Sam's Sports Grill - Blue Turtle Bay

Food was good, but not worth an hour long wait. One of the dishes in our group was not edible and was sent back, the waiter comped it and offered a replacement dish, but the manager never came over to apologize or to inquire what was wrong. Views are nice. Overall, I’d come back ONLY if there was no wait. Again, definitely not worth a wait of an hour to be seated.

Super happy w the house made veggie burger. Rarely do I order one and like it! Modified for sautéed onion and should have added mushrooms too. (Not thrilled w shredded iceberg) Sweet potato fries were good even if the blue cheese dressing wasn’t my flavor. Tasted too sweet and more like ranch than blue cheese. He liked the ribs and coleslaw. He’s not a coleslaw guy! Service was excellent and the view was a lucky table looking out into the lake. Good came quickly at lunch.

Loved everything about this restaurant and location on Old Hickory Lake. However was told no seats were available with water view. Sat inside with less of a view. I could see tables empty outside. I expect they were putting me where a server had less customers. Maybe adjust coverage of servers to accommodate where customers prefer to sit. Nice place nonetheless and my pizza was great. My server was very nice and prompt.

We finally tried this place last night and it exceeded our expectations! The 35-minute wait for a lake-view table was well worth it. Our server, Cash, was friendly and helpful, and the food arrived at the perfect temperature.

We went to Sam’s Sports Grill on a Monday, and it took a little while for us to be seated. It seemed like they might have been short-staffed that night. Our server, TJ, seemed either really tired, checked out, or maybe just new. He took our drink order but brought the drinks out one at a time, then came back later with straws. When we ordered food, he forgot part of the order and later returned to ask about the size of the pizza. He also forgot the fries and took a long time to bring a to-go box and the check. That being said, the atmosphere was great and the fish tacos were amazing. Overall, the service wasn’t quite there this time, but honestly, I think it may have just been an off day for them.

I love Sam’s sports bar and grill! Service is always excellent, food is fire! Prices are pretty dang good. I wanted to send y’all pictures of the food that came out but I couldn’t control myself from eating it asap! Anyway here’s some of what you get.

We had a nice lunch at Sam's Sports Grill. The restaurant is on the Cumberland River with a lovely view of the water and boats. The service was excellent and we enjoyed our food and cold beer. We ordered the veggie burger with fries and the grilled chicken sandwich with coleslaw. It was a nice casual lunch with ducks, geese, and turtles swimming in the water. If you like boats there is quite a variety to look at. (Clean bathrooms). I would definitely eat at Sam's Sports Grill again.

Sam's is the best! It's really a local gem! Great people, atmosphere and especially the food. Everyone is friendly and welcoming... they get to know you and always treat you like a welcomed guest! Love the Spinach & Artichoke Dip (always a great way to start your meal). My all time favorite is the Grilled Salmon... I substitute Cole slaw for the broccoli (a preference) and their tartar sauce is the absolute BEST I have ever had (made in house and I've never run across anything else like it). Other faves... Club Sandwich... Grilled Chicken Sandwich... Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad... Chicken Tender Platter... Santa Fe Chicken... pick ANY burger... the pizza is always a good choice... you can't go wrong! And the best Cherry Long Island in town! (just replace the splash of coke with a splash of grenadine). If you have ANY room left... enjoy the Cookie Monster... we usually get an extra scoop of ice cream...

Always a great spot to hang and watch ball especially outside on the patio when it's nice outside. Service is good. Bartenders attentive (inside bar). Food is really always excellent for what it is. Ample portions and comes out hot.

It's convenient to park, because it is located at the end of street mall. Parking is free. Main entrance is kinda not visible. What is funny, because the restaurant is spacious. The ambience is a bit too dark for my taste, but is appealing, specially the bar area. Personally, I don't like booths, rather have traditional chairs. Service was a very good and food delicious. Food portions are very generous and prices are reasonable.

A nice view of the lake. Easy patio seating. Came here for a quick birthday lunch on a Sunday. Surprisingly the food was really good for being a bar type of setting. Got an order of wings, fries, smashed red potatoes and some beers. Service was just okay. Had to ask other servers for water refills. Good place to have a view and food! - Wings Trinidad Scorpion sauce- cooked very good! Not dry and still had a crisp. Sauce was amazing. Tangy and a little bit hot. - Fries- simple. Cooked good. - Loaded smashed red-skinned potatoes- Was really tasty and good amount of different textures in there. A little heavy on the butter though. But definitely recommend for a side dish!

Perfect place to wind down by the marina. The staff is very friendly, shout out to our waiter Chloe who was very kind and followed up on our numerous group requests the 3-4 times we swung by during our business trip. The sweet & spicy chicken wings always were on point. From here, you can also easily rent a boat (license required) to boat up and down Cumberland rivier (from the dam to Two Foot cove) and dip in the water when you feel like it. There's not much else to see or do in the area, but this spot makes up for that.

We went for dinner and the vibe were immaculate. Evening dinner on the lake with string lights and tvs with not only sports for sports fans, but a dog show was on another tv! We got very into that. + great service. The food was really good and the portions are much bigger than expected! My husband got a main salad + a beer and I got a burger and fries + Truly. BUT we BOTH got sick that night and this was the only food we could attribute it to. I don't want to blame them because we really loved the restaurant and are hoping it was from something else, but next time we try it, we definitely won't have plans after.

I'be come here several times! In the summer, we came because it was nice to sit outside. It definitely gets packed and they have some great outdoor patio seating. It's at a marina, so it's fun to see all the people out on their boats enjoying the weather. Winter is much slower, and it has to be hard to keep warm. Although they have the patio closed in, it's still a bit chilly. Also, they have plenty of parking in their lot, as well. My guy loves the ribs, so that's his go-to. I haven't found something I love, yet. Or like, really. I've tried a salad, the chicken sandwich, steak tacos, and chicken tenders, but there's nothing amazing. The fries are shoestring, which I prefer, but they're soooo overly greasy/mushy, I find them inedible. A couple times I've tried a mixed drink: the whiskey and Coke (Pepsi?) was fine, but the Old Fashioned I got was seriously like three parts simple syrup to one part whiskey and just...impossible to finish. I'd say stick to beer. The service is super inconsistent...but it's a sports bar, so I keep my bar pretty low. Worth coming by for the summer views, though!

Their simple and delicious cocktails are paired with an unmatched ambiance that you cannot beat. Thanks Angel!

I enjoy the atmosphere. The mudslingers in the summer are great. Most of the food is consistently good. Love their salads and their catfish platter. Service is hit or miss. Depends on how busy and if they have enough staff.

Great place! My roommate and I love Sam's, we haven't been to Sam's in over a year. Let me tell you why, we go by access bus and the last time we went to Sam's the bus couldn't find the place and left us stranded. We were panicked. Thank goodness they had another bus come and he found us but, we had to wait a long time. If someone could tell us the best way to come from old hickry Blvd so they can find us easily, we'll be there in a heart beat!!! Please send to wallacer943@gmail.com thankyou very much, hope to see you real soon. Ruth Wallace

Gorgeous view! Great atmosphere! Fast friendly service! Ordered drinks and appetizers while we waited on our to go order to be ready. The cheesy spinach and artichoke dip had an amazingly creamy and gooey texture. I can't wait to try the lightly battered and deep-fried chicken tenders later tonight Haven't found anything I don't like on this menu yet.

Like so many places these days, they are understaffed. We waited nearly an hour mid-day on Sunday. Less than half the tables were being seated. Waitstaff was super. Did an excellent job. Once seated our orders were taken quickly and delivered quickly too. The spinach dip was a disappointment. The chips were good but the dip was too buttery. We ordered as one entree the cauliflower crust pizza. I

I live 5 mins down the road, and we finally stopped by for lunch today! Pleasantly surprised with how good the food was! & It was packed (Sunday @ 1pm) which I loved! The chicken sandwiches were delicious, highly recommend!! My brother was not happy about his fish tacos at all, but he did say the broccoli was very good. Service: 5/5 Food: 4/5 Definitely coming back again soon!

Great place!! Britny went above and beyond, as always! Love seeing her! The pizza and wings are always on point! This is definitely a great place to eat and drink by the lake!

We had a problem with our bill, the manager Joanne came by, and started to talk to us loud enough that the neighboring tables could hear us talk about the bill/pricing. So embarrassing, not sure how she made manager, very rude woman rolling her eyes at us. Sad for the restaurant because it's a great location.

What a great place to eat lunch. This location is right on the marina at Old Hickory Lake. We sat outside on the dock seating and had a great view. Our server was great. We had the Spicy Chorizo Queso Dip to start with and it was very creamy and delicious. I had the catfish basket and my wife and daughter had the shrimp. The food was fresh and hot. I also recommend the I Believe in Nashville Blonde Ale. I had a draft and it was cold and refreshing. I hear they have great drinks and the mudslide came recommended. I will be back to check out the happy hour and dinner vibe. This is a great place to enjoy a meal on the water.

Worst service I've ever experienced. The gm joan had no interest in our horrible wait time for our food

This is my favorite date night place. The ambience ambience is always great sitting on the water with the moonlight and the sound of the boat is always delightful. Every item that I have had here has been absolutely delicious. Customer service is always great and I have never had any complaints.!

Fun setting, great views, decent food, but our service was terrible. Beers that had been ordered 10mins before Happy Hour ended weren't rung in until after HH so we were charged full price. Then the next round never came and when we asked, our server told us the bartender said he was too busy to pour them. Really? She then brought our check and had overcharged us for a round we didn't even have.

Excellent atmosphere. Delicious food. Busy restaurant. Be prepared to wait for your table...

Chicken tenders are juicy and good with spicy ranch! Salmon and ribs are tasty and tender. Cookie Monster is a great share for a sweet treat! Dog friendly, our pup has been many times and loves making new friends. Sitting indoors or out has a view and easy going atmosphere. Guacamole was fresh and everyone is friendly. Eating on the dock with the view makes us happy each time we go hot cold indoor outdoor, it's a good time.

This place has the best, cheapest beers for happy hour. I have come here multiple times with a large group, and they don't miss when it comes to the food. The pepper jack mac and cheese, spinach artichoke dip, chicken tenders, sandwiches, all fantastic. I am excited to come here in the summer time since it is right on the water. I have only been in the fall and during storms!? So nice weather will be a nice change. I love it here!

Sam'sPlace is one of my favorite sports grills! I love the barramundi fish sandwich, and the sweet potato fries and they make a marvelous top shelf. Margarita.

I want to first of all say, I love this spot. It's a fun spot; beautiful views, great food, affordable drinks. We love to go here. However, I've had a not so great experience with one of the managers here multiple times now. Her name is Tonnie? Toni? Tony? I'm not sure of the spelling. I also wanna say that I'm in the service industry. I bartend on Broadway, Nashville. I NEVER. Have written a bad review about anyone in the service industry ever ever ever, it's literally against what I stand for , because I believe we are all a team. But oh my gosh. The server had told us she had worked that location the whole summer before and this was her second summer working there. Which we were super friendly , excited for her, asking her how she liked the job. Chatting with her the entire time. She put one of our drinks too close to the corner of the table and it fell off, which was totally fine she replaced it. One of my friends did not like one of her drinks and she said she couldn't take it off the bill or exchange it for something different, which was odd because I had never heard that. She had charged me for the spilled drink, and put both appetizers the table ordered on my check. Also charged for the drink my friend didn't like or drink. Said she couldn't take off the drink nor move the appetizer to another check. Still being patient because I could tell she was nervous, (she was very sweet) I told her I use the same POS system as she does, and I've used it for years. You could absolutely move these items to a separate tab and the manager can void it. She said she couldn't and I just said okay, that's fine. She brought the manager over to explain it (we didn't ask for a manager) and she was very rude about it. She said the same thing that "their aloha system" can't take these things off the bill, which is so bizzare but still, okay. Then proceeds to say "we need to be patient because the server was new" number one, all of us have been in/are in the service industry. We were incredibly friendly. Secondly, she wasn't new, she told us she worked there all last summer and loved it. Manager then proceeded to say "you guys have kids, you need to be more patient if you have kids." Um??? Our kids were babies, who didn't get any food, did not make one peep?? I started getting irritated after that, because what?? My baby is 6 months old, and didn't do anything? A while ago we had a similar experience with the same manager. We were on the lake all day. One of the people in our party (in a party of 15) was a little too tipsy, but she wasn't doing anything wrong, didn't want alcohol, just wanted water. That same manager cut off the entire group. Half the group weren't even drinking on the boat, the other half was completely fine (again, as a bartender , I know when it's fair to be cut off. Our one friend that was tipsy, yes she didn't need any more; but she didn't want anymore.) when I asked her about it her response was "I'm the manager, I can decide whatever I want." And was just being completely rude. Mind you this was a year or so ago. But the second bad interaction I've had none the less. I also know a bunch of people that have worked there and worked for her and say she's awful.. I need to call and ask for an itemized receipt as well because I think I was charged for way too much. 2 stars because the food is good and ambiance is great. But the service is very poor in our experiences.

Such a beautiful view. I have been to Sam's in Hendersonville and Murfreesboro. Being at the lake changes the atmosphere completely. I am not a fan of allowing dogs in. The smell is lingering and those are some huge dogs. I looked pass that because the food was the same amazing food I was used to from the other locations. The wings were tasty. I got the hottest level. While not as hot as I would like, they were well seasoned. The nachos were delicious. We shared those as an appetizer for a table of 6 and still had some left over. Those who ordered alcoholic beverages said the drinks were perfect. Hats off to the bartender. We will surely be back soon. If not this Sam's, to the closest Sam's to us.

We happen to be visiting from vegas and met some locals who recommend the place. I truly feel lake bars and lake life is my calling. So finding this little gem in the marina was awesome! Local bar with TVs to watch sports, good food prices and a great view. Dock your boat for some fun, friends and good times!

Great atmosphere. Floating dock right on the water. The staff is very friendly. Catfish & chips was delicious as well as the club sandwich.

We're renting a condo a half block from Sam's! Food is excellent including the chicken nachos but we went this afternoon and guess what no chicken nachos! Mary our waitress said they took them off the menu for the summer! Big mistake Sam's! Not that hard to make them!

Came this weekend and what a weekend to start. Haven't seen it this busy in a while! Awesome for them. The service was a little inconsistent but they seemed to be understaffed. We had 2 different managers come by our table and they were both so sweet and genuinely wanted to make sure we had a good experience here. Only thing is the bar area-people get a little too rowdy and this being a family establishment, it's not in the main dining room due to the drunks at the bar. Our kids heard more than necessary. And the smoking. People just step right outside and it comes straight in. The whole marina should be non-smoking.

Delicious food, fun atmosphere, great service! Love the pizza, and bourbon street pasta!

This was an awesome find! It's right on the water and has a great atmosphere! The food was really good and service was excellent! Will definitely be back!

Great food, fairly long wait though. Only 30min for 2 on a Saturday night which wasn't bad, but once sat we didn't see a server for close to 20min. I guess our table was added, so not in an assigned section so I get it. Once in touch everything else was great, will def be back. Wings are phenomenal.

The food was good. Ribs were excellent. Outside patio needs to be maintained better. Full of spider webs. Needs a good power wash! Flies outside didn't allow us to enjoy meal.

We were out on Old Hickory Lake and stopped in to grab a bite to eat. The restaurant moves around a bit as it's on a barge. Service was fast and friendly. I had the angus burger with jalapeños and mushrooms and the southern cole slaw. I added a bowl of black beans and rice. OMG - off the charts burger! This burger is very close to illegal because it's KILLER good! Whew! Cole slaw was great, black beans & rice is exceptional! The table shared guacamole and chips plus an order of sweet potato fries. The guac was creamy, chunky and delicious. Salsa was very good as well but was a smaller portion. Sweet potato fries were also very good but served with catsup (why? Think maple butter sauce instead) - none of it lasted very long. Oh, I'll be back here. That you can bet on.

I've always been a fan of Sam's. The funny thing is I never knew there was another Sam's until I started boating a few years back. The Sam's here at Old Hickory (or Turtle Bay Marina) is the same as the one as the one in Hendersonville at Indian Lake Boulevard. I think there are a couple other locations around Middle Tennessee as well. The main difference between the ones I know is that the one at Old Hickory is a part of the marina. Which means of you have access to a boat, you can dock and dine, which is cool. Before I get into the review, I wanted to say the service was great. I was WFB (working from boat) that day and my battery was getting low and I needed to charge my laptop. Despite being a gorgeous day to eat outside, I told the hostess I needed to sit next to a power outlet. So kudos to whoever you are hostess lady. Willie (my server was also awesome). He didn't interact with me much (maybe because I was working while eating) but he did check on me often and kept my drink topped off. I'm typically not a creature of habit. I mean in some ways I am but I usually venture out and try one or 2 new things if I frequent a restaurant repeatedly over time. Well I only know of two things at Sam's: The Blackened Barramundi Fish Tacos and Sam's Kitchen Sink pizza. I may have had a burger or sandwich before but it has been years. For this review, I got the fish tacos with fries. Now... The menu says barramundi, which is Asian sea bass. But I was told once upon a time that they didn't use that fish anymore and it was Mahi Mahi or one of the more easily accessible fish. At this point, I don't care what fish they use as long as they keep making it like they make it. You get 2 nicely sized flour soft-shelled tacos filled with a sizeable blackened fish filet, shredded iceberg lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, guacamole, tomatoes, onions, spicy ranch, and cilantro. They also serve a small ramekin of salsa that is reminiscent of jar salsa but I never use it because I hate jar salsa. I do however, ask for a side of hot sauce (Tabasco) which you must get from the kitchen (they don't have the bottles as a condiment). I drizzle a nice amount of Tabasco on the tacos and it's good eating. I've never had a bad taco there. The tortilla is a flour tortilla (I dislike corn tortillas). It's soft and pillow-y and never stale. The prize is the fish filet, seasoned and slightly charred so you get that nice crispy crunch with every bite. The shredded iceberg and onions adds an additional crunch to the taco. Combine that with the cilantro and to me, you get a "refreshing" sensation as you eat the taco. The spicy ranch adds a creaminess but I can't tell if it's really spicy. I have a decent spice tolerance, which is why I like adding Tabasco for additional kick and a vinegar-y twist. The fries are good, warm and crispy. Reminds me of Rally's/Checkers fries (seasoned). If you're in the area and you're looking for a good place to eat, stop by Sam's. It's got a good variety of foods and they never disappoint.

Good food always. Great place to watch sports while you eat. Just down the street from our house. convenient.

A terrible service we lasted 30 minutes at the table and they never took order of us, they attended people who were arriving. The waiters were not at all friendly.

Perfect atmosphere for Friday eve. Don't second guess it. Just go. Get the burger and a draft.

This local hot spot is a gem that sits on Old Hickory Lake just 20 minutes from Downtown Nashville. The staff is friendly and accommodating and there's not an item on the menu that will disappoint (I've tried them all). There's a great mix of regulars and new faces, and in the summer it's an absolute oasis. You'll be floating on the water, just far enough from the noise of the city to have a relaxing afternoon or evening of food and drink.

My husband and I wanted to eat dinner on the lake during our staycation... we found Sam's Sports Grill on old Hickory Lake. We were hungry so we ordered the sweet potato fries as an appetizer... my husband dipped his in honey mustard and I liked mine plain. We each ordered the fried catfish and it was delicious. We loved their coleslaw and tartar sauce! We shared our 2 sides: loaded smashed Redskin potatoes, also black beans and rice. OMGoodness! I didn't expect the black beans to have so much flavor! Delish!!! (I am a very good cook so I am rarely surprised!) We arrived at 3:30 PM on Friday, May 20, 2022... there was a little bit of a wait because of shift change, but we eventually were seated at an outdoor table on the lake and were happy. Each of the staff was very friendly and hospitable. We continued to blow our diet by ordering the skillet brownie à la mode to share after our meal and it was amazing also! A perfect blend of crunchy and soft sweetness.

My server was a brown headed girl I believe her name was Lindsay she was great . She was so outgoing and had such a positive attitude! Food was great fast service and she took care of all of our needs ! She suggested the Fried Catfish Basket and it was delicious! The View of the Lake was our favorite part ! But the down side was that her coworkers were being very rude to her as she was taking out order. so I can tell there's no such thing as helping each other out at this place other then that I'd love to come visit her again! She was Amazing .

Food was great service was also just fine although a bit slow. Can't beat the harbor view sitting outside plus they're dog friendly. I had the roast beef au jou, it was fresh, hot and very tender beef. Coleslaw was fresh & crunchy. I'll be back for sure.

Such a great spot for happy hour, lunch or dinner!! Lots of seating and parking. Definition of a meal with a view as you can look out at the lake the whole time you are eating. Service is great, always well staffed.

Nice ambiance, very nice service, not so good food.. chicken tasted like fish which means they are frying the fish and chicken in the same fryer yayk.. but thank you for your service and time!

The food is awesome! I love to eat on the outside patio. The view of the lake and boats and we feed the ducks it is just amazing.

Amazing atmosphere at the lake. The food is delicious as well. You can sit outside or dine in

nice place to have lunch and a cocktail food was really good! Will def come back

Great food, great location on the water, great happy hour, and great service! There's also a good number of TVs for sports. My only comments is the catfish was a bland and there was no sound from the TVs, but the positive greatly outweighed the negative.

Old hickory is a good desert very few places to eat pretty consistent with food or you have Hardee's and McDonald's

We didn't have reservations. We were told it would be about a 50 minute wait for a table outside. We looked around and found this place very chaotic and unorganized. We decided to leave. We were about 10 minutes away when I got a call that our table was ready. We decided to go back as we wanted to enjoy the lake view. We were taken to a table inside. When I complained I was told it would be another 45 minutes for an outside table. We left. This my be a good place for bar food. However, we will never know as I will not be returning to Sam's EVER!