12/02/08

Great atmosphere, mediocre food, overpriced but friendly

by tuanTUAN

After visiting the Sample Room yesterday for the umpteenth time, my best friend and I agreed that

we're pretty much over it. It's a great place to stop for an afternoon glass of wine (or two!) but the food

is REALLY on the wrong side of average and was extremely slow in gettin' to us to boot. Add to that

the ridiculous prices, really? They charged us $1.25 for a second basket of bread...now I'm not cheap,

but we spent over $40 on wine and $30 on food. Wouldn't common sense say "Hey, give those people

all the bread they want!" Everything on the menu, and I've had most of it, is definitely overpriced.

Try them for a chat over a cocktail or wine during the day, but skip the food!

• Pros: Great atmosphere, REALLY nice cheese selection!
• Cons: OVERPRICED ALL THE WAY!

11/02/08

Great experience

by lalicious

Went with some friends last night around 10:30 p.m. Had a great dinner-spot-on service. Their wine list is always fantastic and where else can you get wine, scotch, and tequila flights? Only complaint was that the bratwurst seemed a little over priced- $6.50 for one brat with a little spicy brown mustard. Everything else was amazing and well worth it- the tuna, stickney hill goat cheese, and the ratatuille.

10/22/08

IF YOU DON'T LOVE THIS JOINT YOU'RE NUTS!

by sky35sky

I was told about this place by my hairstylists (Boji Hairstudio, they're the best, also NE:) and have

been here 3 or 4 times. Okay, it's a perfect late after noon, early evening spot. I've always had great

service and the food is 99% bullet-proof. NO restaurant get every dish perfect every time, but overall

the food is scrumptious and reasonably priced. This whole area is very cool and friendly.

• Pros: Tasty/Friendly
• Cons: slightly overpriced but worth it

09/21/08

good bar, great food, loud and cozy

by Amyeatsburgers

i've eaten at the sample room many times, and i never get tired of the food. the menu changes give enough variety for the restaurant to accommodate frequent diners. they have the best burgers, homemade sausages and desserts. perfect for dinner and drinks for groups of 3 or 4 people.

09/18/08

Continuation of the artistic experience found at the local bi-annual art crawl

by mplshomegrown

Following a long day at the art crawl in the nearby eclectic artistic neighborhood/haven, my fiance and I strolled along the pathway of the adjacent park while waiting for our outside table to become available. As the door swung open and the smells wafted through the air, our mouths began to water. The crisp iced tea was a perfect beginning to four courses of flavorful ingredients amalgamated as one in an artistic format that rivaled many of the thousand dollar plus pieces of work witnessed a few moments prior to our arrival. The food is nothing less than a phenomenal expression only available from the hands of a well-trained, seasoned veteran. We will definitely be returning for another taste.

• Pros: Quality of food
• Cons: None

09/15/08

Best food in North, Northeast

by Gavinlovesfood

I have eaten at the sample room many times. The last being about a year and a half ago. The food was always sort of blah, but decent. I had my favorites but nothing was that great. The wine list was good and the ambience was great. However, I just returned about a month ago, the food was great. Seriously like a 180 degree turn around. The food was vibrant and flavorful, not so drab. Honestly looking back if I had this to compare it to, I would have been disappointed. I am unsure if they have a new chef or they just made some changes on the menu but what a difference a year makes. All of my food was fresh and cooked perfectly. Try the veg torte, and the bratwurst. The wine list was much improved, and my wine, I ordered a bottle, was half off on monday nights. The service was casual and friendly as usual. Again I have to say amazing food, Try it you will not be disappointed.

• Pros: New Chef?
• Cons: Loud dining room

09/12/08

Wonderful Evening

by Tomander

My wife and I went to the sample room on a saturday night. The wait was about 20 minutes, but we were told we could sit at the bar. we were sat promptly, and the server was very friendly he suggested a few items and we ordered the wine flight (it was great and priced well also). I ordered the salmon entree and my wife ordered the corned beef, bratwurst, vegetable torte, and shrimp. It was wonderful, the salmon was cooked perfectly and the lemon sauce was just great. My wife has been craving the corned beef since we ate there. With the feel, the vibe the great drinks and the good food this place has it all. You can bet we will be back. I highly recommend this place.

• Pros: Great food, Great Drinks, Cool Place
• Cons: Not closer to our house

08/21/08

Just close the doors

by dontspitinmyfood

if you own a restaurant and don;t care about the food or the service just close the place and go open a footlocker or something. i've been here quite a few times and had some good experiences, but one horrible experience is all it takes to swear off a place forever. mine was last week. my date and I went in around 9 pm. the waitress was outside smoking with some pals and took forever just to take our drink order. the bread came with the food, and when the food did finally come the corned beef was more like corned beef jerky, and the seared salmon was still frozen in the center. FROZEN! Something tells me whatever talent originally conceived this place left a long time ago. Stay away. Stay far away. Or just go to Elsie's and get some mini corn dogs. The service is better and they're not frozen in the center.

• Pros: Near elsie's
• Cons: food and service licks nads

08/03/08

overpriced

by jazzymn

My husband heard the food was horrible, so luckily he ate before we went there. Party of six, 6:30 on a Saturday and we were seated right away. The servers wear wrinkled work out clothes, but were professional non the less. Drinks are overpriced for the area, wine is served in very small glasses. The food took over 45 minutes and was horrible. No one enjoyed what they ordered. The shrimp was frozen and very fishy ($10 for 6 small) the scallops over spinach were cooked perfectly, but the spinach was old and slimy. The burger came out like a hock puck. The sausage was a joke, and the summer vegetables were soggy (probably frozen as well). Between the two of us, we spent $80 and left hungry. This is an overpriced and terribly executed menu. The only good thing, is they will re-fill your water at no charge.

• Pros: free water
• Cons: the menu

04/17/08

Nice Place

by IceCreamC

To the person that wrote the previous review...why would you bring a 5 year old there? It is not a family style restaurant. It has a bar atmosphere. I wouldn't even bring my 15 yr old there. I like The Sample Room. It is a great place to meet friends for a drink and a meal. A good date place too.