Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World

The Twin Towers, Windows on the World, and the Rebirth of New York

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
An "engrossing" history of the restaurant atop the World Trade Center "that ruled the New York City skyline from April 1976 until September 11, 2001" (Booklist, starred review).
In the 1970s, New York City was plagued by crime, filth, and an ineffective government. The city was falling apart, and even the newly constructed World Trade Center threatened to be a fiasco. But in April 1976, a quarter-mile up on the 107th floor of the North Tower, a new restaurant called Windows on the World opened its doors—a glittering sign that New York wasn't done just yet.
In The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World, journalist Tom Roston tells the complete history of this incredible restaurant, from its stunning $14-million opening to 9/11 and its tragic end. There are stories of the people behind it, such as Joe Baum, the celebrated restaurateur, who was said to be the only man who could outspend an unlimited budget; the well-tipped waiters; and the cavalcade of famous guests as well as everyday people celebrating the key moments in their lives. Roston also charts the changes in American food, from baroque and theatrical to locally sourced and organic. Built on nearly 150 original interviews, The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World is the story of New York City's restaurant culture and the quintessential American drive to succeed. 
"Roston also digs deeply into the history of New York restaurants, and how Windows on the World was shaped by the politics and social conditions of its era." —The New York Times
"The city's premier celebration venue, deeply woven into its social, culinary and business fabrics, deserved a proper history. Roston delivers it with power, detail, humor and heartbreak to spare." ?New York Post
"A rich, complex account." ?Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      Starred review from August 1, 2019
      A detailed, inspiring, and horrifying account of the restaurant that sat atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Former Premiere senior editor Roston (I Lost It at the Video Store: A Filmmakers' Oral History of a Vanished Era, 2015) returns with a rich, complex account of Windows on the World, a story the author begins by discussing the many immigrants who worked there--later, he includes one of Donald Trump's many clueless comments about 9/11. However, politics is much in the background; in the foreground are the many stories of the founders of the restaurant, the local politics (e.g., dealing with the Port Authority, the organization that controlled the site), key workers in the restaurant, the amenities, and the menus. He also chronicles the fundamental changes that occurred after the Feb. 26, 1993, truck-bomb episode. Informed by more than 125 interviews, the text is most impressive for its accounts of the human relationships involved, both the friendships and the fiery competitions among some of the managers. Emerging above all is Joe Baum, the restaurateur, who, writes Roston, "could electrify or freeze a room, depending on his mood." Baum and his colleagues faced significant challenges in the space. For example, they were not allowed to use natural gas and had to use electricity (which most all disdained) and a charcoal pit, and they were dealing with a rough economy in the mid-1970s. Eventually, however, the restaurant grossed enormous sums and became a New York City institution. Roston concludes with some very painful chapters about 9/11: the day before, the day of, the days after. All who were in the restaurant died that day; there was no escape from the floors above the impact. As the author grimly reminds us, many on the doomed upper floors jumped, preferring that to incineration. Stories of creation and destruction told in an informed and compassionate voice.

      COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Library Journal

      October 1, 2019

      Seasoned journalist Roston provides a fascinating, detailed history of the Windows on the World restaurant, which was located on the 107th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center from 1976 to September 11, 2001. A gifted writer, Roston chronicles Windows on the World's successes and setbacks, as well as the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers that led to the deaths of 79 of the restaurant's employees. Providing an experience as bold as the city it called home, Windows on the World allowed visitors to dine in luxury at the top of what was once the tallest building in the world. While restaurateur Joe Baum, a relentless perfectionist with a big personality, may have driven the project onward and upward, he had a hardworking, dedicated team supporting him. Roston takes care to feature stories of former employees, from busboys to wine selectors, who relied on one another. VERDICT The author begins and concludes with accounts from 9/11, effectively capturing the shock and brutality of that day and its enduring aftermath, ultimately crafting a celebration of the city's ingenuity, strength, and resilience. Thoughtful and engaging and highly recommended for growing culinary history collections.--Emily Patti, Fox Lake Dist. Lib., IL

      Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      Starred review from September 15, 2019
      Billed as a history of Windows on the World, the 107th-floor restaurant in the World Trade Center that ruled the New York City skyline from April 1976 until September 11, 2011, this engrossing tale delivers much more. In brief, engaging chapters, journalist Roston considers the political, social, financial, and gustatory changes that were shaping Manhattan during that time. He also relates the never-ending legal wranglings over construction of the towers, and the public opinion that the city itself was filthy, crime ridden, and beyond hope. Legendary feats changed the public's view on the controversial Twin Towers, including tightrope walks, parachute jumps, and perilous scalings of the outer walls. Some of the most interesting coverage is about the people who shaped the eatery: restaurateur Joe Baum, chefs, sommeliers, food writers and critics, a parade of celebrities, and the greeters, waiters, busboys, sous-chefs, and dishwashers who were critical to the restaurant's daily success. These employees represented an array of nationalities, locals and immigrants who found job security and opportunities for advancement at Windows on the World; 73 were at work when the plane hit the North Tower. Based on interviews, contemporary media coverage, and scrupulous research, this detailed account will appeal to a wide audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading