Sahm's Place — Restaurant in Indianapolis

January 2020 - Update, revising down to 2-Star Review:

We've been regulars at this Sahm's location for at least five years.

Any customer service establishment is going to have its occasional hiccups; but over the past year it seems that the family room dining experience here is gradually deteriorating.

On the last couple visits the dining room has been suffering from poor housekeeping (sticky table surfaces, LOTS of debris all over the floor), lackluster (at best) customer service, and disappointing food quality.

Our last visit included a side of dressing being dumped by a server assistant across my spouse's dinner plate, onto the table, and onto my spouse. Initially, not even an apology was offered. A handful of napkins was left for self-serve cleanup. Eventually our primary server came and checked on us while my spouse was cleaning dressing off his clothes. The server cracked a joke about the other guy throwing food at us (still no apology, at that point).

Finally, as our frustration became evident to the server when we asked if cleanup was our responsibility, he finally apologized and saw to most of the mess being cleaned up; but we still had to insist on the dinner plate being taken back to the kitchen to have the spilled dressing, that was dumped on and dripping off the edge of the plate, cleaned up.

The experience was an accident (very avoidable with reasonable care); but was especially disruptive, aggravating, and appetite-killing due to the casual manner with which it was (barely) addressed by staff.

Throughout the rest of our dinner and through receipt of the bill and our payment, NOTHING more was offered in the way of an apology, adjustment to the bill, or consideration for cleaning of clothing.

Since this experience several weeks ago, and in light of a downward trend in quality of experience, we've driven by Sahm's Place, several times, considering dining there again, only to conclude, "Why would we, when there are cleaner, friendlier, better-service, and better-food experiences at comparable prices to be had elsewhere?"

2018 - 4-Star Review: We're frequent visitors at this Sahm's location in our neighborhood. Service is usually very good. When we've experienced issues, the owner has followed up on our comments, personally and with sincere concern. The steak sandwich is OUTSTANDING. Most everything we've tried on the menu has been very good. Craft beer selection is usually pretty...

We've had a good run, Sahm's. I've been coming here for years. The past couple have been not great. Food is always good but service is horrible. There's one guy, I think his name is Matt, that is fantastic. I've only been lucky to be at one of his tables a couple of times. We were in last Sunday, and I think that was my final visit. Our server came, took our food order, told him I'd like to order a beer also but didn't know yet what I wanted. Someone else eventually brought our food out. Didn't see our server again until he brought the check. Clearly I wasn't getting that beer. We paid, and then sat and talked for a little while longer. Server comes to our table, throws his hands up and in a very irritated tone asks if there's anything else he can get us. I apologized, as it was clear he was wanting us to leave. I looked around, there was one other couple and he had set a running vacuum right next to their table. All of us were shocked at the way we were treated. We looked on the door, closing time was 10pm. It was 8:20pm. The bar was obviously still open so we went over there. At this point we realize that the restaurant side closes earlier, but the bar remains open. Which could have very easily been explained to us and we would have all been happy to move to the other side. We move past this encounter and are happily enjoying some beers at the bar. It was then that our server comes walking by, stares me down and if looks could kill. I won't be back after that. I'd much rather go somewhere else where my business is...

Since the pandemic, we have not been able to eat at any sit down restaurant - you know the kind where you hold a menu in your hands - without being disappointed. All of our regular places have changed their menus so they no longer carry what we liked to order, they have raised their prices - I know - everything has gone up, so maybe that isn't fair - but the customer service and value have declined. Especially customer service. So, when we needed to celebrate Mother's day with my sister, we were concerned. We were not expecting to have a quality meal, we were not expecting to be treated with respect. We have learned those things are not available anymore. Wow! What a surprise! We were greeted and seated promptly at Sahm's Place. Our waiter, Joe, was knowledgeable about the menu. He was friendly, but not in an obtrusive way. He was able to "read" his audience and was able to be a part of our celebration in an appropriate way. I wish I knew how to put that into words. He wasn't obtrusive at all, but was jovial. I know many people will not fully understand the value in this next statement, but when we gave Joe cash in order to pay our bill - he didn't even blink! He accepted it! Most of the places we have been make us feel mocked because we choose to pay with cash. We actually thanked him for being so accepting of it. He responded that he LIKES it when people pay cash - it is easier! I really want to go back, even though it is a bit of a drive to...