Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Sam's Place

    4.3 (43 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Sam's Place Photos

    SAM'S PLACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Sam's Place

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Emi G.

    Came here with girlfriends for a light dinner and drinks - we ordered a bottle of orange wine, the herb salad, Japanese sweet potatoes, and the steak. I was most impressed with the sweet potatoes, which were uniquely seasoned and laid on a bed of tahini. Such interesting flavors! I enjoyed the steak and salad as well. I felt like the salad wasn't super special though. Great ambiance in here, but seating is tight and it is super loud. Left after a while because we were tired of shouting to converse.

    Vibes
    Deidre M.

    Yes! Love this place! Caught up with a friend here yesterday, and we were first at 4pm on the dot (along w/ a few other humans + a well behaved big boy pup). Actually many pups were there! I felt like I was in a little cabin living room; super cozy, inviting, warm. The booth was comfy and would have sat on the patio if it wasn't 90 degrees outside lol. The bartender was kind and helpful, but relaxed - v chill. I appreciate a tailored menu bc I'm too indecisive! We didn't get any food but the draft beer in an icy cold glass was perfect for this heatwave. By 4:30pm it was packed but still calm. Some of the music was a lil depressing (too folky for me hahaha) but to each their own! Props for having Corona NA on the menu too -- my hub's fave of the fake beers haha Will be back for some more chill times soon!!!! Thank you for the hospitality!

    Sweet potato
    Eunice Y.

    Love hidden bars like this!! Such a gem. Tucked away on a quiet street, the cozy, candle lit room was so inviting for a perfect glass of wine and small bites. We tried the chicken wings which were so smokey and good!! The sweet potatoes were also so flavorful and rich with a creamy sauce on the bottom. The rosette plate was a stack of perfectly toasted bread with salami and butter. Soo good!! Mind you all these plates are on the smaller side hence the price tag, so you can order a couple and share! Wine was also perfectly chilled. It's a great place to hangout with friends or go on a date night! Love the outdoor patio!

    Averie H.

    Great neighborhood place, solid food, with a wonderfully chill mood. Like most places in LA, the music is so loud you have to yell over it to be heard by the person sitting across from you. The Rosette Plate was a favorite, with great bread and fantastic salami. We used the leftover bread to dip into the steak jus. I guess if I'm nitpicking, I wish there were more than 4 wine options, because at $17 per glass for wines I'm unfamiliar with and not too many other options, it feels kinda steep. That said, it's friendly, the food is good, the servers are nice, people had their (very good) pups nearby which lent a calming vibe.

    Sam's at Christmas
    jessica i.

    So cozy and inviting with simple food and wine, consistently done well. It's the only place I ever want to go. I've been so many times and it never disappoints. Great outdoor seating too (with a pass through window, so you don't have to go inside to order). You can easily eat dinner or just do drinks with a couple bites. Honestly love everything on the menu, steak and sweet potatoes highly recommended.

    Olives
    Barbara G.

    Came here for drinks and appetizers. The place is a bit hidden in Highland Park. The ambience is low key and quite dark so it was a bit challenging reading the menu. I had orange wine, rosette place with the bread was delicious, and a full plate of meaty olives. The servers were friendly. Overall is a good place for a date. Just get there early otherwise you will have to wait to get a table.

    Jonathan Y.

    tried the Japanese sweet potato which comes with some interesting creme sauce. huge fan and the vibes were amazing like last time

    Front of the bar/restaurant
    Nic C.

    Fantastic ICE COLD BEER. Amazing food. The chicken wings were incredible. Everything I tried was so delicious. This place is a cool local spot like in cheers. Cool friendly vibe, staff and customers. The ambiance is great. The inside has a really cool casual feel but also feels kind of nice with the custom woodwork throughout the place. The patio is great too. Just a friendly vibe overall. The service is as good as it gets. The bartender was chill and friendly. He was on it with everyone in there, keeping the lively atmosphere going while staying on top of everyone's drinks and giving recommendations based on people's preferences. Cool dude and definitely knew his stuff. Seems like a lot of regulars in there too.

    Chicken Wings
    Ellie R.

    Came here with a couple friends for a birthday dinner and got lucky enough to condense some tables on the patio to seat 5. Although the place was absolutely packed the food still came out incredibly fast, and everything was really great! We all managed to get a few bites of everything and the Japanese Sweet Potatoes were a strong favorite. We split a bottle and it all came out to about $30 a head. The atmosphere is perfect for a wine bar and a friend.

    Orange and white wine
    Mahsa S.

    This new local wine bar is a gem hidden in Highland Park! Definitely get there early, as they open at 4 pm and tables get full quick. It's order at the bar for drinks and food/snacks, and tables are first come first serve. Great for groups up to 4 people! There's also a patio with lots of outdoor seating and heat lamps

    wings

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Isabel R.
    167
    105
    8

    10 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 42
    Thanks 17
    Love this 38
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nic C.
    153
    13
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Mel N.
    369
    37
    12

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Tony A.
    18
    174
    266

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt L.
    104
    21
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Frazier G.
    38
    58
    1806

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Amazing neighborhood spot for a drink and bites! Ambiance is great and everyone who works there is so nice!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ahhyun K.
    100
    22
    7

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Amanda L.
    173
    164
    28

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Very cool spot. Limited menu but actually made it easier...we ordered one of everything and it was perfect.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Sam's Place Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sam's Place

    Review Highlights - Sam's Place

    The rosette plate was a stack of perfectly toasted bread with salami and butter.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Wine Bars 21,778 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Byron Blatty Wines

    Byron Blatty Wines

    5.0(4 reviews)
    0.8 miHighland Park

    Byron Blatty wines is a boutique winery founded by Mark & Jenny Blatty in 2014. Based in Santa…read moreClarita, Byron Blatty focuses on limited-edition, hand-crafted wines made with grapes from family-owned vineyards in Los Angeles. They recently opened a tasting room in Highland Park, so I stopped in to check it out. The tasting room is quaint & cozy. They offer three curated tastings: Monthly special ($27), Reserve ($40) or Library ($20) or you can order by the glass. I selected the Library Tasting. I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of reds but these were excellent. My tasting consisted of a Grenache (2017), a Syrah (2017), Alicante Bouschet (2017), & Evenfall (2016). Each one was well balanced, the notes were lovely, and the finish was smooth. During my tasting I had a wonderful conversation with Al & Mark. Al recently started working here, and she has amazing energy. Mark is also very personable and enthusiastic about his wine. He let me try some of the Anonymous, which is a secret blend and listed as "Origin & Vintage Unknown." It was fantastic! After trying Byron Blatty Wines, I'm now a fan of reds. I even bought a bottle to take home. I will most definitely be back to enjoy more of these delicious wines and an enjoyable conversation with Al.

    What a gem of a find ! We did not plan to go but walked by and were intrigued-- not a ton of wine…read moretasting local to highland park. The wine manager was very knowledgeable and friendly, prices were fair and the wine was delicious! Left with a bottle and definitely coming back :)

    Photos
    Byron Blatty Wines - 2016 Evenfall - excellent.

    2016 Evenfall - excellent.

    Byron Blatty Wines - 2017 Syrah - excellent.

    2017 Syrah - excellent.

    Byron Blatty Wines - The collection of wine.

    See all

    The collection of wine.

    Wife and the Somm - Winter Chickory Salad

    Wife and the Somm

    4.4(323 reviews)
    2.2 miGlassell Park
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    "I know a dark, secluded place A place where no one knows…read moreyour face A glass of wine, a fast embrace It's called Hernando's Hideaway, olé" --Ella Fitzgerald, 1963 OK, this may date me, but this is what I immediately heard playing in my head when we finally found Wife and the Somm this weekend. Glassell Park is a hidden neighborhood in Los Angeles, anyway, and if you don't know what you are looking for, you might zip right past W&S, as we did. Parking is hit and miss, but there are side streets and you will find a space if you give yourself an extra 15 minutes before you come. The neighborhood is mysterious to me, sort of pricey grunge & hipster, iykwim. But! Once you are inside, you are in a completely different world. Bright, clean, genteel, muted, with dappled sunlight dripping through various apertures and alighting in a soft glow here and there on shining metal tables. It's beautiful. Some catchy upbeat contempo-pop music streamed steadily at just the right volume overhead. I found myself resisting the temptation to get up and dance. There are several rooms from which to choose, but I wanted to be seated on the wine-red suede banquette that gave me a view of the whole restaurant and out onto the tree-canopied street. From the time we arrived to the moment we left about an hour later, we were showered with warm smiles and attentive service. And the food? Exquisite. See my pictures. It was hard to choose. One tiny disappointment was they were out of the biscuits that I wanted to start with, but I enjoyed the crusty tender Clark Street bread slices served with warm creamery butter instead. It only got better from there. The two bowls we ordered were filled with fresh vegetables, cooked to perfection, topped with an egg prepared as we requested, i.e., over medium. The portions are modest and it was all so good, we didn't take anything home. We ordered coffee and were brought two tall steaming mugs of Americano, smooth, dark, and delicious. Best of all was the Lemon Lavender cake, a seasonal specialty. Honestly, it might be one of the best, moistest, most flavorful and elegant cakes I have ever had. So fantastic, that I just ordered some lavender buds (if I don't collect them from our garden) to replicate it at home. I don't drink much alcohol but if I did, I would head here for one of their experiences or tastings -- they have a formidable list. Check all this out. And hurry if you want to have Lemon Lavender cake.

    The restaurant already made a poor first impression, as there was an unpleasant smell inside as…read moresoon as we stepped in. Everyone also didn't feel particularly welcoming, from the hostess to the waitress (no smiles). Thankfully, we were seated outside for some fresh air, although the warm murky smell still lingered a bit outdoors. The menu seem fairly limited since nothing really stood out to me as especially exciting. I've studied the menu prior before going, and was only looking forward to their burger, but they didn't have it during dinner apparently. While the dishes were descripted very well on the menu, there was no depth in flavors. I'm talking about the pork belly, lamb chops, tartare, Spanish octopus, and especially the seasonal pasta. I'm happy that it wasn't overly salty, but overall the food tasted mediocre and felt a bit basic. I'm only saying this because I could make it myself, at least the lamb, fatty pork belly, and pasta. Portions were also on the small side. Service was a bit slower as it took some time to get seated and receive our food, and one of our dishes was forgotten until we reminded the staff after already finishing most of the meal. On the positive side, we were able to find easy street parking about a block away, and the restaurant itself has a cozy ambiance that would probably be great for a chill dinner with some wine. However, my group left still feeling very hungry and unsatisfied. To be fair, we came in hungry, and the portions and long wait didn't help.

    Photos
    Wife and the Somm - Grilled Pacific Halibut over white gazpacho

    Grilled Pacific Halibut over white gazpacho

    Wife and the Somm - Grilled cuttlefish and pickled persimmons

    Grilled cuttlefish and pickled persimmons

    Wife and the Somm - August Burger with sauteed mushrooms, leek fondue, worcestershire aioli

    See all

    August Burger with sauteed mushrooms, leek fondue, worcestershire aioli

    Hippo - Clams

    Hippo

    4.2(936 reviews)
    0.3 miHighland Park
    $$$

    This is honestly one of my favorite pasta spots in LA. I really love their pasta selection, and I'm…read morealso a fan of the open kitchen in the back because it makes the whole place feel really lively and cozy. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation though because it gets pretty busy. My personal favorite is the duck ragu if you want something super savory and rich with that deep umami flavor. If you want something lighter and a little sweeter, the butternut squash pasta is sooo good too. Honestly just writing this is making me crave it again. The drinks here are pretty solid as well, and the servers have always been really helpful every time I've gone.

    Wow! This place is amazing!…read more I had heard about it from a few different people, and had it bookmarked as a place to try. It was Friday night and we couldn't decide where to go, and this place made the pick. First of all, the vibe is great. It's very lively and part of charming mini plaza off the street. The first thing I notice were the 2000s Hip Hop & RnB jams playing in the background. I was pleasantly surprised that the tunes kept going throughout the night! It definitely made me feel right at home. Finn, our server, was super friendly and helpful. But make no mistake--the star of the show here is the food! Every single item that we ordered--from the starters to mids to mains to desserts--was absolutely delicious! We will definitely be back soon!

    Photos
    Hippo - Bar scene

    Bar scene

    Hippo - Butternut Squash Cappellacci

    Butternut Squash Cappellacci

    Hippo - Warm dark chocolate hazelnut cake

    See all

    Warm dark chocolate hazelnut cake

    The Cellar - A Wine Library - Another one of our favorite servers/ sommelier

    The Cellar - A Wine Library

    4.5(605 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Great wine selection. We went on a Saturday around 5:30 p.m. before the evening rush and ordered a…read morecheese and fruit charcuterie board along with several glasses of wine. We ended up staying until about 9:30 p.m. and never felt rushed or pressured to order more. The staff was very friendly and made excellent recommendations, especially considering we were a bit picky -- one vegetarian, one pescatarian, and the other only likes dessert wines!! Definitely coming back with less picky people

    Waiter Manuel. This…read moreis a review reflected on you, solely. Being kind is the moral of the story, from the beginning you were passive agressive with your comments and tone. Being in a party of 4 girls coming from high tea, we were dressed in elegant dresses, first comment was asking if we were coming from church, followed by eye flutters, short "okay" with an upward inflation to a joke about the day, an impatient comment about hurrying up and trying the wine while we were talking, asked for water when we were out, were left to pour the rest of our wine, didn't ask how the food was all the while was attentive to the table behind us, the cherry on top comment was when we were discussing the bill at the end, he was hovering at the table behind ours, then when we were ready, we asked to split the bill into 2, my portion on mine and the rest on another card, he then said "this isn't like a drive through, we can't do it that way" so I asked him to explain his comment, cause it was passive agressive and rude. After he wasnt able to becuase he wasnt expecting me to call out his rude comment, I had to then break it down and specify what I had ordered, he then sold "okayyyy....so how much, cause we don't itemize?" I had to again express for him to specify how they do it cause he has still yet to explain where his attitude is coming from and explain how they do their check splits, from my understanding it just felt like he wanted to play dumb and make me to the math, one I did he was like "ohh, okay" should have asked for the manager but we paid and left, I hasnt had this experience before being a returning customer, but he needs an attitude adjustment as his attitude was completely out of pocket. Do better Manuel, you alone got your place of work a 1 star. The rest of the staff was kind, facility beautiful and food and wine was good. This restaurant is not reflected in the 1 star.

    Photos
    The Cellar - A Wine Library - The coolest atmosphere.

    The coolest atmosphere.

    The Cellar - A Wine Library - Bordeaux

    Bordeaux

    The Cellar - A Wine Library - Wine selection for the night

    See all

    Wine selection for the night

    La Cave - Wine glasses.

    La Cave

    4.9(19 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    Oops, forgot to post this from my drafts... What an experience! This all-vegan wine bar is next to…read moreits sister establishment, ID-Eclair, and lives up to the family reputation. The food pairs perfectly with the wine, and everything is genuinely mind-blowing to the tastebuds. The decor is meticulously and intentionally placed and makes the place feel so cozy. Whoever designed this restaurant is a true genius and perfectionist. They have a comprehensive multi-page wine menu that lists taste profiles and origins. I know nothing about wine, but if you're a wine snob, I'm sure you'll find great joy in choosing the right wine for you. The highlight of the experience was the staff working there. Emily and Alfredo are so very welcoming and kind. It's probably the best service I've received at a restaurant and I truly cannot overstate just how phenomenal they are. They went the extra mile to make us feel at home. On top of that, even though we've only been there a handful of times over the course of a year, they remembered us and even where we were visiting from. Thank you Emily and Alfredo!

    Stumbled across La Cave Wine Bar while waiting for our dinner reservation and I'm so glad we did…read more I've never really been a wine drinker, but my group and I wanted to learn more about different wine types and what pairs best with meat or seafood. The service was incredibly friendly and our winetender was very knowledgeable. She walked us through five different wines and explained the flavors and pairing suggestions in a way that was easy to understand. There was also a customer at the bar who was very friendly and showed us pictures of her wine adventures. She even recommended visiting Sonoma or Temecula for future wine tasting trips. We ended up choosing a red wine to bring to dinner and it was perfect. We would love to come back again the next time we are in Pasadena.

    Photos
    La Cave - Bar area.

    Bar area.

    La Cave
    La Cave - Napoleon

    See all

    Napoleon

    Sam's Place - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...