Anna's Table in Leominster aims to 'bring people together' with delicious food

Anna’s Table at 16 Brooks Pond Road, off Central Street in Leominster, is a 174-seat restaurant and bar with a dynamic owner and an enterprising culinary team. Since its February opening, the restaurant is fast becoming one of Leominster’s hottest dining destinations.

Owner Sarah Storie of Wilton, N.H., opened the restaurant, located at the newly constructed Brooks Pond Apartment Complex, with an effective vision and mission. Working alongside the executive chef and the restaurant’s teams in front and back of the house, Storie’s approach to the success and growth of the business is about dedication, innovation and sustainability. And, “a deep respect for community.”

The dish:

Storie grew up in the Vernon Hill section of Worcester and graduated from UMass Amherst. While in college, she worked summers on Nantucket before accepting full-time work there. Great Harbor Yacht Club and the Island Kitchen (restaurant and catering) were among businesses that offered her not only professional and managerial development, but also elevated dining experiences and team bonding. Storie was instrumental with the implementation of Island Kitchen’s catering business and also has experience in Palm Beach, Florida’s fine dining industry. She has an MBA from Boston University and is founder of Sarah Storie and Co., which offers a “personalized approach to evaluating and detoxing people’s homes and businesses.”

Storie said she loves Nantucket but knew when it was the right time to leave after 12 years on the island. Living there year-round, people are prepared for peak summer months when its busiest, she said. “It’s usually cold, damp and windy in winter, and you’re pretty much isolated in bad winter,” she said, adding, “I was ready for a change of lifestyle.”

She said she made the decision to open the Leominster restaurant after meeting the developer of Brooks Pond Road complex. Her boyfriend introduced them at a social gathering, she said. The developer talked about how he wanted to have a restaurant inside the complex and later came up with a business proposal, said Storie. “I really thought about it, and well, here I am.”

It may have been fate that brought Storie to Leominster. Anna’s Table is named after Storie’s Polish grandmother, the late Anna Zondrang Mierzejewski of Worcester. “My grandmother always cooked for family,” said Storie, and no one left her home without a doggie bag of food. She was a great person and a wonderful cook.”

The developer first thought about Frank’s Tavern as a name for the restaurant, said Storie. Exchanging family information, the developer and Storie realized that they both had close relatives with first names of Anna and Frank. “Grandmothers, grandfathers, brother, uncle. We couldn’t believe the similarities down the line,” said Storie. “People say it had to be fate that connected us.”

Anna’s Table is on bottom level of one of the apartment buildings located near the entrance to the Brooks Pond Road Complex. There’s a large restaurant sign on the building that you can read from your car. Parking lot and separate entrance for diners.

Inside, innovative and sustainable design ideas help create an eco-friendly restaurant and unique dining experience. Storie implements green practices in the restaurant, including sustainable food sourcing, etc. Atmosphere matters here. The main dining room and bar is off the entrance, connecting with The Tavern and bar dining space. Next, is a private dining room that seats 40.

A Fitchburg native, Executive chef Timothy (Tim) Cormier, describes the restaurant’s food as “elevated American cuisine.” It’s not assigned to a specific culture, he said. Diners can select from a medley of things, such as regional or American-based dishes. Cormier explained how American cuisine really is a melting pot of various culinary traditions. When Cormier first met Storie at a social gathering he prepared steak street tacos. According to Storie, it was a love at first bite experience and she said, “Tim’s hired.” He’s an amazing chef and a good fit for the restaurant, she said.

As for the steak tacos, Cormier said he loves fusion food and has Mexican family roots. Note: The chef’s Chimichurri Steak Tacos are on The Tavern’s lunch menu.

A graduate of the Culinary Arts Program at the former Salter College in West Boylston, Cormier, 33, has experience in various culinary settings, including restaurants and private clubs on the local scene and Boston. He said the scratch cooking method at Anna’s Table means food is prepared with fresh ingredients, no preservatives or additives. The restaurant partners with as many locally owned, family businesses as possible, he said. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options. FYI: Pasta is made on premise and the dinner menu features a Duck Confit Pappardelle.

From raw bar to soups and shareables, mains, sides and desserts, the lunch and dinner menus offer variety without overwhelming guests. Also, the menus are diverse. FYI: Whenever time permits, Cormier steps out of the kitchen and into the dining room to greet guests.

Current restaurant hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The lunch menu is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; The Tavern Fare menu, 11 a.m. to closing; Dinner menu, 4:30 p.m. to closing. Note: The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday. Telephone: (978) 840-2662. There is online ordering. Visit annastableleominster.com for menus.

Storie said the restaurant currently has 54 full and part time employees. In late spring, a seasonal outdoor patio is expected to open. It will accommodate 40 people, she said.

Customers have learned about Anna’s Table in a relatively short time. According to Storie, social media and word-of-mouth marketing has helped lead people to the restaurant. “My mom and Tim’s (Cormier) mom also have helped spread the word,” she said, with Cormier joking about how his mom “tells anyone with a pulse” about Anna’s Table. “I love her,” said Cormier.

Reservations are recommended at Anna’s Table. “Walk-ins are welcome,” said Storie, “but, we can’t guarantee seating, especially on weekends and holidays.” The restaurant plans an Easter brunch.

A new restaurant always builds excitement in a community, said the 31-year-old Storie, who admits she’s not a cook. She likes food, she said, and loves that every day in the restaurant is different. The role as owner is multifaceted, she said, and ultimately, her responsibilities include overseeing the overall operation. She joked about not being in the kitchen. “It’s Tim’s place,” she said.

Leominster is a city that offers diverse dining and Storie is happy to be among independent restaurant owners. Competition is good for a business, she said. “Our goal is to bring people together to enjoy delicious food and great customer service in a pleasant and comfortable environment,” said Storie.

Strong restaurant identity definitely helps make a restaurant successful. It appears Anna’s Table is fast fostering a sense of community.

Helping a colleague in need

When co-workers at Worcester Public Market’sBurger Bah heard about part-timer Samantha Arguin being displaced after a recent house fire, they didn’t think twice about donating.

For the next several weeks, the employees not only have offered to donate tips to help Arguin purchase college supplies and clothing, but also are helping to spread the word about a GoFundMe for her family.

Worcester Public Market vendors also are lending support, according to the market’s executive director Domenic Mercurio. “Individually, they are rallying behind Sam,” he said.

A fire on March 14 at a single-family house, 14 Scott St., Worcester, left Arguin and members of her foster family living in hotels. “Thankfully, no one was at home at the time of the fire,” said the 23-year-old Arguin, a junior at Worcester State University. The cause of the fire that tore through two floors of the house has not yet been determined. Arguin said it may have been accidental, starting outdoors. Wanda Lebron and Luis Estevez co-own the house purchased in 2022. Arguin said Lebron has been her foster “mom” for about seven years.

Arguin was at college when the fire occurred around mid-afternoon. She is focusing on English and Secondary Education at Worcester State. The Student Emergency Fund at the college provided her with limited emergency financial support, she said. According to the university website, the Student Emergency Fund gives students limited financial support when they need assistance with unexpected, unforeseen and unavoidable emergency circumstances that jeopardize their ability to successfully continue in school. The American Red Cross also has helped the family.

The things lost in the fire were just possessions that can be replaced, said Arguin. However, she wonders about family photos stored in her second-floor bedroom. “I hope they all didn’t get ruined,” she said. “Luckily, my laptop was with me at school.”

The day of the fire, Arguin called Drew Day, manager at The Burger Bah, to say she couldn’t make her shift, explaining the circumstances. “Drew was very understanding and told me to take as long as I needed and asked how he could help,” said Arguin. “When co-workers told me what they wanted to do for me, I said it wasn’t necessary and that they didn’t have to do anything. I was OK, but they insisted on helping out. They’re the best.”

At Burger Bar, Arguin and co-workers flip burgers and wait on customers. They are a cheerful and enthusiastic group of young people, eager to help visitors. Note: Restaurant manager Drew Day in 2020 was Iron Chef winner at Worcester’s Best Chef competition. Day at the time was executive chef at The Flying Rhino in Worcester. The competition hasn’t been held since the pandemic and is expected to return in 2025.

Arguin has no idea when family will be able to return home. She tries to take everything in stride and not get too emotional, she said. “I’m just thankful for my family and the support we have received. We’re taking it one step at a time.”

The Worcester Public Market, 160 Green St., currently is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Table Hoppin': Anna's Table making a buzz in the Leominster food scene