Less a gossipy tell-all, and more of a collection of war stories about working in the restaurant business. I imagine that this book could be quite entertaining and relatable to anyone who’s worked in a restaurant, but since that’s not me, I found the book a bit insider-y and repetitive. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited for a tell-all of the rich and famous from the POV of a maitre d'hotel. And while there are glimpses of these stories this is really more of a memoir about a man's career ladder climbing while sprinkling in what seemed to be the same story told with new embellishments and descriptions each time. I found it to be quite boring and repetitive.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my digital advance review copy!

This is the FOH answer to Bourdain’s BOH Kitchen Confidential, and would honestly be a great companion read to get an idea of what restaurant life is like.

Cecchi-Azzolina is a storyteller, as so many people in the industry are, and I felt like I was being regaled with tales of days gone by over a cold beer and a cigarette. Cecchi’s resume is impressive, and it was really cool to get an insider’s perspective on some of the most well-known restaurants in New York.

Does he wax lyrical about an industry life filled with booze, drugs, and sex? Yes. Could it be off-putting to some readers? Sure. Is it an accurate representation of industry life? You’ll only know if you’ve lived it, but this lady says yes.

I was looking forward to this book to read about instances where he may have served famous people, or have funny or extreme events occur. The book, to me, was simply the story of how he rose through the restaurant industry. While well written, it did not hold my interest at all.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion here is solely my own.

This is a must read for any restaurant goer, especially those living or dining in New York. Michael Cecchi-Azzolina provides a vibrant look at his life helping manage famous restaurants. From Tennessee Williams to the current pandemic, Michael provides anecdotal stories that shine a light on the customer as well as the workings of great restaurants.

Best yet, Cecchi-Azzolina provides a fascinating tale of his upbringing in old New York. I loved every bit of this story and hope you will too. If you love a great restaurant, celebrity gossip, or just want to learn a bit more about the machinations of a popular restaurant, Your Table Is Ready is for you! #STMartinsPress #YourTableIsReady!

A raw and rollicking romp into the unwieldy underbelly of NYC's top restaurants. The author spent decades working tireless hours in some of the city's finest establishments, ultimately becoming Maître d' at the world famous, Michelin-Star rated Le Coucou. Cecchi-Azzolina is a gifted storyteller and his memoir is sprinkled with entertaining and wildly outrageous personal anecdotes. Tales of egotists, addicts, A-listers and absolute assholes.

I especially love the touching epilogue where he reminisces on his career and those who impacted his journey, all while sitting in a NYC restaurant, post-pandemic, with his eldest daughter.

I really enjoyed this book!!! It was a great read from someone that was in the restaurant business. Entertaining read and holds your interest. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

Not what I thought it was, which is my fault. I was expecting more of a tell-all about customers and what really goes on behind the scenes and this was not what this book was. It was still interesting, his rise in the restaurant industry was cool to see progress, but I found a lot of problems with the pacing and also how the author talked about certain things, especially women.

Was very excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint. I love reading about the restaurant industry and the behind the scenes details. This is a great read.

❤️🥂🍾❤️🍾🥂❤️🍾🥂❤️🍾🥂
Review: YOUR TABLE IS READY, Tales of a New York City Maître D’
Author: Michael Checchi-Azzolina
Publisher: St. Martins
Genre: Memoir
Pub Date: 06 Dec 22 - Fab Foodie Gift! Pre-order for the foodies in your life, they will love it!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This memoir is the raw and raucous true tale of Maître D’ Michael Checchi-Azzolina - from his humble beginnings of a corner soda shop boy (in a mob family!) to the “Front of House” star in New York City’s most elite dining establishments. It’s a fun, entertaining, and truly fascinating read. Anyone who enjoys Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential will certainly dive right in with knife and fork and gleefully devour Your Table Is Ready.
🍾🥂
The author is completely up front about the fact that much of the salaciousness (truly!) of the 80s and 90s included in the book was basically just telling it like it was. It’s quite an eye opener. F bombs galore, drugs, alcohol, sex, on and on it goes… Name dropping to the extreme, which usually gets on my nerves, but he gets a major pass because it’s all just so fabulously entertaining.
🍾🥂
A wish: Photos of some of the restaurants would really make this book perfect, especially for gifting and display. I found pics of his gorgeous restaurants on Pinterest (of course!) and included a few here on my Instagram review. At every turn the architecture and design is sumptuous and breathtakingly gorgeous. Oh, what a life!
Now, if I can just get a reservation!

Thank you NetGalley, Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this deliciously fabulous ARC in exchange for my honest and wholly independent review.

A delight for anyone who enjoys going out for a great meal-from the other side!

The funny, poignant, un-put-down-able story of one maitre d’.hotel. I’ll never dine out without thinking of this book.

Your Table is Ready was a fascinating book full of captivating stories and people in the life of the author. Life in the restaurant business takes on a new image after reading about all the ins and outs of his career. The author's personal life was also intriguing from his unwitting connection to the mob and the encounters with celebrities. This is a well written and enjoyable memoir. I think this is a interesting snapshot of the changes in culture that have occurred in his lifetime and I appreciate the honesty with which he approached the writing.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the eArc. This is my honest review.

Loved reading about behind the scenes about restaurants in New York City from a career maitre d'hotel. It was eye opening and kind of funny at times.

Another restaurant memoir. As I was reading Michael Cecchi-Azzolina's new book, I was racking my brain to remember if I read it already. But, It has yet to be published so I went back and found a similar book I read called "Waiter Rant" (Thanks for the Tip) by Stephen Dublanica.
Both these books delve into times long before Me Too along with the debouchery, drugs, sex, drinking, mad chef, surly customers, rich and packed out privileged guests.

Nothing new here but give it a read to pass the time.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was just an fun easy read. The author tells his stories of what goes on behind the scenes in some high profile restaurants. in New York. He definitely tells it like it is the bad, the good and everything else in-between.. This definitely is one of those books where you just want to keep reading one more chapter before you go to bed.

This reminded me of a Bourdain like memoir - only this not from a chef but from a NYC maitre’d - a light east read -

Thanks to the publisher for early access to this book. This was a blast to read, giving a behind the scenes view of someone who ascended the ranks of the NY restaurant industry. A great "front of house" companion to books written about the kitchen, like Heat and Kitchen Confidential.

If you have ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in the NYC restaurant industry, this is your chance to find out. The author gives an honest look at the characters and personalities in the front of the restaurant and behind kitchen door.

Definitely not like any other memoir I have read.
This is an entertaining, yet enlightening read. It opens your eyes up to different aspects of the restaurant industry you may not have too much knowledge about.
Although plenty of name dropping, it keeps your attention and leaves you wanting more.

A decades-spanning look at life in high-end New York restaurants. The author worked his way up the ranks to become maître d’hotel in several of the city's prestige eateries. There's name dropping galore - which is exactly what you want in a book about Big Apple restaurants - as well as an affectionate recollection of the author's outer borough childhood. Cecchi-Azzolina also readily acknowledges the changes in the hospitality industry by acknowledging the offensive behavior common when he started in the business. The book's second half is stronger than the first, as Cecchi-Azzolina gets into the nuts and bolts of how restaurants are run and offers valuable hints for getting those good tables. Lots of fun.