Unreasonable Hospitality
National Bestseller
Essential lessons in hospitality for every business, from the former co-owner of legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park.
Will Guidara was twenty-six when he took the helm of Eleven Madison Park, a struggling two-star brasserie that had never quite lived up to its majestic room. Eleven years later, EMP was named the best restaurant in the world.
How did Guidara pull off this unprecedented transformation? Radical reinvention, a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room—and memorable, over-the-top, bespoke hospitality. Guidara’s team surprised a family who had never seen snow with a magical sledding trip to Central Park after their dinner; they filled a private dining room with sand, complete with mai-tais and beach chairs, to console a couple with a cancelled vacation. And his hospitality extended beyond those dining at the restaurant to his own team, who learned to deliver praise and criticism with intention; why the answer to some of the most pernicious business dilemmas is to give more—not less; and the magic that can happen when a busser starts thinking like an owner.
Today, every business can choose to be a hospitality business—and we can all transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences. Featuring sparkling stories of his journey through restaurants, with the industry’s most famous players like Daniel Boulud and Danny Meyer, Guidara urges us all to find the magic in what we do—for ourselves, the people we work with, and the people we serve.
Reviews
An amazing read through a journey that would apply to anyone who works with the public. Throughly enjoyable and highly recommend!
By Pearl Guy
Anyone else here because of S2 of The Bear?
By FitIVIX
I have never worked in the restaurant business, I sell building materials and build houses, so I had a hard time understanding how this book would correlate. This may very well be the best sales and business book I have ever read!!
By haVoc Sales Partners
Thanks for showing us the way!
By Babybehr1991
Where do I even begin? This book is as revolutionary as the leaders featured in it and the restaurants they built. Will has done something special here. Not one page is wasted, and not one secret is left unshared. I’m deeply grateful for this.
By Ericdj