If somebody doesn’t want to cook at home or has more family members than they have room for, then it’s great to be in a city that’s got restaurants that are actually busy on the holidays. – Danny Meyer
Human nature doesn’t change. When enough people are comfortable enough financially, there is going to be human nature that wants to spend more money on better quality and, to some degree, status symbols as well. – Danny Meyer
Restaurants are like kids. You hope you understand their innate gifts, and then you let them realize their aspirations. – Danny Meyer
The part of capitalism that doesn’t work for me is when capitalists make decisions in the way that Adam Smith suggested, which is that as long as you do everything in the interest of the investor, you’re going to actually make the best decisions for all other stakeholders. I don’t happen to agree with that. – Danny Meyer
Diners are upset that restaurants aren’t honoring reservations, and a lot of restaurants help bring this on by overbooking. – Danny Meyer
‘Fine casual’ means taking the cultural priorities that fine dining, at its best, believes in. – Danny Meyer
I’ve been in love with Washington ever since renting my very first apartment there many years ago while working as a Senate intern. – Danny Meyer
There are a zillion variables to a hamburger. What part of the animal went into it. What coarseness. What temperature. – Danny Meyer
Some people are near- or farsighted – I’m thorn-sighted. The thorns on the rose are in really sharp definition for me, the rose petals a little fuzzier. – Danny Meyer
It’s the job of any business owner to be clear about the company’s nonnegotiable core values. They’re the riverbanks that help guide us as we refine and improve on performance and excellence. A lack of riverbanks creates estuaries and cloudy waters that are confusing to navigate. I want a crystal-clear, swiftly flowing stream. – Danny Meyer
I grew up in a reform Jewish family in St. Louis. Our idea of Judaism was no bar mitzvahs and a Christmas tree that had a skirt at the bottom embroidered with the names of my grandparents. – Danny Meyer
In the restaurant business, as opposed to the theater, center orchestra is an 8 P. M. reservation. Orchestra on the side is 7 or 8:30. Mezzanine is 6 and 9. But people don’t take it personally when they call the theater and can’t get what they want. – Danny Meyer
A delicious meal cooked by a colleague for many others nourishes not only the body but also the soul. – Danny Meyer
I think that more and more and more really talented restauranteurs and chefs from the fine dining world are going to try their hand at fine casual. They’re going to say, ‘Why not us?’ – Danny Meyer