Fodor's Expert Review Sammie's Italian

Located in the former home of historic burger joint Hut's Hamburgers, on the western edge of downtown, Sammie's specializes in classic Italian cuisine in a lively setting. The cozy digs (restored to preserve the original art deco design) get loud during peak hours, but this homage to the great "red sauce institutions" of New York City is still a wonderful option for a modernized "Taste of Old Italy" date night. And the Friday happy hour (3 to 5 pm) is an ideal time to indulge in discounted small plates like roasted veal sweetbreads piccata and broiled clams.