Sam's Tavern

Sam's Tavern is a restaurant with multiple locations in the Seattle metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Washington.^[1] The business is owned by James Snyder.^[2]

Sam's Tavern
Exterior of the Capitol Hill location, 2022
Restaurant information
Location	Bellevue Seattle , King, Washington, United States
Website	samstavernseattle.com

Description and history

Thrillist says, "Sam's Tavern is a tribute to an old bar – the dive that became the original Red Robin – and gets its old-timey roadhouse feel from an owner whose family started those colorfully descriptive bird-themed burger joints."^[3]

The business operates in Bellevue, Capitol Hill, and South Lake Union; previously, Sam's Tavern also operated in Redmond. In 2021, all Sam's restaurants closed temporarily after a bartender at the Bellevue location was shot and killed at work by her estranged spouse.^[4][5]

The Capitol Hill location has hosted trivia night.^[6] The South Lake Union restaurant had covered outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[7]

Reception

The Capitol Hill bar, 2022

Chona Kasinger included Sam's Tavern in Thrillist's 2014 list of Seattle's eight best Bloody Marys, writing: "The supposed originator of our beloved Red Robin, Capitol Hill's Sam's Tavern garnishes their Bloody Marys with pickled asparagus, a mini kabob of tomato, cheese, sausage, and… drumroll please… lunch, in the form of a slider. Oh, and did we mention it's made with bacon-flavored vodka?!"^[8] Larry Bleiberg included Sam's Tavern in USA Today's 2015 list of the ten best Bloody Marys "to start the New Year".^[9]

Taylor Rock and Dan Myers included the business in The Daily Meal's 2020 list of "The Best Burger in Every State", writing: "Sam's Tavern has 12 gourmet burgers, but there is one in particular that's perfect for all you bacon fans out there: Sam's 50 Burger. The patty is half certified Angus beef and half hickory-smoked bacon, topped with avocado, buttermilk bacon ranch dressing, Gouda and more bacon. Sam's is also known for its stellar Bloody Marys, a classic cocktail with an interesting origin story."^[10]