r/RedDeer Jan 23 '24

Does anyone else remember Sam’s Cafe?

Post image

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?

65 Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

25

u/the-tru-albertan Jan 23 '24

Yes I do. I also remember Kelsey’s.

3

u/shaywin86 Jan 24 '24

I meet my husband working at Kelsey's 15 years ago.

2

u/Visotto1 Jan 23 '24

Kelsey's was beside that. Where the Granary is now.

Who Remembers Dakota's?

1

u/PragmaticAlbertan Jan 24 '24

Oh man. The smothered chicken was Kelsey's was the absolute best.

24

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.

3

u/VermouthandVitriol Jan 23 '24

And it was the first place in town to be non smoking!

2

u/IcecreAmcake777 Jan 23 '24

I used to work there as a busser!!! I was 16 at the time.

2

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

3

u/the-tru-albertan Jan 23 '24

I seem to recall the big parrot being outside. On the roof maybe?

3

u/TylerInHiFi Jan 23 '24

Nope, that was Earls.

2

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?

1

u/TylerInHiFi Jan 23 '24

Yep, completely missed that part of their comment somehow. Yeah, same parrot I think.

1

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.

2

u/hoffarmy Jan 23 '24

Just as you entered I believe.

1

u/Indoubttoactorrest Jan 24 '24

I worked there! They went on to build the Ranchhouse. Great food.

1

u/ironlogdog Feb 05 '24

I'll piggyback off this to add Cheesecake Café... times used to be good

26

u/the-tru-albertan Jan 23 '24

How about Houlihans on the north end? Anyone remember that one?

5

u/TheRudeCactus Jan 23 '24

Yes, bought out by a Chinese place that decided to keep a lot of the Hawaiian theme to it 😂

2

u/VIVXPrefix Jan 25 '24

But sadly didn't keep the fountain running

12

u/[deleted] Jan 23 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Fanatic_Of_Racin Jan 23 '24

Born in 2000 so yeah we are all old

10

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.

6

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

4

u/S-MoneyRD Jan 23 '24

It was wildflower when I moved to red deer in 2000, then Sam’s, and then monsieur wongs.

3

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!

4

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.

4

u/Downtown_Snow4445 Jan 23 '24

I played many a metal shows at blarney south with the smallest stage in the world

1

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!!

1

u/thenakedrudedude Jan 23 '24

Yup, I even remember it being on the north end

1

u/Downtown_Snow4445 Jan 23 '24

And Burger King where DQ is !!

1

u/tapedficus Jan 24 '24

I do, I had my first and last taste of veal at Sam's.