Sam's Place - Collinsville

I drove to this restaurant tonight to try it out. I ordered the hamburger steak with a baked potato, salad, and rolls. The food was good, not fancy, but good.

My wife and I love trying out new breakfast spots in our area, and Sam's place did not disappoint. The service was excellent - we were greeted promptly, our drink order was taken right away, and our food arrived within minutes. The Rocky Mountain Breakfast we ordered was delicious, with hash browns, biscuit, sausage, bacon, egg, and cheese all topped with gravy. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The only downside was that my wife found her coffee to be a little weak. The atmosphere could use some improvement, but overall, it was a great diner experience.

Many restaurants have tried and failed in this location, so we were hopeful that this place would be a good addition. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. We enjoy eating breakfast out, so we decided to give it a try for breakfast. Surprisingly, the hashbrowns were cold and the eggs had an odd taste - it seems difficult to mess up eggs over medium. The service was slow and not very friendly, which is understandable considering the challenges of finding good employees, but when working for tips, it's important to put in the effort. It seems that the only reason this place is still open is due to the limited dining options in Collinsville.

Service is horrendous at this diner. After seating ourselves and having or drink order taken, we waited over 5 minutes and watched as other tables who were seated after us had gotten their drinks and given their food order. Eventually our waitress came back and asked for the third time what our drink order was, and then still brought the wrong drinks. When I kindly told her I asked for unsweetened, not sweet tea, she stormed off muttering under her breath that they were busy and she couldn't remember everything. A few minutes later she finally sent another waitress over with the correct drink and to take our food order. This waitress wasn't particularly pleasant either. There is not anything special about the food, and it certainly doesn't make up for the terrible service at this dump.

Where to start with this place..... The owner used to be a cook at Mom's Diner in Owasso, and decided to strike out on his own. I for one, am glad he did. From the first time I stopped in for lunch, until my most recent breakfast, I've not been disappointed. Breakfasts are solid, dependable and always good. Probably my favorite breakfast option is the Rocky Mountain Breakfast. This starts out with a plate of hash browns, then two biscuits split open, then the meat of your choice (sausage, bacon or ham), *then* two eggs of your choice, and finally topped off with gravy. Sounds like a hot mess, but it's oh so delicious. Their omelets are always on point, and between the wife and I, we've had most of them. They usually have a special or two of the day, and their chicken and fish are stellar. My littlest one is a huge fan of their chicken fingers and french fries. Seriously, I don't know what they do with their chicken tenders, but they're some of the best around. I'm also a huge fan of breaded mushrooms and theirs are awesome. Fresh breaded and huge. If you're read my reviews you know I'm a huge breakfast guy. And you also know I'm a picky son of a gun. Sam's fills the bill on both points. Huge, great tasting breakfasts and lunches. Have to admit we've not made it up for dinner yet, since we try to have that one at home when possible. I have had several of their items for lunch, though, and those have all been spot on. Chicken Fried Steak is as good as it gets, anywhere. Burgers are great. Their chicken tenders and steak fingers, as mentioned, are fantastic. If you're feeling a little adventurous, give the Collinsville Burger a run... Two burger patties, french fries on Texas Toast all smothered in brown gravy. Seriously, if you're in the neighborhood, stop in for a bite. The folks who run the place are as nice as can be, friendly and on point for the best service you'll find. Heck, even if you're NOT in the neighborhood, get out there anyway and give Sam's Place a try.