Sahm’s now open Downtown in Gibson Building

Since 1986, the folks at Sahm’s Restaurant have been forging neighborhood relationships at their

Sahm’s features a patio, as well as an ample parking lot which is completely available to diners after 5 p.m.

founding location in Fishers. Now, they want to establish the same kind of relationship with Downtown dwellers.

“We want to get the word out that everything we serve is homemade,” said Mandy Jensen, general manager of the newly opened Sahm’s Tavern and Café, located in the historic Gibson Building at the corner of Michigan and Capitol streets.

She should know. She grew up going to Sahm’s in Fishers with her family; her fiancé manages another Sahm’s outlet. And, with bar co-managers Ross Boyer and Marcus Bethea, she wants to develop a family-style relationship with the Downtown neighborhoods.

“We’re known for good service,” she said, adding that Sahm’s is also known for its high-quality steaks and ribs. Available choices include Filet Mignon and New York Strip, along with Steak New Orleans, four beef tenderloin medallions dusted with a Cajun rub, blackened in an iron skillet and served over toast points topped with a roasted red pepper cilantro cream sauce and portabellas sautéed in fresh garlic Worcestershire butter.

Seafood, including Tempura Shrimp and Tilapia Parmesan, are also house specialties. A wide variety of sandwiches are available, as well, including the popular Meatloaf Melt. Soups, salads, pasta and stir fry dishes also dot the extensive menu.

Dinner is served in the Tavern, which is open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

Breakfast and lunch are available in the other half of the business, the Café, which is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Breakfast items include basic egg dishes, a Breakfast Burrito, pancakes and French Toast, as well as skillet breakfasts, Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florentine.

The Café’s lunch menu includes a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, soups, and specialties such as Fish and Chips, and Southwest Chicken Quesadilla.

The Café also offers a weekend brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, featuring a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options.

The Tavern has about 60 seats, while the Café seats about 50 people. There is also patio seating for another 60 adjacent to the spacious parking lot – an amenity Boyer said isn’t available to many Downtown restaurants. “Plus, we have one of the best views Downtown,” he observed.

Sahm’s is the first retail tenant in the restored Gibson Building, constructed in 1917 as an automotive manufacturing facility. The orignal owner, Cecil Gibson, initially used the building to store, distribute and market Willys-Overland cars. He sold Hupmobiles and Empire Motor Cars from a showroom in the Gibson Building.

The building was restored to its current condition by OneAmerica, which is headquartered a block south and uses upper levels of the Gibson Building for office space.