Arrived at 11:58 AM
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Food to Table at 12:17 PM
SAM & GREG’S PIZZERIA / GELATERIA | We decided to eat at Sam & Greg’s for lunch on Friday because we knew they are planning to relocate soon (End of January, 2019) and we wanted to visit them at their original location one more time before they moved.
We remember when Sam & Greg’s first opened and, to us, their existence in Huntsville sparked a change in the atmosphere, welcoming growth, friendliness, and hospitality to the area. It’s almost as if Sam & Greg’s gave permission, an invitation, or hope to small businesses as a whole to come grow in Huntsville.
This iconic Huntsville restaurant has been on the north side of the square for over a decade and we were all so sad to hear that they were going to have to relocate, but we are very thankful that they found another location, still on the square (116 South Side Square, Huntsville, AL 35801).
The Hipster
Because of the recent scare that they may have to shut down, I was glad to have a chance to celebrate Sam & Greg’s relocating and staying open by visiting them this Friday. Parking is a bit of a hassle in any downtown area, but we eventually found a parking spot nearby the square. The restaurant has some tables and chairs outside for outdoor dining. While the downtown area of Huntsville is historic, and Sam and Greg’s is decorated to fit a homey dinner feel, the place is still very clean and well-kept.
WHAT SHE ATE:
8" Southwestern Pizza - $8.75
While I normally do not eat pizza with many toppings, today I branched out and ate the Southwestern pizza, that had many toppings. The pizza, while I have had more flavorful ones, was pretty tasty. I ordered it without the olives, but it still had so many toppings that I had to eat it with a fork and knife. This restaurant is great for a local, tasty, “grab food and chill” spot and is a MUST for anyone looking for a funky, family-owned, uniquely-Huntsville restaurant experience.
The Boss
Parking on the square can be tricky sometimes, but since it was so close to Christmas on this day, it was pretty deserted and we found a parking space on the side of the street, very close to the restaurant. Entering the pizzeria, we crowded the entrance with nine of us in our party. The staff wasn’t overly friendly, but they were very efficient, taking our order quickly and getting us seated immediately. We requested to sit upstairs, and one of the staff went straight up to arrange seating for the nine of us. We were pretty impressed with the service overall!
WHAT SHE ATE:
8" Buffalo Chicken Pizza - $8.75
I ordered the 8″ Buffalo Chicken Pizza and it was the best Buff Chick pizza I have EVER HAD. The sauce was just spicy enough for me to need to sip my water regularly, but not hot enough for burn off all of my taste buds. The pizza crust was cooked perfectly, not too crunchy, not too soft, and NOT burned, which seems to be the trend at other local pizza places around here. I don’t usually rate things 5 stars, but this pizza could not be improved on!
The Engineer
This was by far my favorite place so far that we have visited! The food took only 15 minutes to prepare, and it was for 9 people! They had great attitudes while serving us, and made us feel very welcome even though we were a large group coming during their lunch rush. The restaurant had plenty of space to have us, and it was well-kept. This was a great experience that I would encourage anyone to partake in!
WHAT HE ATE:
10" Deluxe Pizza - $12.55
The food quality was outstanding! They serve mostly pizzas, and I got the 10” Deluxe Pizza. It was great in flavor, and was baked to perfection! I had a wonderful eating experience, and would definitely say this was one of my favorite restaurants in Huntsville!
The Detective
I’ve been to Sam and Greg’s several times before. It’s a Huntsville staple! Today we went to their Huntsville location downtown; they have two locations (Huntsville and Madison). It’s a small store front that flows back into a nice seating area and a couple tables on the second floor. They have colorful decor and an old rustic feel to the room. They serve Gelato along with their DELICIOUS pizza.
WHAT HE ATE:
10" Meatlover's Pizza - $12.55
I ordered a 10″ Meat Lovers pizza, which, to be honest, is my go-to pizza for most days. It was covered in perfectly melted mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, ham, sausage, and bacon. One of the most delicious things you’ll ever put in your mouth. We also all shared a cup of strawberry Gelato which was SO fresh tasting and was very refreshing.
Mr. Clearwater
I’m a firm believer in two things, that Aaron Rodgers is the GOAT, and pizza. Sam and Greg’s is a great place to grab a slice and relax. The establishment provides an open environment with plenty of seating and a lots of interesting things to look at. Don’t wanna talk to that certain friend or family member? Sam and Greg’s has you covered, with several easy-to-see TV’s set up around the restaurant. Staff are very eager to help and get you through the line fairly quickly.
WHAT HE ATE:
16" Feta Cheese/Pesto Sauce Pizza - $14.95
The food definitely measured up to the environment. The feta cheese pizza with pesto sauce that I ordered was cooked to perfection. The pizza was large enough to fill me up with a few leftover slices.
For dessert, I ordered a strawberry sorbet. My only advice for Sam, and Greg while we’re at it, is to stick to pizza. The sorbet tasted off and left a bad taste in my mouth. Certainly worth checking out this local pizzeria/gelateria if you’re in town.
Wise Pat
WHAT HE ATE:
Shared 16" Feta Cheese/Pesto Sauce Pizza with Mr. Clearwater (see above)
Imagine the perfect relationship. More than one coexisting in the same circle. Each complimenting strengths and shadowing weaknesses. Well this relationship is the Pesto Margarita pizza at Sam and Greg’s. Pesto, olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella (added feta cheese) all on freshly baked dough. Its great when you eat it hot or cold. I want to say I do not like the Sweet and Spicy BBQ @ S&G’s; too many flavors and the chicken is dry, in my opinion. This is only to legitimize the actual greatness of this Pesto Pizza.
We had the honor of having lunch with Beth Ridgeway from the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. She was kind enough to meet with us and tell us all about the important role of the Visitors Bureau in Huntsville. We are looking forward to partnering with the Bureau in 2019 on some new blog posts! Stay tuned!
The Guest
The last time I ate at Sam and Greg’s was for quick bite of Gelato on a hot day meeting friends downtown. I was excited to eat at the eclectic restaurant one more time before they move to the Northside of the Courthouse Square in 2019.
The parking is always hit or miss around the courthouse, but with the Clinton Row Parking garage you are just a short block from the restaurant. The inside is small and cozy so hopefully they can alleviate some of the crowding issues with the move. The staff was kind and accommodating to our large group of people that showed up and moved tables so that everyone could sit together. While there was some confusion over who had what plate and if there was enough silverware, the workers were fantastic. For so many orders, it seemed like the food arrived fairly quickly, and before long, the entire group was chowing down.
WHAT SHE ATE:
The Meatlover's Stromboli - $10.25
I decided to opt for the Stromboli because I knew I would take it home to eat later. It is enough for two people to share or for one person to heat up at night after watching Top Chef. All pizza can have a tendency to dry out if you heat it up, but this Stromboli (think calzone) is great for popping it back in the oven or microwave. At the restaurant, the cheese was stringy, the meat was aplenty, and the crust was a crispy golden brown. As we left, and I put the leftovers in my to go box I noticed the bottom had gotten a little soggy, but I was okay with it since I knew it would go back in the oven. My opinion is to get a pizza if you share with friends or a Stromboli if you are brining it home.
Give them a visit!
Sam & Greg’s Pizzeria/Gelateria
119 North Side Square
Huntsville, AL 35801