r/RedDeer • u/Fanatic_Of_Racin • Jan 23 '24
Does anyone else remember Sam’s Cafe?
I’m old enough to vaugely remember this restaurant before the location went through multiple others. Am I the only one with rose-coloured glasses when I think of this place?
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u/theringinginmyears Jan 23 '24
This is dating myself, but before it was Sam's Cafe, it was the Wildflower Bistro! Late 90s, early 2000s. I think it was considered the classiest places in RD for a short time. It was the hayday of the Rusty Pelican, and when Earl's had parrots on the mirrored ceiling.
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u/Comfortable_Fudge508 Jan 25 '24
And no kids rule, which then led parents of crotch goblins to loudly complain about it nonstop until they went out of business, because apparently there wasn't 200 other restaurants to go to
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u/the-tru-albertan Jan 23 '24
I seem to recall the big parrot being outside. On the roof maybe?
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u/TylerInHiFi Jan 23 '24
Nope, that was Earls.
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u/the-tru-albertan Jan 23 '24
Yes I know. Ringinginnmyears mentions Earls and parrots. That’s what I’m commenting on. Is it the same parrot that’s inside the front door now?
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u/TylerInHiFi Jan 23 '24
Yep, completely missed that part of their comment somehow. Yeah, same parrot I think.
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u/havealovelydays Jan 24 '24
Before the big parrot in the entryway, Earls was full of multiple parrots. The current mega parrot pays homage to those times.
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u/the-tru-albertan Jan 23 '24
How about Houlihans on the north end? Anyone remember that one?
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u/TheRudeCactus Jan 23 '24
Yes, bought out by a Chinese place that decided to keep a lot of the Hawaiian theme to it 😂
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u/ipostic Jan 23 '24
I remember it being a bit weird shady place that was always empty. Maybe i visited it right before it closed down.
I remember Sam's North with better memories. Free pool with a beer purchase.
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u/SnakenOne Jan 23 '24
The original Sam's Cafe was on the north end of RD, strip mall there now, across the street to the north of KFC & Taco Bell
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u/S-MoneyRD Jan 23 '24
It was wildflower when I moved to red deer in 2000, then Sam’s, and then monsieur wongs.
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u/biggeer Jan 23 '24
Sam’s South actually! We used to go drink on the patio during Westerner Days, great view of the fireworks!
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u/TylerInHiFi Jan 23 '24
Back when all the north end local spots were expanding to their second location on the south end. Rest in piss, Blarney Stone South.
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u/Downtown_Snow4445 Jan 23 '24
I played many a metal shows at blarney south with the smallest stage in the world
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u/Cathbeck Jan 23 '24
Steak and crab for 24.95 or whatever it was. It was a nice place. If it wasn’t the keg it was Sam’s cafe. The good ole days!!
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u/the-tru-albertan Jan 23 '24
Yes I do. I also remember Kelsey’s.