Setting the Table
Written by Danny Meyer
Narrated by Danny Meyer
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
The bestselling business book from award-winning restauranteur Danny Meyer, of Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Shake Shack
Seventy-five percent of all new restaurant ventures fail, and of those that do stick around, only a few become icons. Danny Meyer started Union Square Cafe when he was 27, with a good idea and hopeful investors. He is now the co-owner of a restaurant empire. How did he do it? How did he beat the odds in one of the toughest trades around? In this landmark book, Danny shares the lessons he learned developing the dynamic philosophy he calls Enlightened Hospitality. The tenets of that philosophy, which emphasize strong in-house relationships as well as customer satisfaction, are applicable to anyone who works in any business. Whether you are a manager, an executive, or a waiter, Danny’s story and philosophy will help you become more effective and productive, while deepening your understanding and appreciation of a job well done.
Setting the Table is landmark a motivational work from one of our era’s most gifted and insightful business leaders.
Danny Meyer
Danny Meyer, a native of St. Louis, opened his first restaurant, Union Square Cafe, in 1985 when he was twenty-seven, and went on to found the Union Square Hospitality Group, which includes some of New York City's most acclaimed restaurants: Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Maialino, North End Grill, Blue Smoke, and Shake Shack, as well as Jazz Standard, Union Square Events, and Hospitality Quotient. Danny, his restaurants, and his chefs have earned an unprecedented twenty-five James Beard Awards. Danny's groundbreaking business book, Setting the Table, was a New York Times bestseller, and he has coauthored two cookbooks with his business partner, Chef Michael Romano. Danny lives in New York with his wife and children. Michael Romano joined Union Square Cafe in 1988, preparing his unique style of American cuisine with an Italian soul. In 1993, Michael became Danny Meyer's partner. Under Michael's leadership, Union Square Cafe has been ranked Most Popular in New York City Zagat surveys for a record seven years. The restaurant also received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant of the Year. Michael has coauthored two cookbooks with Danny Meyer, The Union Square Cafe Cookbook and Second Helpings. He is the recipient of numerous nominations and awards, including the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef in New York City in 2001, and in 2000, he was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America.
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Reviews for Setting the Table
84 ratings12 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I've had this on my shelf for I don't know how long and finally started to read it a few weeks ago. It's a quick and fast read that took this long only because I didn't have steady reading time on vacation. I think I was especially curious to read this now due to the new Shake Shack opening on my corner, although I don't think I've been to any of his restaurants. I work at NYC & Company, which Meyer references frequently throughout the book in the context of his work after 9/11 and for the restaurant committee. In fact, I think I got his book at the office.I like how Meyer's family history shaped his leadership and business goals - how they helped him to be who he is. While there's a lot of focus on the opening of Union Sq Cafe, it's nice to see the other issues that went into Tabla, Eleven Madison Park, etc. all of which are familiar on the NYC restaurant landscape. Due to the time that had passed between the restaurant openings and the book, Meyer had tme to reflect on the challenges and therefore I think his writing on them was different than it would have been if this book was written immediately after any of the openings. I'm also interested in Meyer's philosophy on hospitality as it connects to my own work in the industry. A great read.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learned so much about running a restaurant. Hospitality is key. Always hire people who have high EQ. So they bring and hire similar people. Don't jump onto every opportunity. Be a restaurant where people come because it is a good place to come. Don't compromise on standards. Always try to give the best food to the customer. Wow- so many tips. I always wanted to open a coffee shop. I will surely review these tips again. Really awesome book to learn about running restaurants and hospitality.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The best book I've listened to on hospitality so far.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Corporate glossy version of the restaurant tradeThis is pretty light on any of the blood and guts behind the scenes of the restaurant business but does have its points in terms of the psychology of customer interaction and the selection of employees for your business. Meyer's 51 percent rule of hiring people who bring a greater share of emotional skills vs a lower share of technical skills (which can in most cases be taught and learned) is something of wider use beyond the food business. For a more grittier, albeit fictionalized, view of the Union Square Café group see Stephanie Danler's "Sweetbitter."
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing book. As an aspiring restauranteur myself, Danny has changed a lot of my perspectives on hospitality and has inspired me to learn even more!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A valuable read for any aspiring restauranteur or entrepreneur. I especially appreciated his focus on attracting and retaining quality employees and community involvement/philanthropy.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5For person from hospitality industry this book was extremely informative
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I started reading this book based on a VC's recommendation and express admiration of Danny Meyer. I loved the storytelling and arc with which Danny leads. As I've seen with books from other entrepreneurs, this book mixes a personal story, beliefs, and best practices they followed in their business. Inevitably all leaders focus on management which even Danny does in this book. Some exceptional concepts that I took away from this book are finding the north star of a business, in Danny's case it was "Enlightened hospitality". Gems like "If you'd like to grow then learn to let go", the principle of "Whoever wrote the rule" and "Write the last chapter of the story" will remain etched in my mind forever. Needless to say, having dined in Gramercy Tavern, it was a thrill to read the story of its origin. A must-read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a Great book. Thanks for the Hospitality lesson!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing advice on customer service! A must-read for anyone in the retail or customer service business
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Decently entertaining story. Not as much structure and detail about management as I expected/wanted. Kind of a rambling memoir. Somewhat boring narration with a lot of level monotone.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Close to zero detailed inside information about opening and running restaurants. Instead, it seemed more like a big picture sales pitch to potential investors.
1 person found this helpful