The Restaurateur
The Wall Street Journal-Bits & Bites — “Scenes From a Restaurant Empire”
Anyone who’s fascinated by the restaurant industry, entrepreneurs, New York, architecture, business strategy or documentaries (i.e., everyone) should watch the DVD of filmmaker Roger Sherman’s “The Restaurateur,” pronto. Shot mostly in 1998, the movie follows restaurant owner Danny Meyer and takes viewers through the myriad steps necessary to open not one but two of acclaimed culinary pit stops—Eleven Madison Park and Tabla. Footage taken 12 years later finds Mr. Meyer at the helm of, respectively, a hard-to-get-into restaurant serving some of the country’s most talked about cuisine and a restaurant that, little did he know at the time, is on the brink of shuttering.
“Sherman’s film is a breath of fresh air in this world of reality television and food-tertainment. It’s an honest portrayal of Danny Meyer’s struggles and successes, a must see for documentary lovers, entrepreneurs, and foodies.”
Blanca Valbuena FriendsEat.com
“Danny Meyer’s story is absolutely inspiring and Roger Sherman has done an amazing job showing us what it REALLY takes to pull off a world class restaurant. I see myself in his struggles and challenges. The RESTAURATEUR shows us the real behind-the-scenes drama of opening a restaurant. It’s a must-see!”
John Besh, chef, restaurateur
“I have seen the film three times and I still wonder if they will make the opening…”
Christopher Hirsheimer, Canal House Cooking
WINNER
Best Documentary – Food
WINNER Double Feature Film Festival Best Documentary – Domestic
The RESTAURATEUR, produced and directed by Roger Sherman, is an intimate, cinema verité film about Danny Meyer, one of America’s preeminent restaurant owners. The one-hour film asks: How does Danny Meyer do it?
Synopsis: The film opens in the dining room of Eleven Madison Park, December 9, 2009. Meyer confides to the camera: “After Tabla and Eleven Madison Park opened, I was pretty convinced I’d made one of the worst professional mistakes of my life.” Fade to a vast, concrete space, January 22, 1998. A much younger-looking Meyer enters from the shadows, “This will be Eleven Madison Park, which we hope will be a great restaurant.” Tom Colicchio, chef of Gramercy Tavern, also younger looking (with hair), enters the site; Meyer gives him a tour of his hopes and dreams.
We follow the restaurateur and his team for eleven months as they experience gut-wrenching construction delays, miss alarming deadlines, and fire the chef of Eleven Madison Park. We why the space became two restaurants, how a jazz concert gave Meyer the idea for Tabla, the first fine dining Indian-inspired restaurant in the U.S. Our cameras visit Tabla’s chef Floyd Cardoz in his tiny home kitchen where he creates his now classic watermelon curry. We’re there as chef Kerry Heffernan takes over EMP just weeks before opening.
Back to the present, Tabla received three stars in The New York Times; EMP gets two middling two-star reviews first from Ruth Reichl and later from Frank Bruni. Danny tell us, “I arrived at the restaurant to find the chef and GM literally crying. I realized it was time for a change.” A countrywide search brings in Daniel Humm from Campton Place in San Francisco. He explains how the restaurant was transformed: “We doubled the staff.” They received first three, then four stars from The New York Times, one of only six restaurants to be so honored.
Danny Meyer bares all in this portrait. Watching him and his inner circle, we witness first-hand how incredibly difficult it is to create a world-class restaurant. The RESTAURATEUR is nothing like those reality shows. This is real.
ROGER SHERMAN
Producer, Director, Cinematographer
ANNA JACOBSEN
Editor
CARLOS VALDEZ
Original Music
EVAN ANTHONY
Color Correct
Frame:Runner
TOM PAUL
Sound Mix
Gigantic Post
Available on DVD and online MARCH 29th, from First Run Features
I wish it was available on Netflix. I guess not enough people asked for it. So, ask, and keep asking, and get all your friends to ask.
Thanks!
(HIT SUBMIT TOO SOON, SORRY)
What I wanted to ask was — any idea when that might happen and anything Netflix subscribers (those of us left) can do to get them to stream it?
@Roger — you mentioned that it would be available for streaming on Netflix. It isn’t (at not now).
@Roger
so sad to hear that there won’t be any international release. Guess I have to catch it by downloading only
Thanks for replying, best of luck with your movie. May it win more awards
yes, it’s available at amazon.co.uk. here’s the link: http://amzn.to/gG1xhK
thanks for asking.
I really hope they would have an international release for the movie where there would be a Chinese and even Spanish subtitles. We will be looking forward to this. Though, I can understand its language, it would be good to have it sub-titled since their are many folks their who would appreciate it if their language is available since they cannot understand English that good.
Sounds like a great movie. Is it available at Amazon.co.uk or just Amazon.com?
Thanks
I’m afraid there is no plans right now for international release. It’s not available in any foreign languages.
Will there be an international release of the movie?
Also I like to know if the dvd of the movie has Portuguese sub titles or Spanish sub titles.
it’s not yet available for downloading, if you and everyone would go to Netflix and put it in your Queue (if you get DVD’s), they’ll make it available.
thanks for asking.
Is this film free to download? I want to watch this film. thanks for the post
The RESTAURATEUR DVD is available now and will streaming on Netflix and other venues on March 29th.
I hope you like it.
Hey is there anyway i can get a copy of this dvd or view it online or in manhattan?
Hi Michael, thanks for your note.
The film will be released on March 29th. It’s already visible on Amazon.
And, we’ve put you on the list.
i would like to be put on the notification list for future showings and the dvd release of the Restaurateur. Looking forward to seeing it. thanks for making it.
best regards,
michael brais
looking forward to seeing this film
Yes, of course. the next screening is January 11th at the 92nd Street Y, 8:00PM
a Q&A with Danny Meyer to follow.
The film will be released on DVD on March 29th.
It’s already available for pre-sale on Amazon.com
can I get on the mailing list as well? my coworkers and I have been waiting to see the Doc!
Thank you again Roger for the current updates. Looking forward to the release date.
The film will be released on DVD by First Run Features around February. I’ve put you on the mailing list and check back for more news and screenings. thanks!
How can I obtain a copy of this film or actually see the film.
I live in Southern California
hi Lynne,
the next screenings are at The Big Apple Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas 11/2-6. after that it will be shown at 92nd
Street Y on Januaryo 11th. Danny and I will do a Q&A afterwards. I’ve also put you on our list for DVD release and other screenings.
Best,
Roger
hi Boone,
thanks for your query. the next screenings are at The Big Apple Film
Festival at Tribeca Cinemas 11/2-6. after that it will be shown at 92nd
Street Y on Januaryo 11th. Danny and I will do a Q&A afterwards. I’ve also
put you on our list for DVD release and other screenings.
Best,
Roger
Hi, worked on the project for Peter Bentel as an intern. Would love to know when the film is available for viewing. Thank you in advance.
I would love to see the film. I have been a “Danny Meyer admirer-er” for a long time.
the film will be available, hopefully in February. Anyone who wants to be on the notification list can leave a note here, or send an email to sherman.pictures@florentinefilms.com. I’ve put you on the list. thanks!
How can I obtain a copy of this film or actually see the film.
I live in Southern California