Sambo’s Restaurant

8 recommendations and reviews from 8 people

• Referral from October 2, 2015
  

  Samuel D. asked:

  Sambos Restaurant kids coloring book from the long gone Sambos Restaurant chain. I picked this up from the Sambos Resturant on Burlington Avenue in North Kansas City,Mo. back about 1977. Sambos was a restaurant based on the story of Little Black Sambo—the controversial 1899 children’s book by Helen Bannerman. The name Sambo for the restaurant was a mashup of the names of two of the founders. Sam for Sam Battistine Sr. and Bo for Newell Bonnett. They started in 1957 and grew to 1,117 restaurants in 47 states. in the late 1970s. What had been shrugged off in, say, California, was greeted in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Michigan as racist. Lawsuits were filed against the Sambo’s name. Left leaning NAACP got involved, too. In Rhode Island, the state’s Human Rights Commission decided that "the use of the name ‘Sambo’s’ had the effect of notifying black persons that they were unwelcome at Sambo's restaurants because of their race”; the Urban League of Springfield, Massachusetts, insisted that the name “carrie[d] racial overtones despite what Sambo’s says.”. The crazy thing is the boy in the book and restaurant was based on was a boy of Indian descent. Not black. Not one person of Indian descent filed a lawsuit. The sad fact is, Battistone, Sr. and Bohnett weren’t racists; they were just businessmen who seized on a branding opportunity—then wound up on the wrong side of history. By 1982, most of the restaurants had been sold and the corporation was forced to file for bankruptcy...

  

  Angela W. replied:

  http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

  -1
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• Referral from September 9, 2014
  

  Debbie F. asked:

  Ok....it's not about PG. Whip me with a wet noddle. But Margie Hazdovac asked a good question. Where is the last remaining Sambos? Santa Barbara? San Diego? I know there is one. Where is it?

  

  Allen B. replied:

  http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

  -1
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• Referral from July 7, 2013
  

  Misty K. asked:

  Sambo's restaurant off Walnut!? Great breakfast

  

  Michelle R. replied:

  Still one Sambo's left in the world, and it is the original one. Owned by the grandson of one of the two founders. Come on out to Santa Barbara and enjoy! It's still yummy! :) http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

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• Referral from June 25, 2013
  

  Kim N. asked:

  Does anyone remember Sambo's restaurant next to Gemco?

  

  Tom R. replied:

  The last one left is on the beach in Santa Barbara. I was there a month ago. http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

  

  Ernie F. replied:

  http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

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• Referral from June 3, 2013
  

  Jeannie F. asked:

  There was a restaurant in with the old Price Chopper, near the arcade. What was the name of it? My bandmates used to go there alot after a gig for brefess...

  

  Patsy P. replied:

  http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

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• Referral from January 3, 2013
  

  Roger H. asked:

  Knock my socks off with a restaurant recommendation in Santa Barbara... please.

  

  Gina K. replied:

  http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

  -1
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• Referral from January 3, 2013
  

  Lydia C. asked:

  Does anyone remember a place called Farrells in the Northwest Mall?

  

  Karin B. replied:

  http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

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