Sam's Table

“Another fabulous meal at Sam’s Table. I became smitten with Sam’s burger on Instagram: it exceeded already high expectations! Cooked to medium rare perfection and each element was complementary & perfectly textured. For starters we had the blood pudding (first time) with black garlic ketchup & apple relish. It was delicious; the little cubes of fat inside melted in your mouth. We also ordered the Mexican Street corn which captured the essence of the real deal. Full & happy. Sorry no pictures 😢.”

“My wife and I have lived in Cedar Grove, a town adjacent to Montclair, for over 20 years and we've often frequented the restaurants there. Since the summer of 2025, Sam's Table has been at the top of our list for restaurants to go to when we want to go to a nice restaurant. On those occasions our goal is to have delicious food that is thoughtfully prepared using interesting ingredients. I suppose one could characterize us as foodies (though I'm a pescatarian, which limits the range of foods I eat). We don't like to go to restaurants where we can barely hear each other because either the music is loud or the clientele is too loud. Sam's Table seats 24 people and they play contemporary music that stays in the background. Each time we've eaten there Deborah, Sam's mom, has warmly greeted us, making us feel at home, and the wait staff always has been attentive and demure. Sam serves a pre-fix menu that rotates once a month. He has a flare for vegetables and mushrooms and often includes seafood on the menu so that there have been times when I haven't needed any substitutions. When I have needed a substitution, the dish that he's provided has been just as carefully prepared as the dish on the menu (and delicious). While we generally don't order desserts when we eat out, since dessert is included, we've always eaten the desserts at Sam's and they are out of this world delicious. The last time that we ate there he served home-made french fry ice-cream served with a dollop of caviar. The combination was sensational and capped off a memorable meal.”

“Sam’s Table is a welcome addition to the Montclair dining scene. The May menu was very delicious and creative. The fluke crudo was particularly enjoyable with a bite of strawberry on the fish. Sunchoke and banana unique and creative combination. We both enjoyed the wagyu, buttery and flavorful. Make sure to try the berries and sauce and the chocolate trifle- both wonderful! It was my birthday and there was a card on the table as we were seated signed by the staff, a nice touch.”

“From the moment we walked in, the service team set the tone for an exceptional evening. Warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, every member of the staff made us feel like honored guests rather than just another reservation. Chef Sam is nothing short of gifted. Not only is his culinary talent extraordinary, but his kindness and humility truly stand out. He personally came to our table to wish me well, a gesture that made the evening feel even more special and memorable. It’s rare to find a chef of such caliber who is also so gracious and present. Although Deborah, his mom, wasn’t there the evening we dined, I had the pleasure of speaking with her over the phone beforehand. She took her time walking me through the elaborate tasting veg menu with such patience and care. Her warmth and pride in what they’ve created were unmistakable, and that thoughtful conversation made us even more excited for the experience. And the food—simply spectacular. Each course was more creative and unique than the last. The flavors were layered, thoughtful, and artfully presented. Every dish felt like a revelation, building on the one before it in both complexity and delight. By the end of the meal, we were genuinely in awe. Sam’s Table delivers an experience that is refined, imaginative, and heartfelt. This is fine dining elevated—where exceptional cuisine meets extraordinary hospitality. We cannot wait to return!”

“I've been wanting to go to this restaurant since it opened and we finally made it. We looked at the chef's tasting but didn't like the lack of choices so decided to go on Sunday for the a la carte. The space is lovely and cozy. They had a nice table for us as we were celebrating our anniversary. We brought a nice bottle of wine and started with the beets and the salsify. The beets were super smokey which was fine but after a couple of bites it was very overwhelming as it took over so the other flavors. The salad needed more seasoning as well as some citrus. The salsify was very well done and it was delicious! My husband ordered the cod which was good but spectacular and I ordered the duck which was quite underwhelming. It needed seasoning and the fat wasn't rendered as well so the skin wasn't very crispy. Considering the prices, I would have expected more. We didn't bother with dessert.”