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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
funny
reflective
fast-paced
medium-paced
As a server, I was hoping to learn how the gears turn for high caliber restaurants. And this book does include that; along with stories of workplace misconduct, a nauseating amount of celebrity namedropping, heavy drug usage, and perpetual bankruptcy (despite a lucrative cashflow). It is a straightforward memoir of an addiction-prone schmoozer partyboy, for better or worse. I've had coworkers with similar traits, most (though not all) crash out within months. Michael's apparent success points to some special sauce; a mix of competence, connections and luck.
Michael does a solid job of expressing busy shifts and impossible guests. Perhaps too good a job, I felt transported back to work and in the weeds.
I don't regret reading Your Table Is Ready, but I don't think I liked it either.
Michael does a solid job of expressing busy shifts and impossible guests. Perhaps too good a job, I felt transported back to work and in the weeds.
I don't regret reading Your Table Is Ready, but I don't think I liked it either.
DNF at 50%. The only thing this maitre d has written about so far is about his constant partying. He’s the kind of guy that says “Bro, last night was a movie”. Too insufferable to finish.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
A book that is 50% name dropping and 40% adjectives. The other 10% is kind of interesting nuggets about how fine dining restaurants operate.
It’s a good read with lovey anecdotes, stories of famous people and true to life incidents
If you want to understand hotel industry, service , how a restaurant works you should read this. If you plan to run a restaurant then this is a must read.
A unique book with personal story of the author interspersed makes an interesting read or a listen as was in my case
If you want to understand hotel industry, service , how a restaurant works you should read this. If you plan to run a restaurant then this is a must read.
A unique book with personal story of the author interspersed makes an interesting read or a listen as was in my case
Closer to 3.75 but honestly, I enjoyed it. If you’re like/are interested in the service industry or New York, you’ll probably enjoy it. It’s really just listening to someone tell old work stories that are delightfully entertaining, albeit crude.
This book stirred up a lot of fond and at times frustrating memories of serving high end clientele. I worked in this world during a different era, but some things never change. I appreciated how well Michael captured the reality that it is always about people, people who bring their own gifts, fears, anxieties, and even traumas into every room, often without realizing it.
The sections about his mob associated past and upbringing could have been trimmed down a bit, in my opinion. However, the way he painted the restaurant world, its intoxicating atmosphere, its food, its drinks, and the vibrant personalities that make it all come alive, was spot on. He was honest in portraying a very specific world at a very specific time, and he made it clear that the experiences and temptations that shaped his journey were unique and not meant for everyone.
The sections about his mob associated past and upbringing could have been trimmed down a bit, in my opinion. However, the way he painted the restaurant world, its intoxicating atmosphere, its food, its drinks, and the vibrant personalities that make it all come alive, was spot on. He was honest in portraying a very specific world at a very specific time, and he made it clear that the experiences and temptations that shaped his journey were unique and not meant for everyone.