Sambo's Tavern

Todd Burrows, the third-generation owner of Sambo’s Tavern in Leipsic, is a self-admitted “man of few words.” But ask him about his grandfather, Sam “Sambo” Burrows — the tavern’s founder and namesake — and you can bet he has plenty to share. 
 

“My grandfather, Samuel C. Burrows, started Sambo’s in 1953. He was from a farming background, then he started crabbing,” Burrows says. “He bought the building and said, ‘I see opportunity here.’”

In the 73 years since it began, what started as a one-room crab house has grown into a landmark, beloved by locals and tourists alike. The proof of its popularity adorns the tavern’s wood-paneled walls — world maps, covered in markers, each tagging the hometown of hundreds of customers who have stopped to enjoy a meal over the years. Aside from the addition of the front dining room and bar area in the 1960s, Burrows says that not much has changed about Sambo’s since its early days. Back then, his grandfather would spend all day on the water in his self-built boat — tending 150 crab pots by hand — and return at the end of the day with his catch to cook for that evening’s dinner rush. Today, visitors who are lucky enough to be seated in Sambo’s dining room overlooking the Leipsic river and surrounding marsh may catch a glimpse of local watermen tying up to the dock outside, eager to sell their day’s haul to the restaurant.

According to Burrows, much of Sambo’s decades-long success stems from following the tried-and-true path set forth by his grandfather — including maintaining a consistently satisfying menu. As you can imagine, the spotlight shines brightest on the tavern’s blue crabs — set apart from their other local counterparts by their secret “spicy-salty” seasoning created by Sam himself. There's also no shortage of other delicious options available, including a variety of surf and turf dishes, to satiate the palate of any diner. 
 

“People keep coming back because of consistency,” Burrows says. “We do things the old way. It’s a lot of hard work, but in the end it's worth it. We don’t cut corners, and we don't go away from quality.”

While Sambo’s is known for its welcoming, down-home atmosphere, families with younger members would do well to remember it is still a tavern — meaning no one under 21 is permitted to enter. 
 

“My grandfather said it is not a place for kids,” Burrows says. “It’s a place for people who want to come in and enjoy hot crabs and cold beer.”
 

For 41 years, Sambo’s had long been run by Todd’s parents and Co-op members Ike and Elva Burrows. Todd — along with his cousin Jason Nickerson — have taken over the reins, with the intent to carry on the family business built on the hard work of his grandfather and parents.
 

“I’ve followed in the footsteps of a great man,” Burrows says. “I want people to have a great time, and I want them to come back every night.”

Read more stories from this year's edition of Delaware Living magazine here.