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Lately, I’ve been coming across the sentence “offline is the new luxury”, on my Instagram feed and billboards around LA. With social media being an integral part of our lives, promoting your business on Instagram should be a no-brainer.
However, Scotty Cantino and Ben Jones wanted to change that narrative with Sam’s Place, a newly opened wine bar in Highland Park with a stellar selection of wines, good food, and most importantly, an inviting atmosphere.
I came across Sam’s Place thanks to Emily Wilson’s newsletter, The Angel. Some of the information was taken from the article. Although I don’t drink, the lack of social media piqued my interest in seeing what it was all about.
Scotty and Ben were musicians who met on tour and became good friends. Before opening the bar, the two of them worked in restaurants and bars across LA. On their days off, their hangouts usually revolved around Ben’s homemade food. Scotty said:
“Ben would just make food, and I ended up bringing a lot of wine, and then we’d just hang out in the backyard and barbecue, drink wine, and invite friends over.”
For the wines, the article said: “Cantino selects wines made without additives, mostly by winemakers who farm their own grapes. His rotating list leans lighter-bodied, discludes heavy reds, and makes bottles a great value so that the bar wastes less.”
Their complete absence on social media proves that the power of word-of-mouth still prevails. In the short time they’ve been open, Ben and Scotty haven’t had a slow night and according to the interview, they’ve had multiple repeated customers. Scotty said: “I’d rather be tasting wine or polishing a glass than have to update social media or reply to DMs.”
A week before my visit, I was driving around Highland Park at night and pulled over to take a quick peek at Sam’s Place. I was so curious! After I parked, I walked to the business front. The space was dimly lit by candles and bustling with people inside – so I couldn’t really see anything. The patio was also very busy. If you’re looking to have a more relaxing time, I suggest going during the day.
The following week, I went back on a balmy October Friday afternoon. When I walked in, it felt as if I had taken a time machine to California in the 70s. Think Fleetwood Mac, Topanga Canyon and Big Sur.
The warm wood that permeated the restaurant was highlighted by the slanting sun rays entering through the window – which made the space more inviting. According to the article, the church pews are from a mission in Ventura, and the intricate light fixtures from Etsy. Scotty and Ben mentioned that they took inspiration from Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn to design the space. They didn’t want the interior to look brand new but rather lived-in and something that looked like it had been there for a while.
Scotty welcomed me and prompted me to take a seat at the bar, where four solo females were either reading or journaling while sipping a glass of wine and enjoying a dish. In addition to feeling like I had just stepped back in time, the girl I sat next to was reading Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1968) by Joan Didion — California’s quintessential author of the mid-20th century.
The menu ranges between $6 and $16, with the $32 steak being the most expensive item. I read a Google review praising the Japanese Sweet Potatoes and the Chicken Wings, but there were no pictures. So I asked Scotty, to which he agreed that those were good choices that would satisfy me. The Japanese Sweet Potatoes are their most popular menu item. If you’re someone like me who has to know what the food looks like before going to a restaurant, ordering at Sam’s Place will be tricky. The business doesn’t even have a Yelp account.
Update: Sam’s Place is now available on Yelp
Japanese Sweet Potatoes
The charred sweet potatoes have grated green shatta (a Middle Eastern chili paste) and a thick spread of tahini sauce underneath with a drizzle of olive oil. The potatoes were piping hot, very crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I’ve never had Japanese sweet potatoes before, but the flavor was very reminiscent of a chestnut. They were sweet with nutty undertones.
Unfortunately, the green chili was too spicy for my taste. It’s a medium heat, so beware if you’re sensitive to spicy foods. When I sat down, there was a couple sitting next to me who ordered them, but I didn’t see the green chili, so I guess you can order them without. The creamy tahini sauce minimally helped counteract the spiciness.
Chicken Wings
While I took the first bite, I took a quick glance at the menu. I was a little horrified when I read the breakdown of the chicken wings: “warm spices” and “Aji Amarillo” (pepper). More spice? Dang!
At this point, my taste buds were too sore from the green chili, so I could faintly taste the seasoning on the skin. The meat inside was tender, but the wings were small — so after three bites on each of them, I was done. There is no graceful way to eat chicken wings, which made me stand out among the people who were gracefully sipping on their wines while eating off their plates in a poised manner.
As you can see in the pictures, the wings were on the smaller side. I looked at the menu and asked Scott about the Rosette Plate, which seemed more filling than the Herb Salad.
Rosette plate
I should have ordered this instead of the chicken wings! Every dish at Sam’s Place is made to order by Ben, and this one took the longest to make. The cornichon butter was spectacular: buttery, herbal, and salty with a distinct pickled taste that perfectly paired with the toasted sourdough bread. The Rosette plate was the dish I repeatedly saw the most, so make sure you order it! The dry-cured saucisson was savory, meaty and rich in flavor. For this, Ben sources the meat from Lowry Hills Provision in Minneapolis. Based on the complex and rich flavor, I could tell that it was high quality.
After I was done, Scotty offered me a box for the leftovers.
Overall thoughts
Ben said that the menu was inspired by the get-togethers with Scotty and their friends. The menu is not that extensive, but the few offerings are very well executed. The Herb Salad is another dish I saw coming out of the kitchen repeatedly. It looked really good! A couple that was sitting on the pews was enjoying this salad alongside the Rosette Plate.
Over time, many places start losing their quality, but Scotty and Ben strive for consistency in their service and food. For the music, most places curate their playlist through Spotify, but Scotty and Ben play their favorite music the good old-fashioned way: cassette tapes.
Walking into Sam’s Place feels like you’re walking into someone’s house in woodsy California. There are two more cooks that I saw helping Ben in the back, but the front-of-house is solely operated by Scotty.
I could tell the two of them have worked in hospitality for a long time because they have amazing customer service skills. Ben himself came out of the kitchen to set up my silverware, and Scotty checked in on me to see if I needed anything, while also welcoming walk-ins. On the patio, there was a mix of couples, families, and groups of friends catching up.
Whenever I go to a restaurant, I rarely go back unless something about it really sticks with me. At Sam’s Place, the laid-back atmosphere, Scotty and Ben’s warm hospitality and good food were solid reasons that made me want to go back! If you go on your own like I did, Sam’s Place is also a great place to people-watch.
Infatuation LA recently published a short write-up about Sam’s Place, and on top of the article, there was a small headline that read, “Top Saved Spot This Month”. So expect to see quite an interesting crowd!
Cantino said: “I always feel like I want the food that’s at a restaurant, but I don’t want any of the other stuff. I want to be able to stand in the corner and have a drink. I want to be able to invite my friend to come meet me mid-meal. I want to stay after sometimes and have a beer.”
Sam’s Place
Address: 5530 Monte Vista St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 4PM – 11PM
No phone number, no reservations, no social media
What do you think?