Sirio: The Story of My Life and Le Cirque

As times have changed for us all we reasonably could agree that the art of the "cafe society" in the restaurant history is or has been lost. Sirio has presented a text that operators should be studding. Class never goes out of style. Warts and all, a tell all about fine dinning.

This is going to be a very short review.This is one of the best biographies on someone in the restaurant business I have ever read. In this book is some hidden wisdom, and incredible stories on running a highly successful place, along with some of Sirio's favorite recipes. Along the way, we'll learn about many of the 'almost failures' of Sirio and his family. I highly recommend this book.I loved this.

This was a fabulous read. I have recommend it to friends. I now want to eat at one of Sirio's restaurants. I also bought the cookbook by his wife, also entertaining. Learning about how Sirio gained his skills and how he dealt with success is a great inspirational story.

Great read! Very entertaining!

THEY DONT SERVE BALONEY AT LE CIRQUE BUT PARTS OF THIS VERY SLOPPY BOOK ARE BALONEY. ANDRE SURMAIN, ORIGINAL OWNER OF LUTUCE, IS MIS-NAMED "HENRI"; JACOBS, SIRIO'S LAWYER IS MIS DESCRIBED AS REFUGEE AND SOME KIND OF CATNIP FOR THE LADIES, BUT HE WAS A NEW YORKER, HARVARD LAW, AND ABSOLUTELY NEVER A "JEWISH REFUGEE", NOT A LADIES MAN/ FLANEUR, AND SIMPLY A HARD WORKING LAWYER, NOT SOME MILLIONAIRE HIGH FLYER.THERE ARE OTHER WOWSERS, SUCH AS DESCRIPTIONS OF MANY GREAT RESTAURANTS, NOW CLOSED, AS "FAMILY OPERATIONS" WHEN EVERYONE KNEW AND STILL KNOWS THEY WERE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. WE ALSO HAVE THE COMEDY DETAIL OF SOLTNER, OWNER OF LUTUCE, SKIING OVER THE MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN TRAILS OF HIS NATIVE ALSACE-HUH? ALSACE JUST AINT NO SKI AREA. IN FACT , THE GREAT LE CIRQUE STRATEGY ALL ALONG WAS TO GET OUT OF NEW YORK CITY, FOR VEGAS, MEXICO, AND POINTS EAST, TO GET AWAY FROM THE VICIOUS UNION AND LANDLORD PROBLEMS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RUN A BIG AND PROFITABLE RESTAURANT IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN FOR VERY LONG.BECAUSE OF THE FLAT OUT ERRORS ONE MUST WONDER HOW MUCH OF THE REST OF THE STORY IS SIMPLY FICTION.

If this isn't a story about small town boy does good, I don't know what is. I read the book while touring Tuscany, which made it even more special. If you love good food and have an appreciation for what it takes to run a restaurant, then you will love this book. Sirio is truly the ringmaster of the greatest show on earth. The restaurant business either makes you a better person or it gobbles you up and spits you out. Every night is showtime and the next person through the door is your biggest fan or your worst critic. Nobody knows that better than Sirio Maccioni and in the Tuscan hillsides he is practically a national treasure. It seems everybody knows Sirio, or wants to know him and for good reason. Italians love food and they love people. Sirio knows both better than anyone and he has given himself up to a life of entertaining others. Believe it or not, that is a huge sacrifice. Yes, he gets enjoyment from seeing others enjoy themselves but that often comes with huge personal sacrifices and tons of self discipline. He is the best and he gives people the inspiration to be their very best. The restaurant business is unlike any other. From waiters to chefs to busboys and bartenders, every night is showtime and if you put on a sour face you turn off the crowd and crash in a flaming ball of fire.This is not a cookbook, it is a documentary. It is one of the best stories I have ever read about life, living and the pursuit of happiness. This book is about making yourself a better person and how to succeed in one of the toughest businesses in the world. I read a book a week and I don't believe in negative reviews. If you don't have something good to say, don't say it. I have read this book twice and I can't remember doing that very often.We booked a room at the Palace before Christmas and my daughter Jennifer, got to experience Le Cirque. Two weeks later from Rome, we booked the Palace and tried to make reservations at Le Cirque only to find out that it had closed. Let me tell you that I am not alone when I say that the restaurant world is waiting to see where the next greatest show on earth will take place. Sirio can't possibly abandon Manhattan. It is, after all, the greatest stage for the best ringmaster the restaurant business has ever known. I can't wait to buy tickets!!!Ciao BellaWilliam H. Addeo