Sam’s Southern Eatery — Restaurant in Fort Smith

Imma say the nice things first, the staff was good friendly and kind. Very on top of checking on us, filling our drinks, getting us boxes and our ticket.

Now the real stuff, the complaints. So we have a 3 month old baby and the women's restroom has no changing table and half of the facilities were out in the bathroom, per my wife's explanation of the environment. Sh said she had to change our boy on the floor and honestly that's not very fair when it does show you guys as a family restaurant. The men's bathroom was very dark, I essentially did my business is the dark, and it was before we even turned the clocks back so no excuses there.

The food. So fried fish, shrimp, and chicken we ok. Fish tasted weird so I didn't eat it, kindly asked for a to go box thinking I was just not in mood for it since I myself just got over a sinus infection. My fries were over cooked to crunchy. Red beans and rice were good though. That being said my wife got the "Catfish Salad" (you noticed the quotes around the dish name, let me explain.) The "Catfish Salad" is a bag of $2.09 lettus that was dumped onto a plate with two pickles and two slices of a tomato with two pale white "Grilled Cathfish" filets. The was no grill marks on them so I find it hard to belive but still she ate it. Not impressed we paid the bill and left.

Now here is where I start to get really upset, my wife gets sick. Really sick. Like we are unable to get out of bed unless we are SPRINTING to our bathroom. I being upset knowing it's food poisoning i decided to get the food out. We have a dog that's about 30lbs so I thought mand imma just let him eat it so it's not a complete waste. THEN MY DOG GETS FOOD SICKNESS! LIKE.... HUH??!!!

Now I'm here to tell you there are a lot of things that it could be but since we ate there on 11/03/2023 and she was still sick as of 11/07/2023 we took her to a doctor who confirmed she has salmonella Poisoning!!!!! Now did you know what the biggest cause of Salmonella Poisoning is? Chicken? NOPE! ITS LETTUS!!! Particularly unwashed or improperly stored lettuce. Lettuce carries Salmonella from where it is made and without the right handling can transmit to us. This means that Sam's isn't properly preparing there food. Cause it might have just been lettuce that day but whos to say it won't be fish tomorrow or there oysters or chicken. THAT CAN KILL SOMEONE IF THEY DONT WATCHOUT!!!

What was supposed to be a good night on the town with that family turned into a week filled with unpleasant sounds from the restroom, a sick dog that ruined my family's bed, a trip to a walk in clinic and about $65 in meds for my wife.

So sorry Sam's I like your staff, but bad food and Salmonella don't fly...

Upon arrival, you get that instant smell from the parking lot. The smell of fried food sneaks out of this shack looking restaurant to tickle your nose hairs. You’re instantly drawn in and can’t help but get excited to walk in. The view is something I’ve never seen before. There is just large windows so the view of the creek is breathtaking. This isn’t a normal thing to see in Texas (maybe I’ve been going to the wrong places!). Menu is pretty simple and straightforward but yet plenty of options to choose from. Overall this place has a nice bayou vibe to it.

Once the fried catfish has cooled, accompanied with their tartar sauce, are very large in size and pretty meaty. Breading did not take away from the taste of the fish yet left a soft crunch to the fish. Breading was also not excessive which was nice to not have a layer sitting at the bottom of the basket.

These jumbo fried shrimp is nothing I’ve had before. They’re large, juicy, and fried in a batter similar to chicken tenders. They really are “home of the jumbo shrimp”! If you’re a shrimp lover, gotta try these. I don’t have much to say about these but wow!

The fried oysters were fried oysters. I can’t really say much, cause I’m a bit biased since I love eating fresh salty raw oysters. I thought I would give it a try even though, I knew I might not like it...and I didn’t. But I could say that the breading was not excessive, it was light and there was still that gritty oyster taste. It was not lacking the oyster flavor at all, just for me personally when eating oysters, I love the saltiness with it, the tartness from fresh lemon squeezed on top, and some cocktail and horseradish. If you enjoy deep fried oysters, I’m sure you’ll enjoy these as well, cause everything else...

I pay respect to the owner of his business and his business Southern Eatery he is a great manager and owner but his head lead manager waitress and his other waitresses I would suggest an attitude adjustment if they've had a bad day then I would ask not them to deliver that attitude towards customers saying I don't have nothing to do with this and walk away when asked a question about why another employee is acting like that that is unacceptable by all means. I do not treat anybody like that in my job when they require customer service especially when they spend a good deal of money where they're at I understand everybody has a bad day but I would ask respectfully and professionally that they keep their attitudes to ourselves and when someone is talking to them especially to the head lead lady manager that's there not to blatantly walk away when you're talking to them nobody was being rude it was the other way around where the two waitresses act like my matters do not concern them the food was made and I appreciate that that's the only thing that matters to them I understand but to keep a customer is to make them feel like they're at home sorry to put this on your review but the truth must be told thank you and I would hope in the future the next time I come in there myself or with my family that this does not happen ever again and if it does that appropriate actions are taking immediately. Thank you and have a...