Danny Meyer

You can't let challenges argue you out of doing what you know is the right thing. ”

You wouldn't have the same art on the walls at every restaurant or the same waiter uniforms. Neither should you have the same service style at every restaurant. ”

Service is how product is delivered - the technical aspect. ”

Good service means never having to ask for anything. ”

Restaurants are like kids. You hope you understand their innate gifts, and then you let them realize their aspirations. ”

The most important thing you can do is make the distinction between customer service and guest hospitality. You need both things to thrive, but they are completely different. ”

Be aware of textural elements throughout a party, like silverware, stemware, and linens. But the biggest element is metaphorical: it's your own touch. How are you making people feel? ”

Hospitality is present when something happens for you. It is absent when something happens to you. Those two simple prepositions - for and to - express it all. ”

You cannot open a major New York restaurant today and not be aware that showbiz will play a role. ”

What you can do is present existing flavors in a fresh way, in a fresh context. ”