Sammy's Deluxe

Delicious surprise, most restaurant in Maine taste amazing but Sammy’s Deluxe had really unique flavor. Mushroom is asta and halibut dish with dandelion were out of expectation but so delicious. Smoke haddock and alewife is also recommended.

This place was wonderful! Local friends showed us this little treasure. The service, atmosphere, food and drink was all perfect. Truly a Maine gem! I got the oysters and halibut and wish I had gotten a burger when I saw them coming out. Next time..

My husband said that Sammy’s Deluxe was a must stop on our trip from NC to Steuben, ME and it did not disappoint. He’d been once before while living in the area and said that it was one of the best meals he’d ever had. We went out of our way to stop through Rockland with our pup and enjoyed some fresh beautifully prepared boujee meets comfort food on the picnic tables outside. The concept is cool and clearly the food is made with heart. I loved everything I ate. As a chef, my husband can be judgy, but he said that the burger was one of the best he’d ever had. Next time we are in the area I plan to ditch the dog, so we can enjoy the cool ambiance inside.

Run, don't walk, to Sammy's Deluxe! This is my favorite restaurant in the entire U.S. and I consider myself to be quite a cultured and worldly woman. First, the food: I don't even know how to put into words the dishes I ate. The flavor combinations, insane. The freshness, unparalleled. The way Chef Sam is able to prepare a meal that is so simple but has so much depth is beyond me. On my first visit, I ordered (and ate) every single item on the menu. That is not a lie! I can't really describe the meals and do them justice so please do yourself a favor and look at their Instagram page for photos and prepare to drool.
Second, the ambiance: I felt at home. It's like visiting your cool young Aunt's apartment in New York City but with a hint of Paris and a lot of Maine mixed in. Cozy, a bit of this, a bit of that, and most importantly, unpretentious. An upright piano in one corner, a neon sign in the front window, mismatched but cute tables and chairs, and a cute bar area you'll never want to leave.
Lastly, the service: You will basically want to hang out and become friends with every person who works there because they are warm, inviting, funny, and kind.
If I could eat here every night of the week I would, but unfortunately I live in California so please go enjoy a meal for me.

What a gem. My partner and I have been eating all over mid-coast Maine on vacation, including “fancier” places like aragosta and primo, and we had our favorite meal here at Sammy’s. The menu was refreshingly original and we were pleasantly surprised.

Oysters were local, small, and special, presented simply (just lemon) which was all they needed.

Haddock snacks (smoked cured fish with saltines, mustard, lemon, onions) were delicious and supposedly famous (makes sense after trying).

Halibut in minestrone broth was possibly the best thing I have ever put in my mouth; the fish was perfectly cooked, flaked beautifully, and sat in a glorious green broth of the freshest summer vegetables and pesto.

My partner had the burger and he says he isn’t sure what to say, sometimes less is more, it isn’t over the top or fancy. It was obvious that the burger has been perfected to be just what Sam wants it to be, and he was glad to try.

Dessert was basque cheesecake with perfectly sweet, tiny blueberries in a little juice. Decadent and perfect.

We had a good experience forgoing a mixed drink and choosing a glass of wine. Offerings were (in my partner’s words) “not your dad’s wine list.” He suggests you take a chance and try a glass of any of the evening’s offerings.

Blackberry ginger lime agua fresca was refreshing, summery and a treat.

We look forward to returning in the colder months for a totally different menu.

Some of the best food I’ve had in recent memory, excellent wine list, and a great atmosphere. The perfect date night spot!

It's really a 4.5 star review but it won't let me go half star! Fun funky place with great music, cool vibe, and tons of drink possibilities.

The one star food reduction is only due to the somewhat limited menu, not the quality or taste which were both outrageously good.

I had the burger and simply calling it a "burger" does not begin to describe how delicious it was; it was easily the best burger I've had in years. Drinks were delicious and the brown bread appetizer was not something you'd find anywhere else, unique and very tasty.

The service was excellent and the overall feel of the place is unpretentious and very local without being "townie", laid back but not lazy.

I could see it becoming a regular spot for us despite being a 25-30 minute drive away from home.

A nice, little place in Rockland with a well thoughtful and delicious menu. Friendly staff and a talented chef. We’ll be taking friends here in the future! I had the Hake and my husband had the cheeseburger- both very good. We also had the chicory salad and brown bread… you don’t find traditional Boston brown bread in lots of places. It was a nice treat.

Travel Nurse in Rockland and ordered a Sammy cheeseburger to-go as an out of towner, having no idea where I was going, and ended up staying to eat it fresh, and imbibe a delicious mezcal marg. Highly recommend for the food deliciousness, drink prep tastiness and qual, and overall ambiance. A+ 100% will go back whenever possible.

I appreciate what Sammy does here so much. Thoughtful, playful, unique food & bev with an emphasis on seasonality. Unfussy, unpretentious, authentic. Solid gold 🏆

We stumbled on this place on accident with absolutely no regrets. Excellent meal from start to finish + amazing service! Clean, seasonally available ingredients that shine on their own, but simply magic when combined in a dish. We really dug the ambiance too, it was original with a warm, welcoming, cool, classy kind of vibe. We look forward to coming back and tasting our way through the rest of the menu!

Love Sammy's. Not everything on the menu to my liking but there always something interesting. The smoked haddock is fantastic. Great burgers. Definitely worth the visit. Don't expect a flashy interior - more funky and a little dark but go with it. Service and Food great.

Fantastic meal! I took the bartender's dish recommendations and was delighted with the results. Great food, great service, relaxed atmosphere. Would definitely return.

What a fantastic dinner!! First time we have been out since last summer, so it was a special occasion. Couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate new beginnings. We shared 4 dishes and loved every one of them! Service was excellent and the atmosphere was fun and inviting. Highly recommended.

Fantastic smoked fish and drinks. Friendly and comfortable atmosphere.

This is one of my favorite returns in Maine. The food is delicious and I love the vibe.

Excellent meal and is every time we visit. Hake with charred cabbage and sorrel soup (borscht)… no place else have dishes like Sammys… period. Cured mussels… brown bread and the list goes on. Always awesome music and great cocktails to boot. Love this dude’s style.

I have had several of the all-time best meals of my entire life here. The menu is always changing but you can literally just order anything because every dish has enough thought, care, and fresh ingredients put into it that there is no going wrong. I love the atmosphere and ambiance. The cocktails are so fun and tasty, and the beer and wine list features a few real local Maine gems that are hard to find elsewhere. I always look forward to the times my family eats here!

Hands down one of the best meals I’ve ever had! We ordered the oysters (served on a bed of seaweed!), bread and butter, cheeseburgers, and the chocolate cake with sour cherries. The cheeseburger, I am honestly still thinking about today! The interior was so nostalgic - reminded me of being in my Nana’s house, right down to the chairs and lighting fixtures. Absolute must try if you are in Rockland!

This is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. The food is delicious. It’s masterfully executed with subtle and often surprising balances of flavor, texture, and temp. It conveys a respect for ingredients, a deep connection to place and season, and absofreakinlutely zero regard for the dominant trends that have been suffocating the originality out of the restaurant scene for the last decade. Sammy’s Deluxe makes you realize what’s missing at so many of today’s most hyped restaurants: authentic hospitality, a sense of humor, and the defiance of trends to offer food and service that is at once inventive, surprising, and truly comforting.