Sammy’s Roumanian Steakhouse is hoping for a Lower East Side revival. The beloved New York eatery is applying for a liquor license for 191 Orchard Street after a two year hiatus, reports local media outlet EV Grieve.
The building previously housed the Sixth Ward and has been vacant since 2015.
Sammy’s inhabited 151 Chrystie Street for 47 years before the COVID-19 pandemic led to its shutdown.
Sammy’s owner, David Zimmerman, never abandoned the idea of re-opening the steakhouse after closing the original location in January of 2021. Zimmerman stated in an Instagram post announcing the closure “We may be closed now, but…we will be back stronger, louder, and tastier than ever before.”
Sammy’s comeback hinges on approval from Community Board 3. The committee will make a decision on the restaurant’s liquor license submission on May 15.
If approved, Sammy’s new location will provide the establishment with 2,500 square feet to house its signature brand of Jewish comfort food.
Sammy’s Roumanian Steakhouse built up a steady and dedicated fan-following during its storied initial run. The restaurant is best remembered for its steady supply of schmaltz and bottles of vodka served in blocks of ice. The pandemic led to Sammy’s widely-mourned shutdown.
