Sam’s Beach Bar

The wait was an hour long even though there were tables open all over. A friend and myself walked to the bar to get drinks while we waited and it took 30 mins before any of the 3 people behind the bar even spoke to us and when he did he said he was the manager which makes it worse. You mean to tell me as a manager you aren’t going to at least greet us and tell us that you will be right with us? Drinks took another 10 minutes after that. They also had the canvas windows rolled down around the bar on a beautiful day making it really stuffy while we waited. We finally get our table and order right away. The food wasn’t horrible but had lots of room for improvement but it did come out promptly. Oh yeah and good luck finding a parking spot!!!

Love it here. Gorgeous view. I even saw dolphins jumping out of the water to catch fish and giant Pelicans swooping down. I got the coconut shrimp and it was delicious. Wish they had a mixed drink menu but I asked for something fruity and the bartender gave me a rum runner which was a pink orange color with and orange and a cherry in it and it was delicious. I can’t wait till I can come watch the sunset here.

#314
On a beautiful clear chilly day we took a ride up to Hudson to have a nice meal on the Gulf. We found Sam’s Beach Bar. I just love these Florida beach shack type restaurants. Sam’s is really a big Tiki bar right on the Gulf. Fantastic view.
Yes, other Unilocalers complain about a lack of parking and its true. Sam’s parking lot is small. We were lucky and got one of the spots but right next to it is the beach lot. For 2 bucks you’ll have plenty of parking. 2 bucks, big deal.
Anyway we were seated almost immediatly. Our server, Jamie was awesome. She answered all our questions no problem.
We started with the onion straws app. Delicous and huge. In fact, everything was huge. My shrimp and grits was a huge bowl of food. Way more than I could eat. Just spicy enough with poppin fresh shrimp. Wife’s fish and chips was good too and way more than she could eat. First rate fries came with it.
All in all we had a great time at Sam’s (live music) and a great meal. Can’t wait for summer to come back.

First time here.
This is one of those reviews when I really wish Unilocal had category breakdowns for the ratings.
I found this place by accident a few days ago, but I also remembered that a friend of mine told me about it and he said it was a «nice» place… O.K.
At about 4:30 PM I had to wait 20 minutes for a car to leave before I could park in Sam’s Beach Bar’s parking lot. Not that they were SO busy, their lot only has space for 17 vehicles (I checked Google Earth).
I went to the bar and after being ignored by both sweaty, greasy-​faced, kid-​bartenders, I asked for a drink menu. I don’t drink very often and some suggestions would have been helpful, no such thing. I got a Rum Runner with Cruzan.
As I wandered around I thought this COULD be a really cool place. It’s right on the Gulf, has a nice view (for Hudson) and it seems to be far enough South to be just leaving the Hernando-​Pasco redneck-​country. The evening I was there the crowd was about 80% senior citizens. They had Jimmy Buffett and some other typical island tunes on the speakers, and that’s what I want at an outdoor beach bar right on the ocean.
I saw a customer with a fish sandwich, I asked the first Sam’s Beach Bar employee I saw «What is she eating over there?», and rather than trying to help me, the customer, she told me to ask a server as apparently she had some other function. Nice.
I found out it was the grouper, so I found a table and waited to be waited on.
I sat there FOR 10 MINUTES– AND DURING THAT TIME NO FEWER THAN 5 Sam’s Beach Bar SERVERS looked right at me and continued on their way without asking if they could help, get me a menu, refill my drink, ANYTHING!
Finally I got up and started looking for the manager. When I explained I had been ignored for 10 minutes he essentially blew it off as «a mistake» and «no big deal».
After 5 MORE minutes one of the servers who had looked at me without helping came over to take my order, all phony smiles and peppiness.
The food arrived after about 20 minutes and it LOOKED great! I took a couple photos right away and dug in. The Grouper was kind of tasteless, I squeezed on some lemon and added tartar sauce– didn’t help. As I got into the middle of the fish (a large piece of fish) I noticed it was very dry. I didn’t even eat it all. And this was a $ 17.95 sammich! The fries were starch coated, covered with starch-​slurry blisters– not good.
As I said at the top, I wish Unilocal had 3 categories for each restaurant:
1) Food
2) Service
3) Atmosphere/​Cool Factor
The food at Sam’s Beach Bar was not very good, especially for the high price– 2 stars.
The service was terrible/​to non-​existent– 1 star.
The atmosphere/​view/​vibe– 4 stars. But, this can’t make up for the bad service and mediocre food.

We stopped here while on vacation from Minnesota. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like about this place. The shining star was our server, Jamie. Personable, but better, she knew the menu! She knew how to recommend options to us with confidence. Without asking, she told us which seafood was freshly caught that day. She recommended the lobster bisk to me, and offerred me a sample first. It was fabulous! Creamy, but not too thick. Wonderful mild flavor. I also had the Grouper, and it was delicious! The cole slaw was freshly made. It had a great flavor with a bit of sweetness from fresh mangos. Loved it!
This place is right on the ocean, and we enjoyed a geoorgeous sunset from the deck. Would love to go back!

When we arrived, I used the restroom and that totally turned me off for the whole experience. It was disgusting.
We sat on the outdoor deck by the water and it was a nice ambiance.
The food was fine. Tap water is not served; you must buy bottled water.
Service was fine.
It is not easy to park.
On the whole, I would avoid this place in the future.

Nice relaxing spot to have dinner on the water, although it seems to get busy and crowded. Food was good! Cheese grits delicious. Huge portion of Greek Salad! Waitress was great. Take a stroll near the water when your done, its beautiful!

First, sunsets are wonderful.
Our family of six had six separate dishes, including the fish tacos, the fish and chips platter, two Cubano sandwiches, a fried green tomato BLT, and a kid’s chicken fingers.
The food was timely served but average in quality. This was disappointing because the atmosphere of the restaurant was really neat. We even purchased t-​shirts after dinner to remember the occasion.
The Pina Coladas and daiquiris we’re pre-​made which was also a little disappointing.
The wait staff wear very good, the bathrooms were clean, and the bar had an awesome vibe.
With the view, public beach, the consistent service and food, and the view of the gulf, I would go back.

It’s a good thing they are at a great location with a great view because the service is terrible and the food is just ok.
The first time I went, I sat in the corner of the bar to get a view of the sunset. There was definitely drama going on between the bartenders and the wait staff. The bartenders openly complained to me about individual wait staff and continued to talk poorly about them behind their backs.
The second time I went, the bartender served one beer and asked me to close out because it was the end of her shift even though I was running a tab. She also asked a couple the same thing as they ordered their meal.
The third time, I called ahead to check hours on Christmas Eve. The person on the phone said they were closing at 6. I got there at 4 and was only told, «we are closing now. You got some bad information.» No apology, just a rude tone.
They do have cheap beers and a beautiful sunset view. I keep going back for these, hoping the service will get better. So far, it hasn’t…

Food is fine. Service is fine. And you have to buy bottled water if you want water. Serious dealbreaker.

Great location right on the water! Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon, very busy but fun atmosphere.

The Homemade Key Lime Pie was outstanding! Plus it’s the perfect view for the Sunset with a friendly staff as well… highly recommend

Great 1^st visit. Place was packed with long waits. Tikki-​outdoor-​tourist-​beach restaurant on the water so long waits are to be expected. Great view of the Gulf.
Ordered spinach artichoke dip n’ chips for appetizer — large portion of this typical dip but loaded with lots of garlic — hurray! For dinner I ordered a Greek salad and it was awesome — huge portion with the usual ingredients but the homemade dressing, fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and roasted red skin potato slices made it amazing (craving it already — a salad — ha!) BF ordered the Wedge salad and would not recommend this — 2 large heads of romaine lettuce, not chopped in the typical wedge fashion, with a tablespoon of bacon bits and blue cheese, a quarter of an avocado, and 2 packets of ranch dressing. When the waiter checked back in 10 minutes later and my BF was still cutting up the lettuce we complained and he offered to bring something else. The manager stopped by within a minute and apologized — outstanding customer service — great job manager! Other friends were happy with their food.
Drinks are pricey — Jack n’ Coke $ 8.75. Tip: get a Rum Runner — loaded with liquor for $ 6.75!
Cover band was loud but not ridiculously loud, didn’t even need earplugs — thank you whatever cover band you are!
Very limited parking so park at the public beach — free after 5 p.m. ($ 2 otherwise).

The scenery is nice. That’s about it.
I was not a fan of the food at all.
Fish and chips was on the specialties section of the menu. I don’t know why. They weren’t terrible, they were just no different than anywhere else. French fries were good though!
We had calamari for an app and it was nothing special.
Disappointed in the food. I was hoping for something better than any bar could make.
I guess I paid those prices for the view of the gulf?
And what’s up with having to pay for water!!!

If you want good views of the sun setting, good beer, and music then you found it here at Sam’s BEach Bar! The food is kind of a who is the cook. I“ve had good food, and I’ve had semi blah food. I can’t complain about service. Every waitress has been attentive.

Great food, great atmosphere, and awesome staff! Would recommend the Mac and cheese for kids, and mahi tacos for adults… Blackened grouper good, buffalo shrimp delicious (on spicy side)… Caesar salad delicious!!!
Definitely would go again!

After two more meals here since my previous review, I think it’s time for an update.
This is a really nice and beachy place. It was PACKED at 6 on a Saturday night, as expected. We didn’t wait, but our table ended up being the last open table before people had to wait.
Our service has been awesome the last two visits! Megan and Tom were great and super friendly. I think mediocre service (like my second visit) is the exception, not the rule.
I had ordered the mojo pork bowl the third visit and the southern hospitality salad on my most recent one. The mojo bowl was oh so flavorful. So tropical tasting and the pork was so amazing. It was was better than Chipotle! The Southern hospitality salad was also very good. The fired chicken, bacon, and honey mustard dressing gave it an ‘unhealthy’ flavor, but the HUGE bowl of romaine lettuce, Tomatoes and cucumbers made it filling and (mostly) guilt free.
With both service and food amazing ¾ times, this place deserves to be bumped up a star.

So let me start by saying that Courtney was our waitress (WTF AWESOME CHICKA) she was amazing on point attentive and great customer service. Kept us smiling and enjoying a good time while making sure my group was comfortable. She needs a raise I would request her for services every time I entered this place perfect service thanks court!!!
Oh wait food was deliciousness to the fullest BBQ pulled pork nachos is a must!!! Shrimp Po’Boy is for the next time !!! Huge
And might I add the scenery simply gorgeous sunset and atmosphere
Once again thank you Courtney for making our first time and enjoyable rememberable on its an adventure full of laughs I would do it everyday if she kept serving me (forgot to mention) Tropical Tea!!! Ummm only drink one the second was a doosey!

Place is empty and there is a 40 minute wait. The problem I have is the snooty attitude of the waitress. Then after our
long wait we found out people called in and she said she caught us kissing at the sunset and said how cute we were. Luv her then she showed us to the table before the server came. Which is Tom… was is phenomenal!

We saw dolphins while we were sitting on the deck. This is a cool place to go to see the sunset!
We had the fried pickles and coconut shrimp. They both were very good and pleasing to the tongue! The grilled shrimp salad i had wasn’t the greatest. The shrimp in the salad were good! It had a weird taste and im not sure if it was the lettuce or what.