It had been quite some time since our last visit to Sam & Gabe's. It's always been a place we'd recommend for a special date-night or anniversary dinner or other celebration. Since then there have been some mixed reviews about the restaurant on Hickman Rd in Urbandale, so we wanted to check it out again.Sam & Gabe's has been in business for quite some time and has really become a favorite among locals.
Even though the restaurant is a good size, reservations are encouraged since thy tend to fill up quickly, especially on the weekends.
We dined early on a Friday evening and the place was already bustling. Our server was very friendly and our salads and meals came out promptly. We did notice that she forgot to tell us about the specials as we overheard her telling the table next to us shortly after we ordered.
I was very excited to learn that they now have gluten-free pasta available. My husband and I ordered the linguine and Italian sausage and the beef tenderloin medallions gorgonzola to share (highly recommended to us). We wanted to try the Italian nachos as they also came highly recommended, but we just knew we wouldn't be able to finish it all. We have also tried the antipasto platter in the past and it was quite memorable as a nice appetizer.
The pasta sauce was very tasty and the beef medallions were full of flavor. We did order them medium and they came out very rare though. They were eager to make us happy though and fix it. I think that's what matters most.
All-in-all, a nice meal. I did catch a few things that other reviewers have noted though. For instance, they didn't have the ingredients for the drink my hubby ordered, and they did not offer us grated cheese for our pasta, but we saw the next table over being offered fresh grated cheese.
These are obviously things that shouldn't be overlooked at this price point, and are some of the things that make a meal memorable. This was not enough to deter us from coming again though. They did earn double points for having gluten-free pasta available and being able to order most of the pasta dishes gluten-free. They are open for dinner Tues - Sat and they have such an impressive selection of house made dishes. Check out Sam & Gabe's for your next date-night or celebration and let us know what you think.
Sounds like you got a server who was having an "off" night. They should always be on point with things like specials and extras, like fresh grated cheese. That is what justifies the prices. Hopefully, some extra training will happen.
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous...this message is going to sound pissy, but it's not, so open your mind. I have a passion for a job that I have done for 25+ years, a job I love. A job that has critiques coming from all directions and most of which from people who have NEVER worked in the industry. So, I have to ask, have you served? Worked in the industry at any capacity? Have you never had an off night/day at your life/work, or are you perfect? How much do you cost, what is your price and can you justify? Nothing is perfect, nothing will ever be perfect. And passive aggressiveness will get you no where in this life, if you need cheese, ask for it, if you want to know the specials, ask. It's as simple as that...or, you can try serving, if you have not, to see how many balls are in the air at one time. And, if you were a server and say you've not made a mistake, I know you are lying, period. Have a great day and if you want to put your two cents in, add your name. Anonymous makes you sound like a coward. And, no, I do not work at Sam & Gabe's.
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