In 1975, Gene Mann & his partners in the Cattle Guard Restaurant in downtown Houston were on a hunting trip to their ranch in South Texas. As tradition would have it, they crossed the border into Boys Town, Mexico…to experience all that a Mexican border town had to offer. Their favorite watering hole was Sam’s Place and it was there in a cloud of certainty and commitment to infamy that they decided to replicate the Sam’s experience back in Houston. In 1976 they moved an old house from Beaumont, Texas to an over grown lot on Richmond Ave, a dirt road at that time. Sam’s Place del Norte was established on May 5, 1977. Sam’s Place has served authentic Tex-Mex, ice-cold cerveza and notorious margaritas ever since! The stories then and now are sometimes hard to recall accurately and harder to repeat honestly in mixed company.
Sam’s Boat came later after Hurricane Allen, a Cat 5 Hurricane slammed into the Texas Gulf Coast in 1980. A shrimp boat “Wild Bill” was found wrecked on an oyster reef in Galveston Bay off the “flats” of Seabrook, Texas. There were no survivors. That year they drug it to the empty lot next to Sam’s Place where it sits to this very day. Sam’s Boat opened it’s doors in 1981 and was a loyal hang out for mostly bikers, area bartenders and local “celebrities” for it’s first years. Sam’s Boat has been partially burnt down then rebuilt bigger & better and has entertained high brows and common trash alike for decades. Sam’s has built a reputation all over the state by being the subject of hundreds of half truths and cold hard facts. Sam’s is as Texas as the people who live here, simply put!
Sam’s is the #1 restaurant and bar in Texas history and a
Texas Tradition and Institution.
Serving Fresh Gulf Coast Seafood late every night, the best live music, fantastic sports viewing and the most incredible mix for people watching in Texas! Nothing stuffy here, just pick out that perfect place on our deck or dining room, loosen up, kick back and spend some quality time with your family & friends. Take a look at the menu and start living life to the fullest with our great food, ice-cold margaritas and great people just like yourself.
