Sammy's Italian Cuisine

If you ever find yourself in Templestowe and have a hankering for some Italian, Sammy's no fuss italian cuisine is awesome value for your precious papers. On a Saturday night this place is buzzing with hungry patrons, almost at full capacity but not a drop of sweat was seen on the staff. staff were like an well oiled engine, barely phased by our table of seventeen ... wait make that eighteen.
The charming little water fountain at the front gives Sammy's it a hint of Rome, a wide and open dining room carried the sounds of laughter and chatter adding to the fun. Sammy's does Italian how it should be unpretentious and plentiful. Six starters and eighteen mains later we were ready to get our party started.
For starters the bruschetta, seasoned well and zesty the chunky tomato cubes were sitting on warm and crisp bread. The quality of tomato's in recent years have dwindled and your average consumers are chomping down TOMATO IMPOSTERS! unless grown organically our little red friends lack the sweetness and flavor. needless to say i was certainly not expecting organic tomatoes and kudos for the acknowledgment of tasteless tomatoes, by having lemon juice, olive oil and salt really brought out the natural flavors of the tomato.
Our food took two trips by three waiters it was like feeding time at the zoo! ravioli, risotto, spaghetti, linguine parmas and lasagnas! yes heaven was right there on our table of eighteen. I always find that Cabonara and dare i say bologonaise has been done to death come on guys live a little! so i opted for Mussels in a white wine, tomato, garlic and chili sauce. The dish was simple... linguine and mussels! but the flavors were bold.
Next up was the Tutto pizza another schmoozy name for 'the lot'. Sammy's twist on the old fav were plump little smoked mussels and the base of the pizza was crisp to perfection. Sammy's had a selection of assorted cakes! individual slices looked as if it could feed three people, or one sugar junkie. however dessert was the last thing on my mind as i was filled to the brim.
Sammy's is casual dining, but there was nothing casual about the service. Staff were loud, witty and on the ball. Water jugs constantly being topped and diligent table clearing even on a busy night, and even near closing time we were not rushed out by eager staff. So how much was it to feed eighteen hungry mouths? $420.00 close to twenty per head! tell me that isn't value.