First published 2025
Keith McNally built some of New York's most celebrated restaurants, from the groundbreaking Odeon to the bustling Balthazar. His memoir traces an unlikely journey from a working-class London childhood through his brief career as a child actor to his transformative move to New York City. McNally chronicles the creation of his restaurant empire, including Cafe Luxembourg, Nell's, Pastis, Minetta Tavern, and Morandi. He writes candidly about his personal struggles, including multiple marriages, fatherhood, and a life-altering stroke that changed his perspective. The book also explores his youthful adventures on the hippie trail and his unexpected late-career fame as an Instagram personality known for his outspoken posts. McNally's voice is both eloquent and unfiltered as he reflects on the highs and lows of his unconventional path from London's gritty streets to becoming one of Manhattan's most influential restaurateurs.
Genres: biography, american, autobiography, contemporary, memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: candid, intimate, reflective, thought-provoking, witty
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, rags-to-riches, reinvention, unlikely-journey
Setting: London, New York City, Manhattan
Period: 20th century, 21st century
Hardcover
Content warnings: medical-trauma, mental-illness