Welcome to Sam’s Table
At Sam’s Table, vegetables take center stage—supported by thoughtfully selected proteins and guided by the seasons. Our menu, led by Chef Sam Stymest, changes every two weeks based on what local farms and purveyors are growing right now. That means every visit is a little different—and always incredibly fresh. We keep things intimate. Our cozy dining room allows our team to focus on every plate and every guest, creating an experience that’s personal, warm, and unhurried. It feels a bit like dinner at a friend’s house—if your friend happened to be an exceptional chef with a passionate team. We’re here for the curious eaters—the ones who love finding hidden gems and crave meals that are memorable, meaningful, and just a little unexpected. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place.
Meet the Chef
Sam Stymest
Chef Sam is so proud to bring his concept home to Montclair, having grown up here. After graduating from the Hudson County Culinary Arts Institute, he moved to positions at area favorites like Fascino, Corso 98 and Upstairs. Chef Sam then moved on to Manhattan’s Craft Bar and to become Sous Chef at Warner Bros. and Google’s Hemisphere Café as well as the vegetarian Market Café. On Cape Cod, Sam served as the Sous Chef at Ceraldi, a seven-course tasting restaurant in Wellfleet that deeply shaped his thinking about seasonality, precision, and hospitality.
The 2020 shutdown caused Chef Sam to pivot to pop-ups, offering small groups of diners thoughtfully created tasting menus at locations in the NJ/NY metro area, and ultimately in his family’s Montclair backyard. Sam created the feeling of community that satisfies his instinct for hospitality. These evenings were a hit—and this memorable experience of connection is now available to area diners at Sam's Table.
Sous Chef
Josh Pierson
For Chef Josh Pierson, the kitchen has always felt like home. He got his start washing dishes as a teenager, drawn in by the energy, the pace, and the tight-knit community that feels like family.
Since then, Josh has built a career in some of the country’s most demanding and creative kitchens—including Agern, a Michelin-starred Nordic restaurant in NYC, and The Aviary at the Mandarin Oriental under Chef Grant Achatz. He’s also led the team as Executive Chef at Heirloom in Asbury Park, combining steady leadership with a deep love for mentorship and hands-on cooking.
Whether developing menus, training young chefs, or perfecting a plate, Josh brings a quiet intensity and a belief that great food doesn’t need to be fussy—it just needs heart, discipline, and attention to detail. Now based in Keyport, he’s excited to bring that philosophy to Sam’s Table, creating food that feels both elevated and deeply familiar.
The Stymest Family
The Stymest family has lived in Montclair for over 30 years and is proud to be a part of bringing Sam’s Table to life. Sam’s mom Deborah is a practicing psychotherapist in town. She is also the co-owner and General Manager of Sam’s Table. Sam’s dad Brian is a highly-accomplished artist, originally from London, and contributes a lovely selection of his oil paintings to the walls of the restaurant. Sam’s twin brother Luke is also a psychotherapist and has always been available with helpful perspective, support and love as the family has brought Sam’s Table to its new home.