Sam's Deli & Grill

The palm trees and sunshine on Sam’s Deli & Grill’s sign tell the story of what you will find inside.

The neighborhood-family restaurant’s courtyard creates an instant backyard party for customers. Within its bright orange and yellow walls are patio furniture for sitting and pop and rock music playing that makes you feel like you are on vacation, even if for a brief moment.

So it makes sense that, come spring weather, the 10-year-old restaurant is popular for birthday parties, graduation parties, or even just lunch break “parties” with groups of coworkers.

Sam’s staff of four welcomes customers with a smile, even though most of them work at the restaurant 14 hours a day.

“The relationships with my customers makes my business so unique,” owner Sam Daibes said. “I’ve known people when they were 3 years old who now are in high school. I’ve experienced people passing away and have seen familiar customers go through divorce, and even though those are not good things, I feel like having such personal relationships is what makes my business so enjoyable.”

The menu at Sam’s is a mix of Mediterranean and American favorites. You will find cheeseburgers and chicken fingers alongside chicken kabobs and falafel, and you can get either with a side of fries or baba ganoush. Alhough Daibes is from Jordan, his favorite menu item is all-American: the Mushroom-Swiss Burger.

Plates of gyro meat, kebabs, kafta or other meats are served with fruit, hummus, wild rice and salad. Gyros and other sandwiches are also popular. And everything comes at a price tag under $11. For dessert, there’s Baklava and other Mediterranean pastries.

Sam’s is also known for its omelets at breakfast time.

Daibes moved to the U.S. from Jordan at age 18 to go to college at Gadsden State Community College, where he studied English. He finished his degree at the University of Alabama-Huntsville before ending up in Homewood, more specifically Edgewood.

There he worked his way to become manager at Moneer’s restaurant, which was located in Sam’s current storefront. When Moneer’s closed, Daibes decided it was time to open his own place.

Business was slow at first, but Daibes never gave up hope. Eventually, Sam’s became the neighborhood staple it is today — and he is quick to credit the community for his success. He could not have done it without those who have been around since day one, he said.

In the future, Sam’s plans to start delivery service for the surrounding area and a menu with daily special items. But likely the friendly staff and the hospitable “backyard” they create should welcome Edgewood residents for decades to come.