Sam's Bar & Grill is an oft overlooked pub-style restaurant in Kensington. Located next to Molly Malone's, it has developed somewhat of a reputation for being a dive. Recent attempts to change this include new staff and a newly renovated decor.
Enjoy the formal introduction? Truth is, Sam's was my local watering hole for just over 3 years after first moving to Calgary. The location is huge, which is great for big groups and on busy nights. Unfortunately it's also the downfall, as 30 people in a location this big tends to look sparse. The food is reasonably priced and consistently good.
I mentioned the renovation in my introduction. The reno was massive, both structurally and aesthetically, so if you haven't visited it since the reno I would strongly recommend taking another look. The decor is much nicer - classier - and there have been some improvements in the type of customer frequenting the bar.
One more great advantage of Sam's is the lack of violence. Having spent several (SEVERAL) nights in Kensington across multiple bars, things can get out of hand very quickly. Sam's is fortunate in that they don't have doormen, and ultimately don't need it. All said, Sam's is a great place to share some drinks and foods with a few friends, or many.
Note: Delivery is provided via Waiters En Route (http://www.waitersenroute.ca/web/index.php).