Episode 74 - Mother’s Day Edition: Deborah & Sam Stymest of Sam’s Table

In this special Mother’s Day episode, I sit down with Deborah and Sam Stymest, the mother-and-son duo behind Sam’s Table in Montclair, New Jersey.

What started during COVID as a backyard, socially distanced dining experience for neighbors—seven courses, shared from a distance but deeply connected—quickly became something people truly needed. A way to gather, to feel a sense of normalcy again, and to connect through food.

From there, Sam’s Table evolved into pop-ups across New Jersey and New York City, before finding its home on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.

Today, Sam’s Table is an intimate 26-seat restaurant offering a four-course, monthly seasonal menu, where every detail feels thoughtful and every guest experience feels personal.

Sam, a trained chef, is the creative force behind the menu, while Deborah runs the front of house and business side. What makes this story so special is their relationship—the pride, the trust, and the role reversal, as Deborah shares that in the restaurant, Sam is the boss.

At its core, this episode is about more than a restaurant.

It’s about food, family, and the connections that bring people together.

Follow Sam's Table @samstablenj

Recording Location: Sam's Table Montclair NJ

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