At the newly reopened Sammy's Roumanian on Stanton Street, dive into classic Jewish comfort food amidst a lively atmosphere fueled by frozen vodka, hearty portions, and infectious sing-alongs led by house entertainer Dani Luv, making every meal feel like a joyous bar mitzvah bash.
"If schmaltz, chopped liver, and chocolate egg creams occupy key positions in your personal food pyramid, then this Jewish steakhouse-slash-bar mitzvah afterparty is the place for you. Sammy’s Roumanian has been going strong since 1975 (with a recent hiatus and relocation), with house entertainer Dani Luv still providing the Sinatra standards, parody songs, and Borscht Belt-y shtick. Bottles of vodka encased in blocks of ice do a lot to set the mood, too. Come on a Friday or a Saturday, when the restaurant-wide singalong to “Sweet Caroline” reaches maximum volume, and everyone’s served a $75 family-style set menu. Be prepared to join hands with the grandparents sitting next to you and dance the hora around the dining room." - willa moore, sonal shah, bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman
"The Show: Chopped Liver We would consider attending even our worst enemy’s birthday party if they had the good sense to host it at this iconic steakhouse-slash-bar mitzvah after-party. The chopped liver is our favorite dish here—you can expect your server to mix the "Jewish guacamole" tableside, with fried onions, grated radish, fried chicken skin, and a generous splash of schmaltz. The presentation isn't exactly pyrotechnics-level exciting, but it's pretty fun, and ensures you get to enjoy the many contrasting textures in this bowl while they’re all still at their best." - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, will hartman
"Order a bottle of vodka encased in ice and dance the hora in a room that looks like a black box theater with news clippings on the wall. That’s what happens at Sammy’s Roumanian, a Jewish restaurant on the Lower East Side where there’s always at least one group celebrating a birthday. The food is served family-style for $74 per person, and you can expect things like stuffed cabbage, chicken liver tossed tableside, and an enormous, well-seasoned skirt steak that doesn’t quite fit on its plate." - bryan kim, neha talreja, kenny yang, sonal shah
"The Jewish steakhouse-slash-bar mitzvah afterparty that is Sammy’s Roumanian has been going strong since 1975 (with a recent hiatus and relocation, from Chrystie Street to Stanton Street). House entertainer Dani Luv provides Sinatra standards, parody songs, and Borscht Belt-y shtick, and bottles of vodka encased in blocks of ice do a lot to set the mood, too. Come on a Friday or a Saturday, when the singalong to “Sweet Caroline” reaches maximum volume, and everyone’s served a $75 family-style set menu. Be prepared to join hands with the grandparents sitting next to you and dance the hora around the dining room." - bryan kim, neha talreja, hannah albertine, molly fitzpatrick
"A New York institution for 50 years, Jewish Romanian steakhouse, Sammy’s, which closed in its original location in 2021, recently reopened nearby. The 70-seat restaurant features the same staff and sometimes controversial performances of the original. Like the old Sammy’s, expect iced bottles of vodka on tables; there’s tableside chopped liver and kreplach." - Eater Staff
