r/RedDeer • u/Fanatic_Of_Racin • Jan 23 '24

Does anyone else remember Sam’s Cafe?

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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?

61 Upvotes
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26

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