Walking through the Park Blocks between classes one day in the early 90s I ran into my old friend Nick. We’d been buddies in grade school and high school, but when he went off to OSU and I to Reed, we didn’t stay in touch. Several years later we both happened to wind up at PSU. We had a beer and caught up, and subsequently frequently spent our evenings, at Sam’s Hof Brau.
Sam’s was a divey old-school chain restaurant; cafeteria-style roast beef buffet with a full bar and a pool table. On Sixth, where that damn McDonalds is now. There were no windows then, so no natural light was shed on the sedate subterranean setting.
Dark wainscoting predominated. The tables were tall and all the chairs were bar stool height. The pitchers of beer seemed to be as tall as the tables, and they were cheap. Local drunks and college aged drunks-to-be rubbed shoulders peaceably. Sam’s was to PSU what the Lutz was to Reed.
We never did find a suitable replacement when we got the news they were closing. The Cheerful Tortoise was then, and is now, something completely different. A lot of the regulars moved on up to River City, which has its divey charms, but it’s no Sam’s.
A recent article in the Tribune brought back the memory of Sam’s Hof Brau. It appears there are a few left scattered around the country, but the one in LA is now a strip club and the one in Sacramento is known as Plaza Hof Brau.
I loved that place it was a great place!
Well said Dave!
The second memory I have is that Sam’s would open early. On a cold morning that I didn’t want to spend in the library or my normal quiet space on the 4th floor of Cramer I would hang out in one of the large booths with a $1.00 bowl of oatmeal and a coffee. Perfect breakfast for a broke guy who spent all of his money for a stupid parking pass (before westside max).
Thanks for the memories Dave!
~n
Ah man, I loved that place during my PSU tenure. That and the Jasmine Tree for afternoon cheap drinks. Good memories.
I used to meet a friend there when we’d go to the 5th Avenue Cinema. We called it “Sam’s Half Bra.”
Yep, truly a place to be missed. A fond memory was when friends and I agreed to meet at Sam’s for beers and pool, and one of us ended up at Sam’s billiards in the Hollywood dist.
loved it back in the day. i have spotted the sign in a sign graveyard at the east end of the fremont bridge.
I would like to report that there is a Sam’s like Hof Brau in San Francisco, and it is still there, I believe. It is right on Van Ness and it’s called “Tommy’s Joint,” very prominent – on the right if you are heading south near Geary. Same cafeteria style as Sam’s, fascinating junk hanging from the ceilings, and even a couple old Nickelodeon machines with films from the 1906 Earthquake to view. Good beer bar selection. Last time I was there, they even had the big pickle barrels with the same old pickles and garnish bar. I am guessing there are still similar style places in Milwaukee, WI and perhaps in Michigan. Anyway, if you are in SF, you can have a meal there and relive Sam’s.
I remember Sam’s in Portland in the 80’s. Today in Sacramento the Plaza Hof Brau has changed its name back to Sam’s Hof Brau. Everything is as it should be. No pool table because there’s no place for one. Sam’s is a happening place. Unique and the lines in peak hours are impressive. Ross, the manager, former bartender, is right on top of everything and never forgets a customer or his/her likes. The carvers too, remember you after a few visits and take care of you properly. El Camino and Watt Ave. If you ever get to town, don’t miss it. And you don’t need to take out a loan to dine there either!
Just wanted to say that my husband and I went to this resteraunt back in the 70’s. Our first date and continued to go there several times. Thirty years later its still a wonderful memory for us both! Too bad its gone now.
My older brother and I used to drive down to Portland from Pacific County on the weekends when I was in High School. Portland was the only city I had seen. We’d find something to do all day – drive around, throw the football in the park, go to one of the skating rinks for a couple hours. We ate at Sam’s Hof Brau a couple times. I remember having the Reuben Sandwich. George Bush was debating Michael Dukakis on the television. Then one time I went back and Sam’s was gone.
I’m from Sacramento and Sam’s was my favorite place to eat. I miss it so much. I actually found this site because I was looking to see if there was one up here. Now I am devastated. :-/ Time to take a road trip! I would KILL for some Hof Brau right now.
The Plaza Hof Brau in Sacramento has been bought out by an investment group and renamed Sam’s Hof Brau again. Overall, it’s okay. Portions are large (really too large for an old-timer like me), and Sam’s has a friendly staff. Families come but the older generation makes up the bulk of the business. Prices are already good and seniors get an additional 10% knocked off. It has nearly the same atmosphere at the Portland Sam’s, but I did enjoy stepping down into the restaurant. This one is at street lever, but still dark, lots of dark wood, a great old bar and semi-Victorian atmosphere. Only lacks a painting of Mae West as Diamond Lu hanging above the bar. Pints run $4 and $5 with a $3 happy 4 hours from 3 to 7. Seven days a week.
I went to PSU in ’81-’83 and rotated my lunches between Sam’s, Viking Burger and Ione Plaza which was on the 1st level of an apartment building on the park blocks. LOVED Sams and the meat rotating in the window. I also was breaking into radio and worked at KYTE/KRCK on !st at Lincoln. What was the hotel that was up a block or two on Lincoln? Red Lion?
I started as a meat cutter at Sam’s, in Portland. Todd Hauser was the manager. He made me the bar tender, & I had a great time.
Sam’s was a happening place, & I loved it.
The PSU girls would come in & order blended drinks. With a bar with a couple hundred folks, & 1 bar tender… it was tough to accommodate the blended drinks, but they tipped large.
From great meals, to great drinks, Sam’s was the place for a good time.
Thanks, Todd! Thanks for the music after hours at the apartment loft. It was a time when I was lost in pleasure, drinking, & all debauchery.
I hope you have found a peace, my friend.
If you read this, I just want to say….. Thanks!
Doug
I went to PSU in late seventies – early eighties and lived in Ondine. Sam’s Hof Brau was one of my favourite places to watch Monday Night Football. It’s been about 25 years since I have been back in Portland. Sad to hear that it is no longer there.
I went to PSU in the 1970s. I loved Sam’s Hof Brau. Great food and endless pitchers of beer. I did lots of work at the booths, too. They didn’t bother you. I moved to Los Angeles, but as late as 1990 I’d still drop in at Sam’s while visiting family. A shame that it’s gone.
I worked at KYTE/KB101 in the early 80s and I would walk up to Sam’s at least once a week because they had the best hot roast turkey open face sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy that I had ever had. They always had a turkey roasting on a big spit and would slice the turkey off fresh for each customer. They were delicious! What an iconic place. I was saddened to hear that they had closed down.
Fond memories for sure! Mom would take my sister and I for a special treat. I was very young but can still picture the inside and taste the delicious pastrami. Sad it is gone.?
Yes I remember so well for two yrs working there as a dishwasher and bus boy and prep cook when I wasn’t busy, open the place with my brother the lead cook/ carver ..only thing that I didn’t enjoy was refilling the horseradish containers on each table. Besides refilling the napkins and salt and pepper ,.I was 18 yes old at the time ..