Will Guidara’s book Unreasonable Hospitality popularized the ideal of exceeding guest expectations in fine dining but has inadvertently set impractical standards for many restaurants, especially smaller businesses struggling post-pandemic. Industry veteran Adam Reiner argues that this ethos places unreasonable pressure on hospitality workers and promotes a skewed expectation that may harm restaurant sustainability; instead, he advocates for embracing “reasonable hospitality” that values consistent, heartfelt service without demanding extraordinary gestures. The article highlights the need for a balanced hospitality model acknowledging both guest satisfaction and worker well-being amid operational and economic challenges.
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/will-guidara-unreasonable-hospitality-criticism