This venerable barbecue establishment on E. 12th Street literally went up in flames last spring, but local and community support helped rebuild it and Sam's reopened for business early this summer. The smoky, spicy beef, chicken, sausage and mutton are as tasty ever - as delicious at two in the afternoon as they are at two in the morning. Unfortunately, the memorabilia - photos of longtime Sam's fan Stevie Ray Vaughan and other musical luminaries, auto-graphed paper plates, posters, laid in a crazy patchwork schematic across the joint's walls - burned to a crisp. Though the new place is bright and inviting, the memory of the old restaurant still brings a smile. But then, Sam's soul was always in its ribs ...
