Sid & Sam’s Original Steakhouse — Restaurant in Odessa

By nature I am a clock watcher as I am an HR Manager and time management is important to me. I have been a long time customer here, but have noticed my last three times visiting that the service has really gone downhill. I realize to some degree that is challenged due to the area we live in. That being said, this last visit was just too much. I was with a party of three and we arrived at 11:57, we were promptly seated and our drink order was taken. We placed our order within about 10 minutes of arriving, including a appetizer. Then nothing...and nothing.. and some more nothing. The waitress never returned to check on us or give us an update on our order. At 12:48 we found a manager who was not the slightest bit apologetic or helpful to ask about our food. Then the waitress shows up with our appetizer. When questioned about our food, she replied "oh the printer is down in the back". Not helping....grrrr. We asked to have our food packed to go and waited an additional 10 minutes and another 10 minutes to get our ticket and pay out. No apology was given by management both times we talked with him. I am not an unfair, rude, or obnoxious patron, so to be made to feel like my valid concerns are being ignored is frustrating. I paid 31.37 for food I had to eat at my desk, cold. If you are on an actual one hour lunch (we all ordered turf and surf off the lunch menu), I wouldn't recommend Sid and Sam's anymore. You will need at least two hours to get able to get food, eat, and pay. This was once a really great place to eat, I hope they are able to restructure, prioritize their customer service, and become a great...

A year ago I signed up with the diners club where you can you a free meal of equal or lesser value. You pay for the card and get so many uses out of it. As I am not always eating with another person I would get the second meal to go. A new manager informed me in early January I could not use it that way anymore. Example: a $35 t-bone plus a second meal is a great deal even with a generous tip taking it up to $40. They cranked the prices into the $70 range again by keeping me from using my card for the second meal. I would often take friends with me as many as 3 times a week. I had even encouraged them to buy into this diner's club card.

Now, I tell co-workers and friends not to even go there, and that they are correct that it is too expensive. I have taken my business elsewhere. I believe it has been a month since last eating there.

As to service, it is fair. Often the wait staff is too busy attend all the customers. This makes for long waits for your drinks/meals. In late December I took several friends (4 including myself) out to eat, we were told it would be 20 minute wait. Another group of four came in behind us without a reservation and was seated immediately. We waited patiently for another 15 minutes to be seated.

I say save your money, you could get better value cooking at home. The Barn Door is always a better option if you are looking to spend that...

Took a little while to get seated. We were the only ones waiting. Large party was not being tended to at the time. Only a couple other tables were there at the time as well. Waitress was very friendly and attentive. Salad bar was terrible. Some of the item bowls were empty. I love tomatoes and grabbed three. They didn’t look very good as they looked to be over soaked in their own juice. They looked mushy. I thought maybe they were over refrigerated after being cut but grabbed some anyway. 2 of the three tomatoes tasted EXTREMELY foul. I let the waitress know because I didn’t want other ppl to come in and have to taste that. She was polite about it. Cranberries were delicious but I couldn’t eat the salad after that. I really tried. Soup was ok. Steak was way undercooked and loaded baked potato was a “completely load it yourself” potato lol no complaints on taste but as much as it cost… that’s tacky. My chicken fried chicken was good. Can’t complain because everyone’s salt preference is different so I added just a little. Twice baked potatoes were not good. Fried pickles were DELICIOUS and fresh. All in all.. will not be back. Service was friendly. Atmosphere wasn’t bad at all but dining experience was TERRIBLE. We had been looking forward to trying this place out. Good thing we didn’t come on our anniversary like we had...