Drew Nieporent on Opening Nobu, Working with Robert De Niro and Lessons from 40 Years in Restaurants

Legendary restaurateur Drew Nieporent sits down to discuss his incredible 40+ year career in the restaurant industry, from opening the iconic Nobu with Robert De Niro and Nobu Matsuhisa to building Tribeca Grill, Montrachet, and over 40 other restaurants. Drew shares lessons on leadership, navigating celebrity partnerships, surviving 9/11 and COVID, and what it really takes to succeed in the restaurant business.Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!TIMESTAMPS:1:12 - Muhammad Ali3:03 - On Being Difficult4:28 - On Being A Leader5:56 - The Dynamic of the front and back of a restaurant9:08 - Growing up in Restaurants11:20 - Working on Cruise Ship Restaurants15:04 - The Job of a Restaurateur18:20 - Opening First Restaurant: Montrachet19:47 - Getting 3 Stars22:25 - Restaurant Reviews in 202527:22 - The Art of Naming Restaurants31:21 - Opening Nobu33:23 - Doing Business with Robert De Niro34:01 - Nelson Mandela & Celebrities at Tribeca Grill35:12 - When to say No to starting a Restaurant38:15 - Opening Restaurants Abroad39:53 - Nobu Opening in London41:48 - Selecting Wines for your Restaurants42:21 - Opening Crush Wine Store45:40 - Navigating 9/11 and COVID48:21 - Selling Burgers at Madison Square Garden49:33 - Writing the book51:02 - Rapid-Fire Food Questions57:27 - What Should be in a Restaurateur's toolkit?📖 Get Drew's new book "I'm Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches"https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/drew-nieporent/im-not-trying-to-be-difficult/9781668651896/?lens=grand-central-publishing📚 Start or join Book Clubs on Bookum Apphttps://www.bookumapp.comThis Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs. Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!