Danny Meyer Quotes

“The excellence reflex is a natural reaction to fix something that isn't right, or to improve something that could be better. The excellence reflex is rooted in instinct and upbringing, and then constantly honed through awareness, caring and practice. The overarching concern to do the right thing well is something we can't train for. Either it's there or it isn't.”

“Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel. It's that simple, and it's that hard.”

“Make new mistakes every day. Don't waste time repeating the old ones.”

“In the end, what's most meaningful is creating positive, uplifting outcomes for human experiences and human relationships.”

“Hospitality is almost impossible to teach. It's all about hiring the right people.”

“Hospitality is present when something happens for you. It is absent when something happens to you.”

“Constant, gentle pressure is my preferred technique for leadership, guidance, and coaching.”

“Policies are nothing more than guidelines to be broken for the benefit of our guests. We're here to give the guests what they want, period.”

“A great restaurant doesn't distinguish itself by how few mistakes it makes but by how well they handle those mistakes.”

“The only way a company can grow, stay true to its soul, and remain consistently successful is to attract, hire, and keep great people.”

“Good service means never having to ask for anything.”

“In the end, what's most meaningful is creating positive, uplifting outcomes for human experiences and human relationships. Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel. It's that simple, and it's that hard.”

“Every restaurant needs to have a point of view.”

“A delicious meal cooked by a colleague for many others nourishes not only the body but also the soul.”

“I adore going to a very, very fancy restaurant – as long as the spirit is genuine, like it's their pleasure to welcome you.”

“Hospitality exists when you believe that the person on the other side of the transaction is on your side, when you trust that they're on your side. It really starts with the people you work with.”

“Hiring people with a heart for hospitality and selecting the same quality ingredients we'd use at any of our full-service restaurants works just as well in the fine-casual space.”

“You can get a lot of good food in this city. Your favorite restaurant, invariably, is the one that loves you the most.”

“In the 35-year history of Union Square Hospitality Group, this is, without a doubt, the most challenging period any of us has ever encountered as leaders. Reconciling who we are as a people-first company with this brutal moment is nearly impossible.”

“The culture you have in your organization is the sum of all the wanted behaviors that you celebrate minus all the unwanted behaviors that you tolerate.”

“No, Sam, you're wrong. It's our heart, our soul, our mother yeast. Let's move.”