"The tightly packed dining room at Sammie’s—complete with red and black checkered floor tiles, white tablecloths, and walls full of framed photos—makes it seem a lot older than it is. It feels like a red-sauce restaurant that grew up in New York’s Little Italy before moving to Downtown Austin. And while this intense level of detail also means occasionally high prices, it’s accompanied by an excellent menu of comforting classic dishes, including housemade pastas, creamy mozzarella sticks, and an order of chicken parm bigger than your head. Head to Sammie’s when you want a fun, high-energy night out with one-too-many martinis, an extensive wine list, and a credit card bill you’ll probably regret in the morning (just a little bit)." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion