Sammy G's Tavern

Located at 3800 Tinsley Drive in High Point, Sammy G’s Tavern serves American fare for lunch and dinner. There is a full bar, drink specials change daily, and a brunch menu is offered on Sundays.

Though the name calls to mind a neighborhood watering hole, Sammy G’s is more upscale than the moniker lets on. A sister restaurant to Fratelli’s Italian Steakhouse in Winston-Salem, Sammy G’s does what others have tried and failed to do: it gets the dressed up pub/casual fine dining concept right.

Deceptively spacious, Sammy G’s features several dining areas. One includes a bar and a long communal table while another is a more traditional dining set up. My wife and I got to experience the latter and found it comfortable enough.

The menu here is well-stocked with American staples: wings, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and steaks. There are, however, enough global touches to keep things interesting. The appetizers include a Thai shrimp, a fried calamari, and an Asian seared tuna, risotto is an available side, chicken teriyaki features among the entrees, and several styles of nachos (including lobster and blistered corn for the truly curious) are accounted for. For our first time out, my wife and I split a green tomato starter and followed up with The Sammy G’s (fried flounder, popcorn shrimp, and a crabcake) and the Plum Asian Sirloin, respectively.

A fried green tomato has become one of our litmus tests for new places, and by that measure alone, Sammy G’s passed. Though the slices were smallish, they were crisp and well-coated, and they paired well with the accompanying dab of pimento. The jalapeno bacon jam that came with it brought a nice bit of heat. Plum sauce on a steak seemed like a gamble – would it be too sweet? – but my faith was rewarded. It enhanced rather than overwhelmed the sirloin, and it called to mind a less salty teriyaki. The side of sautéed broccoli that came with it was perfect (seriously, I was left wondering how broccoli could be this good), and the risotto was satisfying if not spectacular. The steak did come out slightly overcooked (requested medium rare, it arrived medium approaching medium well) but not enough to render it unpalatable, and that was the only hitch in an otherwise very good meal.

Said meal was complemented by service that was generally on-point. Wait times for food were minimal, and Brycen, our server, was attentive and polite. Sammy G’s seemed both adequately staffed and well-managed, no easy feat given the amount of restaurant industry turnover.

At first glance, prices at Sammy G’s seem to be in-line with the menu and concept. Entrees start in the mid-teens and run into the twenties for steaks while sandwiches and entrée-sized salads hover in the $10 to $12 range. However, most of the entrees include two sides that can be substituted (including a fries-for-risotto swap) as well as a salad (Caesar or house). Take those perks into consideration, and Sammy G’s is a surprisingly good deal for what is offered.

Given that my previous experiences dining out in High Point have largely consisted of mediocre Asian, it’s safe to say that Sammy G’s is a new favorite for the area. Flavorful food and great service make this place ideal for when a nice meal is sought but a white tablecloth establishment is out of reach.

8.25/10