by Will Guidara
First published 2022
Will Guidara took control of Eleven Madison Park at twenty-six, inheriting a struggling two-star brasserie that disappointed despite its stunning space. Over eleven years, he rebuilt the restaurant from the ground up through radical changes and extraordinary hospitality. His team created unforgettable moments: arranging a sledding trip in Central Park for a family who had never experienced snow, transforming a private dining room into a beach complete with sand and mai-tais for guests with a canceled vacation. Guidara forged a true partnership between kitchen and dining room while extending his hospitality philosophy to his own staff. He teaches how to give meaningful praise and criticism, why giving more rather than less solves business problems, and how to inspire every employee to think like an owner. Drawing from his experiences with industry leaders like Daniel Boulud and Danny Meyer, Guidara shows how any business can become a hospitality business, turning routine transactions into memorable experiences that serve customers, employees, and owners alike.
Genres: business, leadership, non-fiction
Vibes: inspirational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rags-to-riches, underdog-story
Setting: Eleven Madison Park, Central Park, New York
288 pages · Hardcover · Optimism Press