Sam’s Table in Montclair is going back to its roots for a single night.
On Sunday, July 26, Chef Sam Stymest will reunite with mentor Chef Damon Wise for an intimate Chef’s Tasting Dinner held in the Stymest family’s backyard—the same backyard where Sam’s Table began as a neighborhood pop-up during the pandemic, long before I named it one of New Jersey’s top restaurants last year.
A Long-Awaited Reunion
Before he ever ran his own restaurant, Stymest cooked under Wise at Tom Colicchio’s acclaimed Craft in New York City. The two have gone on to build distinct culinary careers since.
For one night, they’re cooking side by side once again—back in the same backyard where Sam’s Table’s story first took shape.
Sam’s Table opened in downtown Montclair in September 2025 and wasted little time building a cult following, centered around Stymest’s seasonal four-course tasting menus.
Wise brings more than three decades in the industry to the table. Beyond his run at Craft, he’s helmed acclaimed restaurants across New York City and picked up praise from The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Food & Wine throughout his lengthy career. His most recent ventures brought him to Montclair, heading Pineapple Express and Oso Felipe.
Diners can expect a six-course menu that puts Wise’s celebrated American barbecue next to Stymest’s refined, seasonal spin on contemporary American cooking.
“Before we ever imagined opening a restaurant, we welcomed guests into our backyard,” said Sam’s Table co-owner Deborah Stymest. “Inviting Damon to cook with Sam in that space feels like coming full circle. It’s a celebration of friendship, mentorship, and the community that our family has called home for over 30 years.”
Dinner starts Sunday, July 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Stymest family’s home in Montclair. Seating is extremely limited—reservations are required. Tickets run $165 per person and include the full six-course tasting menu.
It’s shaping up to be a true one-of-a-kind meal. Reservations can be made here.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
