Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Business/Leadership. 288 Pages. 4 Stars
Synopsis:
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 maitais 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.
My Review:
This one was recommended to me, and I was surprised to enjoy it as much as I did. It seems like a mix of a business, leadership, and personal development kind of book.
The book follows stories of the author’s career in the fine dining and service industry and the lessons he’s learned about service and hospitality throughout his career. I found the lessons Guidara learned from mentors and experience thought-provoking. I’ve always been a little intrigued by the food industry, though I know almost nothing about fine dining. But what was really cool about this book is that the lessons are applicable regardless of your industry. And Guidara’s storytelling was engaging and kept me turning pages.
It was so fun to hear the author narrate the book himself because I could hear his enthusiasm and emotion as he told the stories. It made the audiobook feel like a conversation between the author and listener.
A delightful collection of stories that have challenged me to think through how I can be more creative in my hospitality of others through both my personal life and my work. I’d recommend the book for anyone who has a heart to serve others and/or build a business model focused on customer satisfaction.
Content: there is some swearing throughout the book.
On GraceBought
If you enjoy this topic/book, you may also enjoy:
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey, or The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni