Avi Singh & Rishi Rajpal

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Sama Street was started with a rich passion for food, and the best ingredient, a touch of nostalgia. Co-owners, Avi Singh and Rishi Rajal, have taken their childhood memories of food and combined them to create a unique mix of cuisines. As well as a bangin’ cocktail list. They were kind enough to let us taste some of their favorite dishes and drinks from the menu. The Same Same But Different cocktail will make you drink like a fish, pun intended.

Full name, age, where are you from?

Rishi Rajpal, 32, New Delhi India 

Avi Singh, 28, New Delhi, India

What is your title and where do you work?

Rishi: Co-Owner of Sama Street

Avi: Co-Owner of Sama Street

Was food a big part of your upbringing?

Rishi: Food was a huge part of my upbringing. No matter what was going on during the day, the whole family had to be together for dinner every night at 8 pm. Every Sunday we had brunch with our whole extended family as well. I feel food is a vehicle for conversations and new relationships. Growing up my parents were also huge foodies, we would travel around Asia trying out new cuisines and experiencing new cultures. 

Avi: Food has always been a big part of my life and definitely played an important role in my upbringing. Whether it was helping my mom and grandmom out in the kitchen growing up, or visiting our favorite restaurants as a family, food always seemed to be the center of attention. Whenever we were given the opportunity to travel as a family, too, we would put together a list of restaurants and bars (later in life) to visit in every new city we'd travel to. 

What are your earliest memories of dining out?

Rishi: The earliest memory for me would be coming back home from school and stopping on the way back home at one of the many street vendors in New Delhi. I would get sweet corn roasted on a fire with lemon and chaat masala.

Avi: My earliest memory of dining out was Bellagio Cafe, a Taiwanese restaurant in Shanghai that became a staple for our family while we lived there. I've heard they've become a lot more fancy now, but I still think about their food all the time and hope I can go back and visit soon!
If you could give a piece of advice to someone who wanted to pursue your career, what would it be?

Rishi: This career path is extremely tough but definitely rewarding as well. There will always be some fire that needs to be put out. If you have the passion, determination, and will I feel that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. We didn’t want to go through life with the thought of “what if”. What if we started a cocktail bar, what if we did not? We wanted to follow our dreams and went for it. So my advice would be to follow your dreams and passion. But do the legwork and research to limit the setbacks and failures. Also you’re only as strong as the team behind you. Surround yourself with trustworthy, likeminded, and good people .

Avi: Surround yourself with people who motivate you, challenge you and most importantly, support you. It's a tough industry to be in, but extremely rewarding as well. The people you surround yourself with will hopefully be able to have your back during the difficult times and celebrate with you at the highs. Sama Street would not be what it is today without our team and even more so, their teams of friends, family and loved ones that support them regardless of the long hours, no-weekends off, and love for visiting bars and restaurants on days off!

What do you think working in this industry has taught you?

Rishi: Patience. 

Avi: Be humble. Nobody knows everything, so it's important to ask questions, learn from your peers and always have an open mind. 

What's your favorite drink or dish on the menu?

Rishi: Major Tom & Pork Ribs 

Avi:  Sambie, Pork Pancake 

What is your favorite place to go out and eat at and what are you ordering?

Rishi: My food preferences change a lot but right now I’m in love with WenWen and with what Eric is doing in the kitchen. To be honest, everything on the menu is delicious. Late at night, I'm definitely getting a chopped cheese from the deli. 

Avi:  Have More on Pandara Road in Delhi. I'm getting brain curry with mirchi paratha. Oh, and a Limca. For a cocktail in NYC I'm going to Double Chicken Please - it's impossible to just get 1 there, so I'm getting the Key Lime Pie, Red Eye Gravy and French Toast.

You’re on a desert island, what are the 5 kitchen items you need to run your business?

Rishi: To be honest, if I’m stuck on a desert island I’m only thinking about survival. So knife, lighter, cast iron pan, hand sanitizer, and MSG LOL. 

Avi: Mixing glass, jigger, shaker, barspoon, ice.

Shot by Kenneth Bachor