Pete and Sam's — Restaurant in Memphis

Went here for my birthday. Overall, most of the food was great. I got the eggplant and really enjoyed it. Same with the Greek Salad. Most of the entrees were pretty good, with an authentic Italian flavor. In fact, everyone except my mother liked their selection.

The only thing I was served that wasn't that great was the ravioli, which honestly tasted pretty bland, like it came from a can or frozen bag, served in plain tomato sauce. Honesty, Chef Boyardee is better.

The service was great and timely, however could be better. The the tables are small and cramped, and much smaller than needed for the number of plants that are on it for a family of four, I ended up knocking my drink over right after it was served and had to reorder one. No offer was made to replace it despite it being full. I would recommend, not sitting in a booth as we did, just because the tiny tables make it difficult to pass items. Next time. I'll definitely request a regular table so that space isn't an issue. Maybe it would help of they cleared the tables, between courses.

Also, the server didn't offer to replace my mother's entire, which she literally didn't touch beyond the first taste. (This is quite unlike her to refuse to eat something she ordered, and she's not the type to ask for a replacement meal.) Instead, she pretended to be ok with just eating the spinach, which was good. These are the kinds of things servers should notice and ask about. Because, not everyone is going to come out and say they were not impressed. In fact the entire drink incident, was because she did like what I ordered and I was trying to share. There's just not adequate space.

Also. the server should have cleaned the table of empty dishes and should have made some effort to clean the spill. She didn't. Said she'd get it after we left. Which, it's nice to act like it's no big deal, but the reality is that I ended up cleaning it myself.

As for the atmosphere of the place, it is old and outdated. But definitely feels like an authentic family owned restaurant. It's nothing impressive or fancy, but it's still charming for the reasons that it has an old charm and family friendly appearance. They had pictures of the many famous people who ate there over the years, which helps to sell the historical value. But, it does look like it hasn't been updated in all that time. Even the old sign ads to that aesthetic. If you want a traditional feel,...

Memphis has a treasure of a Restaurant: Pete and Sam's. Perhaps not for the reasons one would think when reviewing a Restaurant, so read on and come enjoy this local tradition once in a while for so many good reasons. Related to the fame Bommarito family of St. Louis, Pete and Sam's honor well the culinary roots of the late Vince Bommarito, running for years Tony's, the only 5 stars Italian Restaurant in the United States for decades. But few know that before Tony's became an Italian Gourmet giant, it was a family eatery pretty much like Pete and Sam's in Memphis, with very good hearty sauces, generous portions and Pasta the way grand 'ma use to put on the table. That is exactly why I love to come here, because it's like immersing myself in American-Italian culture, with genuine good times where family and traditions are kept alive. Tonight, I enjoyed a hearty meal of Veal Cutlets with fresh spinach, thin spaghetti and that generous meaty tomato sauce ever so present. My bride of 33 years (we came to celebrate our Anniversary) had the Salmon, cooked perfectly and deliciously natural. We had to start with the excellent toasted Ravioli, a must you cannot pass. I splurged by treating myself with a glass of very typical House Italian red wine, a perfect compliment to my entree, reasonably priced. I was tickled to see they allow you to bring your favorite bottle of wine, a plus for those of you who have a home wine-cellar. By the way, portions are so generous that I have my next lunch ready and look forward to it. Nope, don't look for extraordinary and trendy cuisine, but that's not what Pete and Sam's aim for. Come to enjoy a portion of what America is founded on, traditions straight from the old continent, the kind you see in movies, charming and heart-warming. Service was prompt and attentive, and price of our dinner was fair, $84 including 20% tip. Just one "B minor": Bread, while generous in portion, was not as fresh as it could have been, becoming chewy moments after...

When you first walk in, it smells so good in there, you just can't wait for your first anything to arrive at your table.. They were pretty busy, but I would have imagined that a busy, established place would be prepared to serve each customer adequately.. didn't seem so much this night.. Let's start with the bread.. absolutely basic.. but you get butter pads with it... nothing like that scent from when you first arrived... maybe that scent was from something else.. We have a table of 7, and order 3 appetizers.. we duely noted to the server that we intend to share these apps.. the fried ravioli... no breading... no seasoning.. just bare naked fried noodles.. fine whatever, but there were only 5 .. for the seven of us Then there were stuffed mushrooms.. I don't eat mushrooms.. but also, just 5 of those.. So I had high hopes for the spinach dip.. but dagum, why is it spicy? .. I guess because without the spice, it'd have no other flavor.. but you can spread it across those burnt pita triangles... So far, nothing is hitting.. We finally get to order our meals, figuring they may have just waited to take the meal order, cause pasta stuff is fast.. nope.. not the case... I dont recall an exact time.. but it did feel like a while before our little dinky salads came out... then our pasta dishes.. Mine I will say was actually pretty good... I had the chicken Marsala.. my wife got the spaghetti Salvatore and sprang for the shrimp (which was an $8 upcharge).. it was terrible... the noodles themselves had no flavor , and the shrimp tasted like a freezer... she ate 2 bites, and just opted to finish our side of ravioli.. cause at least the marinara was good.. however, our side of spinach was just heated up canned spinach.. Needless to say, nothing we are looking forward to experiencing again. But they seem pretty popular, and have a bunch of celebrity pictures...