Setting the Table

The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business

By: Danny Meyer

Narrated by: Danny Meyer

The bestselling business book from award-winning restauranteur Danny Meyer, of Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Shake Shack

Seventy-five percent of all new restaurant ventures fail, and of those that do stick around, only a few become icons. Danny Meyer started Union Square Cafe when he was 27, with a good idea and hopeful investors. He is now the co-owner of a restaurant empire. How did he do it? How did he beat the odds in one of the toughest trades around? In this landmark book, Danny shares the lessons he learned developing the dynamic philosophy he calls Enlightened Hospitality. The tenets of that philosophy, which emphasize strong in-house relationships as well as customer satisfaction, are applicable to anyone who works in any business. Whether you are a manager, an executive, or a waiter, Danny’s story and philosophy will help you become more effective and productive, while deepening your understanding and appreciation of a job well done.

Setting the Table is landmark a motivational work from one of our era’s most gifted and insightful business leaders.

Excellent and insightful!

As a member of the hospitality and business communities, I sincerely feel a 5-star review is totally appropriate.

This book was well written, well spoken, and very insightful from both a business and hospitality standpoint. It was great getting to know Danny AND his companies.

It made me want to work for his company!

Keep it up!

inspirational but lacking technicality.

i found this book more like a story with theory, but not having much of pratical guidence- wich i was hoping for.
still, a good book with solid theory.

A fantastic way to approach business!

Would you consider the audio edition of Setting the Table to be better than the print version?

Yes! Danny Meyer's voice allows you to hear the words delivered with power and finesse!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Setting the Table?

His deeply personal stories that allow the reader to connect with him as the author & narrator! With his descriptions and candor he makes you want to not only be a better employee... but to have your good employees be great & that the reader can follow his same principles to create those great employees in ALL points of the biz world!

Have you listened to any of Danny Meyer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His realization that it was time to let go of Eleven Madison Park... a restaurant that he loved dearly after all of the time it took to get it off the ground. Although he was selling it to (essentially) the exec chef, he knew he had to do it & that he could continue to build & create amazing restaurants in the future!

Any additional comments?

Amazing book & great read!

A whole new appreciation for hospitality

Having worked in the service industry for nearly my whole working life, I have had many companies and managers preach hospitality to me and while I have always known of its importance, this book transformed my view of it in a way where I want to apply it to all my relationships and to my life generally. This was a required read for a job I’m starting in a Michelin star restaurant that embodies all the qualities and values this book speaks on. It’s no wonder why the existing staff is so happy to work where they do and why they are so discerning about who to bring on with them. Striving for excellence has always intimidated me but having read this book, it feels so much more attainable and something I’m excited to, and feel capable of achieving.
I hope in the future I have the privilege at dining at any of Mr. Meyer’s restaurants. I’d love to see his visions and accomplishments with my own eyes.

Insightful

Insightful and inspiring. Loved it! Hopefully he has written more books! I will gladly read them.