Restaurant Review – Issue 1 – Sammy’s Pizza

Sammy’s special, pepperoni, and taco are all options at one of the very first pizza places in the entire state of North Dakota, opening in 1959, now known as Sammy’s Pizza. Whether it's the old pictures on the walls or seeing Bryce, an employee for 17 years now, throwing pizza dough in the air, Sammy’s welcomes each customer with a sense of familiarity.

Even though many details in the restaurant have stayed the same, the ownership was changed in 1979 when Teresa and Pete Perreault took over. But the authenticity is still attempted to be preserved; the original Sammy’s is memorialized through old photos lining the walls and booths that are big enough to fit the whole family.

While making your way in, you usually see all sorts of different types of people and families. It's very evident that at Sammys, the customers are very important to the employees. Leah Perreault, a sophomore at North who works at Sammys, said she “loves talking to all the different people from different backgrounds”. While Andrew Perreault, a senior at North, says, “I love talking to the regulars and the old folks, they have great stories.” The employees’ dedication and amicable relationships with customers—regulars or not—show the homey and hospitable feeling you get at Sammy’s.

However, the atmosphere isn’t all that makes Sammy what it is- the robust menu is also very important for such an establishment, and they have just that. While dining at the restaurant, we ordered an appetizer and one of their famous pizzas. First to taste were the cheesy-pepperoni breadsticks, and these were nothing short of phenomenal. When you initially bite into this fromage stick, you instantly relish in the ooey-gooey insides of sweet bread and thick pepperoni. Another starter you could get would be a house salad, which is a very refreshing way to start your dining experience.

Next, the pizza. Our 14-inch pizza was half of a Sammy’s original and half pepperoni: both the perfect amount of savory and tasty. Sammy’s original is a jumble of sausage, green onion, and green pepper. The green onion and green pepper complement each other admirably. The other half of pepperoni is a classic pick that can only be described as savory goodness.

They had so many other options, such as building your own pizza with around 20 different toppings to choose from. As mentioned before, something special is the fact that you can do half pizzas, so if the family can't decide, you don’t have to, just split a 14-inch!

What sets this pizza apart from any chain pizza place is the crust. It is light and has the perfect crunch and doughy sense. What helps perfect this unmatchable taste is the oven. Ever since Sammy’s opened in 1959 as one of the first pizza establishments in North Dakota, the same oven has been used. One might say you can “Taste the brick,” which is so very true. The slight char adds such an amazing, old-school flavor.

Safe to say that Sammy’s has been a staple of our state for decades and a favorite in downtown Fargo since the beginning. Every pizza is a delight to the mouth, and all fellow customers are a joy to be around. Not just a restaurant but a family, literally.