3000 Elysian Fields Ave. (Gentilly) 504.947.0675, Monday through Thursday: 7am to 5pm; Friday: 7am to 7pm; Saturday: 7am to 4pm. Always busy. Always fabulous. Expect long lines at the counter and a wait that's appropriate for food cooked to order. The fried trout is amazing. The mirliton soup, heavy with cream and seafood, is cooked with fine-dining care. The homemade smoked sausage tastes fresh and not too greasy. As a rule we never order jambalaya from restaurants, but Sammy's non-red version (listed as "dirty rice" on the sides menu) easily competes with anything home cooked. And their smoky and delicate gumbo is a top ten (although sometimes it's over-salted). All the sides are good. Prices rarely go above $10.00. This is yet another case of a New Orleans neighborhood restaurant taking typical southern plate food and elevating it into something completely special. No hard liquor, but domestics on tap. A post-Katrina renovation makes the restaurant clean and pleasant and flat screened. Self-serve fountain drinks and iced tea (green, sweetened and regular). Video Poker.
