I was introduced to Sam's a little over 30 years ago by my dad after we played a few sets... read moreI was introduced to Sam's a little over 30 years ago by my dad after we played a few sets of tennis in New Rochelle and it was the best! The service was warm, friendly and fast; one felt like one of the family. And the meal from the starters through dessert was slam-bang delicious.Forward through more visits over the years to today to find to my delight that nothing on any of those fronts has changed. It's not cheap, but, on the other hand, it's not Park Avenue expensive, either. Even if it were, however, what I received from the instant I sat at my table in atmosphere and ambiance, in service, in friendliness, and in the cuisine hold a value far beyond the prices.I could take up volumes extolling their literally astounding seafood over the decades and an Onion Soup like nowhere else from an exclusive recipe. Tonight, I went for two of the specials off the menu. For my starter, I selected the corn soup, a creamless cold soup with seafood that was such a tasty treat that I left the dishwasher very little to do with the bowl. Being Prime Rib night, and having never had prime rib at Sam's, I went for the prime rib, done medium, with seasoned and really smooth fresh mashed potatoes and sautéed string beans fresh from the farm, their flavor snapping through with every bite. The prime rib was more than excellent, excess fat trimmed away but not the flavor, and a cut prepared just right and tender; we're talking butter knife tender here.For dessert I went with coffee and a little lighter with the "bites" for dessert, in this instance, the cheese cake bites. Rich enough to stretch out in small bites, but leaving one satisfied without being stuffed.A fun part for me personally being a railfan is Sam's parking lot that is on the right-of-way of the White Plains Division of the long-dead New York, Westchester & Boston Railway ("The Westchester", "The Million Dollar-a Mile Railroad"), and on the site of its Gedney Way station. Sam's was around to see The Westchester's last five years of service (1932-1937). The New York City Subway's #5 line between East 180th Street and Dyre Avenue is the only piece of The Westchester still mostly intact and in service. Beyond that the easement is mainly abandoned, overgrown, or obliterated. read less
