went on a Saturday night and it was very busy. We went for a birthday and they gave us a dessert with a candle and said that they were out of cards. The ambiance is nice, but it is extremely dark in there it took my eyes a few minutes to adjust. The chicken parm is to die for! And the lasagna portion is huge, I've had leftovers for days! read more

Sammie’s - Lasagna: chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

What a great place I loved looking at the pictures on the wall. The service was so good and helpful with what to order and kept the ice tea glass full. The food and the bread was so delicious we ordered several different things and shared, and had a little bit to take home. The next time I will make sure to order some dessert or take it home with me. read more

Sammie’s - Chicken Parnigiana - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

This place is sooo good for homestyle, traditional Italian. The atmosphere is so cozy and romantic, and the service is fast and friendly. We got their lasagna and spaghetti with meatballs, both were great. We will definitely be coming here again! read more

My East Coast raised husband has always said there's no good Italian food in Austin. Well that is no longer true. Sammie's knocked his socks off. Very very good food in a historic Austin building. The inside of the restaurant is very classy though it is a bit loud. They have a cute little patio area as well. We started with the mozzarella sticks and the waiter suggested adding on their famous Caesar salad. The mozzarella sticks were excellent. The Caesar salad had large leaves with plenty of dressing (maybe a little too much). My husband and I couldn't resist trying their Sunday special after hearing it described. The braised beef short rib meat was tender and delicious in the sauce along with the spicy Italian sausage pieces. The rigatoni was a perfect pasta to hold all the sauce and meat. The real standout was the veal parmigiana. We have never had bone in veal parmigiana. It was phenomenal. The meat was perfect. The breading was perfectly crispy and delicious. The sauce and cheese was yummy. Service was outstanding as well. We highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

See all

I love the ambience so much and the food was delicious. The service was very attentive. Food came out promptly and their lemon drops are delicious read more

See all

You MUST check out the jazz lunch. Super sweet vibes and a different experience than just dinner or a meal. We got the shrimp, Caesar salad, meatballs, and mozzerella sticks. Honestly, I am a mozzarella stick lover and wouldn't get them again. But all other apps were great. The Caesar salad was perfectly cold and crispy. For our meal we got the vodka pasta and our group enjoyed it a lot- we even got 2. Molten Cake and Tiramisu were top tier. Service was phenomenal as expected. Thanks Salif! read more

Sammie’s - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I booked this to celebrate my daughter's graduation.Unfortunately we had a disappointing dinner. The food was fine,some was even really good. However, they rush you out of there.They grab your plates before you are done. We ordered appetizers,salads and entrees and they rushed us out in under an hour. Very unpleasant. read more

One of my favorite dining experiences ever! I was in Austin a couple of weeks ago and went to Sammie's for dinner. Everything was excellent! The service was attentive and fantastic. The wine suggestion was immaculate. The food was delicious (I had the chicken Parmesan and my friend had the Cacio e pepe and he thought it was the best he's had). To top it off, we ordered the toffee cake and it was literally the best cake we've ever had. Amazing all around. read more

Sammie's is a great spot for a date night if you want that "old school" Italian restaurant feel with family-style portions and delicious classic dishes! I had heard great things and was very excited to dine here... I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint! My husband and I accidentally both made reservations (whoops) for 7:30 and 7:45 pm on a Sunday night to celebrate our anniversary... the hostess was very understanding of our mixup and double booking. We were seated at a beautiful, cozy halfmoon shaped booth with a card wishing us a happy anniversary and were served complimentary glasses of champagne which were both greatly appreciated and helped make the night special! It seemed busy but not ridiculous for a weekend night... I'd recommend making a reservation if you can just in case. SERVICE - Our server was Ford and he took fantastic care of us! He was incredibly professional and attentive and did a great job explaining the menu and making recommendations since it was our first time at Sammie's. The only blunder was one of the girls clearing my plate which still had my bread that I was only halfway done eating on it when she brought the appetizer... I tried to stop her and ask for my bread back but she took it so fast and didn't hear me. Not a huge deal, but I think it's best to be asked before clearing plates. PRICING - The total was $115.83 after tax but before tip for mozzarella sticks ($16), spaghetti with meatballs ($32), chicken parmigiana ($44), and tiramisu ($15). The portion sizes for the "classics" are large, but I do think it's still overpriced. FAST FACTS: * Reservations - available through OpenTable * Parking - valet available for $12 or street parking nearby * Complimentary bread basket with pieces of soft focaccia and crunchy breadsticks * Can be a little noisy when busy MOZZARELLA STICKS (9/10) - These are a MUST ORDER! Some of the best mozzarella sticks we've had... the cheese is soft without being too chewy and the breading is packed with flavor! They aren't greasy and both the marinara and basil ranch sauces pair with them nicely. You get 5 good sized sticks but I feel like an order of 4 or 6 would be easier to split for most parties. SPAGHETTI WITH MEATBALLS (7/10) - You get 3 decent sized meatballs with plenty of spaghetti noodles and sauce... but the portion size is definitely smaller than the chicken parm. The meatballs had FANTASTIC flavor and were very juicy but I could have used more variety in the texture (the inside reminded me of a store-bought meatball but it could be my preference of having more texture). The sauce was delicious and had large chunks of tomato that were full of flavor... I just don't think any spaghetti with meatballs is worth $32. CHICKEN PARMIGIANA (8/10) - The portion size for this one was HUGE! The piece of chicken was very thin but cooked perfectly (still tender and juicy) and covered in plenty of sauce and cheese. It comes with a side of pasta which was tasty on its own but also worked well with the chicken and sauce. The breading didn't hold up great toward the end and got a little soggy but that's also because the portion is so large it takes a while to eat! TIRAMISU (8.5/10) - As a lover of tiramisu, this one was fantastic! It's a good size piece so you can split it and it's not overly sweet. The lady fingers are soaked in plenty of espresso and the mascarpone was light and sweet! I wish the espresso flavor was a little stronger, but that's because I LOVE strong espresso. Not a single bite was left behind! Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Sammie's and would return and recommend it to others! If you go into it expecting the prices, I think you'll have a great time and the cozy ambiance of the restaurant is worth the splurge. read more

See all

I thought I had had good Italian food and then I came here! This place is my new standard! Service was impeccable. Interior is dark and romantic and the bathrooms are very nice, with a little candy treat bowl. We started with the caprese salad and the tomatoes were perfection. Also got the Caesar salad, which was very good but not anything out of this world. Wine was very good, got a glass of their Chianti. For entrees we shared the vodka pasta, chicken parm and cacio e Pepe pasta. Vodka pasta was the best I've ever had and the chicken parm was up there too. The cacio e Pepe was also very good but the vodka was unbeatable. For dessert we got the tiramisu and the classic chocolate chip cannoli. Our waiter could tell we couldn't decide between which cannoli to get and he ended up bringing out the pistachio cannoli on the house. The tiramisu was alright, I've definitely had better and the cannolis were great. Overall, a great dinner experience and will definitely be back! read more

See all

So we finally made it out to Sammie's last night and it was a delightful meal with excellent service! We enjoyed the experience very much.

A transporting experience with excellent service ... Always! The perfect slice of proper Italian cuisine... Like an Austin escape to a Greenwich Village or West Village classic... read more

Sammie’s - Sammies Famous Salad & Mozzarella Sticks - Italian Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all