Sammy's Woodfired Pizza

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza website

7160 N. Durango Drive Las Vegas, NV 89149 (702) 365-7777

So it's Mother's Day and due to some illness with the kids, we decided to order out for some fancy foodstuffs. We finally decided that maybe we'd give Sammy's another shot after writing them off several years ago due to not being too impressed with our experience.

After perusing the website (the kind of website with annoying music that doesn't give you an option to turn it off) we were excited to discover that Sammy's had FISH TACOS! Specifically Mahi Mahi tacos. Described as follows: Crispy Mahi Mahi Tacos with creamy tomato cilantro dressing, lime, guacamole and salsa with your choice of flour or corn tortillas.

Well I couldn't pass up this opportunity to further my explorations of the plane of existence that only fish tacos are privileged to permanently inhabit. But I digress. Let me tell you about my experience...

So after getting a busy signal a few times, I was finally lucky enough to get through only to wait about fifteen rings while worrying that they might be closed on Sunday following in the footsteps of their fellow local eateries. Upon eventually answering the phone, I was quick to order 2 orders of the Mahi tacos to go. My mind reeled momentarily when they asked if I wanted flour or corn, as this was a to-go order and I am no stranger to the short life span of a corn tortilla, when combined with fish and other assorted edibles. Yet I had to see....I had to know... so 2 corn and 2 flour, if you please. I was then asked if I wanted coleslaw or french fries with those. I know, right? Not exactly what I expected to hear, and honestly sent a sliver of dread up my spine for fear of my making a huge mistake. I then continued with ordering a couple more things off of the menu irrelevant to my literary endeavor, was told it would be ready in twenty minutes and bid adieu.

Twenty minutes later, I find myself looking for a place to park. Fast forward to standing in the bustling lobby, anxiously awaiting the beet and arugula salad while my fish tacos (2 on corn tortillas) threaten to decompose by the minute in the huge clear plastic container that they mock me from. Salad's here! See ya....time to haul my ass home!

Aside from the environmentally catastrophic presentation, these things looked pretty good. It was also obvious that these were, for the most part, of the "Do It Yourself" variety. Fair enough. If they put salsa and guacamole in there and no chips to speak of, then apparently the condiments are intended for the tacos themselves. I felt inclined to oblige. I did notice something was missing though. The advertised "creamy tomato cilantro dressing". Bummer. I was somewhat looking forward to what they might have had to offer in that category. Needless to say, this posed a situation for the fish. Because now there was no hiding under some fancy sauce.

I started with the corn tortilla taco first, due to the fact that the disintegration had already begun and because I didn't want to be forced to use a fork (For a taco? Bastards. Never.)

Every bite of this particular taco was delicious yet awkward. The corn tortilla barely made it. I found it hard to focus on the particulars of this one due to all my thought processes going to keeping that thing together. On to the flour tortilla taco...

Guacamole, pico de gallo, red cabbage, a squeeze of a juicy lime, a crunchy perfectly cooked piece of Mahi Mahi and a not too crispy, not too soggy flour tortilla equaled easy to handle deliciousness in every bite.

Well done Sammy's, well done.

Although how can I rate this first experience with this establishment's fish tacos when an apparent crucial ingredient, that was so proudly included in it's description, was neglected to be added to these tacos at all? I believe I have to review these again, which I don't think I'd mind. Although with being so impressed with the sauce-less tacos, how will I enjoy them when they do decide to add sauce? Will the sauce ruin them? Or will they just take those things to the next level? I'm not sure I like being in this position. Either way, part 2 of Sammy's will most likely be shorter.

I would definitely recommend these for the people who like a fish taco with breaded fish. The corn tortillas would be sublime for dine-in, but for take-out I would recommended the flour. Actually, I don't think I'll ever order corn tortillas again for my fish tacos if I'm ordering to-go from anywhere. It's just not worth the trouble to me.

Crispy Mahi Mahi Tacos (2) - $9.95

Ingredients: Battered Mahi Mahi, creamy tomato cilantro dressing(?), lime (on the side. I got 1 single wedge), guacamole and salsa (more like pico de gallo) with your choice of flour or corn tortillas

3 thumbs up for the sauce less version...stay tuned for the review of the sauced version. Really good.

PART TWO!

Well I had a chance to go back today for some Fish Tacos again only to be met with a bit of a different experience.

This time I ordered just 2 orders of fish tacos for my wife and I while on my way home from work...I opted for flour tortillas and, oh yeah, coleslaw. Cause what else goes better with fish tacos than cole slaw? Am I right?

Anyway...We get there and I send in the wife this time to let her get a glimpse of outside the car for a bit. She deserved it. So she gets back in the car after a few minutes and explains to me that she mentioned the "creamy tomato cilantro dressing" to the person at the register and they mentioned that it is usually put on the side to let the customer administer it at their leisure. Like last time right? Yeah. No. Apparently after the register guy moves on to the next customer she said she noticed it ON the tacos....Classic. OK....back to the house...

So I open these huge, clear plastic containers up to see my tacos and I don't see any sauce on those things...well there was...but maybe a teaspoon...barely visible...ok...maybe it's too powerful to apply in large amounts. I get it. So I put on the guac, the tomato salsa and the lime...wait...there wasn't any lime...what. the. fuck. Seriously? A guy can't win for losin' here...Anyway, I like lime on my fish tacos and I usually have some on hand, but what am I paying for here?

Verdict: Officially deemed inconsistent. Which will cause me to not hit this place up so much in the future, because I likes me my consistency. The tacos were great, but c'mon people. when you give someone something to look forward to...deliver on it. And there's no difference whether they remember or forget the "creamy tomato cilantro dressing"....there was so little of that stuff it didn't make a difference....And being a non-smoker/non-drinker, don't question my trustworthy taste buds. I would be able to tell if it mattered.

Anyway, there you have it...