The Reservation

by Rebecca Kauffman

The Reservation explores the loves and labors of an ensemble of more than a dozen restaurant workers as they strive to get perfect meals to table—for fans of “The Bear,” Elizabeth Strout, and Jennifer Egan.

Early morning on the day of the most important booking in this august establishment’s history, the discovery of the theft of 22 ribeye steaks roils Aunt Orsa’s. Hers is the finest restaurant in this midwestern college town and Orsa anticipates a large party that will honor a very special guest, the bestselling author, a writer of international renown.

And what’s up with the recent Yelp reviews, insulting to frankly terrible? Is Orsa, who wants only to be loved, being sabotaged on several fronts? And now no one is above suspicion, not the pretty Mennonite baker nor the tatted-up hard-ass chef de cuisine nor the various servers nor the great-looking, if unsure, co-ed working as hostess.

Rebecca Kauffman’s talent for crafting rich, empathetic characters is on full display in The Reservation, where she guides a vibrant cast through a single, high-stakes day in the life of a bustling restaurant. With her signature wit and spirit, Kauffman serves up a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the drama, grace, and grit it takes to bring a beautiful meal to the table—served with a side of chaos.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Food, Mystery, Literary Fiction, Adult, Cooking

272 pages, Hardcover

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

Rebecca Kauffman is originally from rural northeastern Ohio. She received her B.A. from the Manhattan School of Music in Violin Performance, and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from NYU. She currently lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published February 24, 2026.

4.5 stars

I LOVE a good fly on the wall restaurant story, where you see the mechanics behind how everything that it takes to get the food in the back door to your plate, so this was perfect for me; usually these books are non-fiction though, so it was nice to have a fiction example to mix it up a little. This was a bit of a mystery, plus a great character study of a number of people who work in the restaurant, the nicest one in a smallish college town.

Here, each person gets a chance to have part of the tale come from their point of view and then add to that a tease with John Grisham (maybe…..) I enjoyed every minute I spent with the owners, staff and guests of Aunt Orsa’s. Highly recommend this.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

This slight but enjoyable novel goes behind the scenes at a restaurant—the best fine dining place in the small town where it’s located—in the days leading up to an exciting event: a very large party, including novelist John Grisham, will be eating there following a nearby literary event. But there’s also an upsetting distraction in the hours leading up to the arrival of the large party: 22 porterhouse steaks have gone missing, and the owner intends to get to the bottom of it immediately. Individual chapters are devoted to each of the major players: the owner, her husband (her major investor), the bartender, the chef, the pastry chef, the sous-chef, a couple of the servers, the bartender, the busboy, etc., etc. The book is posing as a mild mystery—who stole the steaks? why?—but it’s not, really: it’s an affectionate portrait of the community that makes this restaurant sing. Fun.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh- I had high hopes but this was a huge miss for me.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Report: The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman

Set over the course of a single…high stakes day…The Reservation drops us into the elegant chaos of Aunt Orsa’s…a beloved fine dining restaurant on the brink of hosting its most important reservation yet. When 22 ribeye steaks go missing and a wave of brutal online reviews threatens Orsa’s carefully curated legacy…suspicion ripples through every corner of the restaurant. From the kitchen to the front of house to the diners themselves…we follow a rotating cast of characters whose lives intersect in the controlled frenzy it takes to get one perfect meal on the table🍽️✨

This book was an absolute delight. I loved the tight one day timeframe and the way Rebecca Kauffman zooms in on each role that makes a restaurant run…from hostess to server to chef…with such care and precision. As someone whose first job was hosting and then waitressing at a family owned restaurant…this stirred up so many memories. The accuracy of the dynamics…the quiet hierarchies…the stress and the small moments of connection felt spot on. I especially loved the added layers of mystery and the inclusion of the clientele’s perspectives…which made the whole experience feel rich and alive. This was my first Rebecca Kauffman novel and it definitely won’t be my last💛

Thank you Counterpoint for the ecopy

Releases 2/24

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel sounded intriguing because it was set in a restaurant; however, it did not fulfill its potential. The plot revolves around the theft of steaks on the day that John Grisham had a reservation at the restaurant. Each worker in the restaurant (front and back of the house) is suspected. A chapter is devoted to each worker, and their background and current stories are revealed. The background and current life stories were nicely done; however, they were not enough to make this novel work for me.


PS - For me 3 stars means I liked the novel and thought is was good; 4 means really good and meaningful; and 5 I give very seldom and only to very special (IMO) books. So, my 2 stars just means that it was ok.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I normally don’t like multi-POV stories because the characters can feel flat or repetitive, but here it really worked for me. Despite the large cast and the limited page time each person gets, they all had distinct voices and real depth.

The story revolves around the theft of 22 steaks, told from the perspective of each restaurant worker. I found the little intricacies of running the restaurant fascinating and the cast as a whole was incredibly interesting. I definitely had a few favorite characters.

We get a big climax at the end where everyone’s secrets come out and the thief is revealed. It was genuinely entertaining and I was surprised by the culprit. The novel closes on a slightly wistful note, but overall I really liked it, mostly because of how well written it was and how dynamic the characters felt.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Reservation is a low stakes mystery centered around a higher end restaurant set in a small college town. On the day of the story the restaurant has a reservation for a popular author later that night but once inventory takes place for the dinner’s service, the owner becomes aware that they are missing 22 ribeye steaks which are the headline for star reservation. What ensues is an investigation for the ribeyes, their thief and a possible smear campaign that threatens the future of the restaurant.

The mystery is the draw, but the characters’ stories are the meal of this story. Each character and their background is slower dripped out for the reader. Their motivations, their trauma, and their responsibilities within the establishment. Kaufmann does a fantastic job of guiding the reader through the different aspects of restaurant work including drama to keep the reader engaged. Overall quick mystery, character centered story for readers interested in American restaurant service culture.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 I love this writer. She captures the human condition for me every time. This book reminds me everybody has a story, there is so much more than what we see or know about people. This was funny at times, fun, a mystery, but best of all a touching novel with characters I fell in love with.

[Katy O. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this novel so excited about a restaurant story, but for some reason, despite being set entirely in a restaurant, it didn’t feel like a restaurant novel. Sure it talked about restaurant things the entire time but no one involved felt incredibly invested in THIS restaurant.

But ultimately, I think my main issue is that with each chapter from the perspective of a different character, we never got deeply into the psyche of any one person, leaving the story overall feeling flat.

A swing and a miss for me, unfortunately.

Source: public library hardcover

[Hannah Gatto · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8 ⭐️

[Geonn Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if it stacks up to The Bear comparisons, but I really liked the style of jumping between characters during a single busy night at a restaurant. Also it's weird to me when books use a real life person as a character... I just read a short story collection that had Samuel L Jackson in one story, and this has John Grisham. It's just... odd.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Rebecca Kauffman, and while this story had potential, it wasn’t as strong for me as her past books. 6/10.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this!!!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and well-written with compelling characters and an absorbing story. Rings true to my restaurant work years ago as I was building up my freelance writing portfolio on the side. Recommended!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My early Shelf Awareness review: In Rebecca Kauffman's sixth novel, the staff members of a fine-dining restaurant each have a moment in the spotlight during the attempt to solve a theft.

Aunt Orsa's is the top restaurant in its Midwestern college town. The staff has been gearing up for one momentous fall day: author John Grisham has reserved a table for dinner for his entourage, and Orsa is desperate to make a good impression to counteract some negative online reviews. To her dismay, everything starts going wrong: 22 steaks are stolen, the dishwasher breaks, and there's an injury in the kitchen--not to mention the daily frictions among her employees. Pantry chef Shannon is jealous of host Julia. Server Byron is rumored to be writing a novel about his coworkers. Julia and Byron were dating until he posted a Photoshopped image of her on Facebook. Orsa's nephew, operations assistant Danny, has a crush on the Mennonite pastry chef, Jane. However, when she needs a favor she confides in the prep cook, Edgar, instead of in Danny.

Kauffman explores her characters' interactions and backgrounds with aplomb in linked short stories--a format she's employed several times. The table of contents is presented as a "Menu" with 16 chapters, each focusing on a different customer or member of staff via close third-person narration. A number of chapters could even function as standalone short stories, with killer last lines. Two standouts expose economic and social realities: Edgar has a second job at a poultry plant and sends most of his earnings home to his family in Guatemala; a pair of diners realize their addict son hasn't reformed after all when the restaurant gift card he gave them is exposed as fake.

For the most part, the mystery takes a backseat to the character studies. When the narrative does prioritize Orsa's amateur investigation, it can feel a little hokey; long dialogues working through her list of suspects entail too much spelling out, and there is also some repetition across the chapters. But it's a pleasure to go deep with each character, discovering hidden sorrows and motivations--especially Orsa's childlessness and lead line cook Glen's brain damage from a childhood accident--while awaiting the finale of "Grisham Day." The Reservation is a big-hearted novel perfect for J. Ryan Stradal's fans.

(Posted with permission from Shelf Awareness.) (3.5)

[Larry H · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I was looking forward to reading this for two reasons. First, I enjoy the way Rebecca Kauffman writes. Second, and perhaps more important, is how much I love reading about restaurants, chefs, and cooking.

Aunt Orsa’s is a fine dining restaurant in a small midwestern college town. It was once described in a review as “offbeat, eccentric Italian-ish.” Tonight is going to be a huge night for the restaurant: famed author John Grisham, who will be speaking at the college, will be part of a group dining at Aunt Orsa’s tonight.

As excited as everyone is about “Grisham Day,” chaos erupts early in the day. Apparently 22 ribeye steaks have been stolen; the thief left two in the refrigerator. Orsa blows a gasket and is determined to figure out which member of the restaurant staff stole the steaks.

While Orsa figures out which employees were most likely to have committed the theft, a number of secrets, arguments, resentments, and relationships surface. It seems as if almost everyone holds a grudge against a fellow employee.

The book is organized into separate chapters that focus on one or more of the staff, as well as Orsa. We get glimpses of their past as well as how they came to work at the restaurant. Some of the characters are vividly drawn and it felt like a few of the chapters could stand on their own as stories.

There is a lot of drama here, much like in many restaurants. At times things get a bit repetitive and once or twice they get hokey, but it was a fun read. And as usual, the book made me hungry!

Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.

[Bookisshhh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 for my first read by Rebecca Kaufman who manages to slow down the chaos of restaurants, thus enabling readers to experience the people behind the portraits, assuming the archetype roles in restaurants. I enjoyed the details that she zooms in on regarding characters that depict struggles challenges and coping responses to life. She also knows how to express the stations and camps that occur within restaurants, staffs and however, overall restaurants are like large families who lived together for periods of time and feed other people. There are some good meditations about Service and how different restaurant employees approach, Service and livelihood and means to an end. It really is like this in all restaurants and as someone who grew up in one, it seems very authentic. Perhaps she has worked in restaurants during her lifetime? There is a very dry and quiet humor that emits from characters and the presentation of their actions. Somehow the author has managed to reveal the old souls within the lifers who state in a restaurant setting. Also, how hard it is to be a lifer and thrive economically without things like health insurance and consistent pay and raises. Orsa think she knows her employees but she really doesn’t. Kauffman reveals the boundary that exists between owner and employee, and the severe economic differences between those statuses. Employees work very hard to support the restaurant and themselves and the owner works very hard to support the restaurant and themselves. Restaurant work is service and it is not always rewarding in terms of economic survival and viability, but people do love and take great pride in the service they offer and leaves this reader wondering if a system for greater reward is possible. Some loose ends and gaps in the story were too loose and too wide. The mystery was quietly playful and sustained inquiry throughout though there were moments where I experienced fatigue. However, this was entirely readable and will probably give it some real estate on my shelf.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, author Rebecca Kauffman, and Counterpoint Press for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book was not for me lol. Based on the cover art, the description, and the comparison to The Bear, I thought this was going to be a gritty, lit fic restaurant drama. Instead, this was a quirky, humorous "mystery" with oddball characters. Which was fine...but not how I thought this book was accurately represented going into it, and definitely not my favorite genre of book overall. The book moves at a fast pace with perspectives rotating and changing every chapter. I liked some of the characters more than others, but I didn't really feel attached to any of them because once they're chapter was done, you didn't really learn more about them (or in the case of Jane and Edgar from the morning shift, never saw them appear or be mentioned again). This made it hard to root for anyone or get invested in the plot. I thought the owner investigating the "mystery" was very silly and the resolution of it felt like something from Scooby-Doo (not in a good way lol). I kept waiting for there to be another twist and was unfortunately let down. If anything, I would have at least liked a couple of chapters from the next day to circle back to the morning shift crew, but instead, the book ended on a flat note for me. If you go into this expecting a heartwarming read with a quirky cast, this will be up your alley, but don't go into expecting The Bear!

[Isabel Sharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving 3 stars because it was a light, fun read, but substance- and writing-wise I'd say only 2. I love a multi-perspective novel, but I think this missed the mark for a few reasons. The characters did all have unique voices, but they were pretty flat, and so I wasn't invested in most of the storylines. Also, the fact that each character only had one chapter was intriguing, but we really didn't get to revisit any of them due to that, which means that a lot of the things that happened in each character's internal monologue never came up again, and didn't really contribute to the story? The first three chapters are from people who we never hear of again, despite setting up all of these interesting threads about them.
The ending also missed the mark a bit - maybe I just wasn't invested in the characters enough, but I found that I didn't really care who had actually stolen the steaks by the time we got there. And then the resolution after that was just not interesting to me. The whole thing had potential, but... just not quite.

[Stephanie Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked Rebecca Kauffman’s new book The Reservation, and felt the first half had good momentum but it kind of lost its focus at the end. Told from various points of view, The Reservation tells the story of a fine dining restaurant gearing up for a dinner with a big celebrity author attending. But early the morning of the reservation, a box of steaks goes missing. The story follows the entire staff throughout the day, getting ready for the dinner shift (just like the Hulu hit series The Bear) while the owner is trying to suss out who the thief is. What ensues is a deep dive into the underworking of a restaurant which is quite fascinating. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the story kind of hits a lull towards the end and leaves a few too many plot points unfinished. I think it it had been a tidier ended I would have given it a higher star rating. .

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored Rebecca Kauffman's novel Chorus, and was very excited to see that she has a new novel out. The Reservation is a compelling mix of mystery, kaleidoscopic character study and workplace drama. On the day that John Grisham is to attend a dinner at an upscale restaurant in a Midwestern college town, 22 ribeye steaks go missing from the kitchen, and the restaurant's owner, Orsa, spends the day trying to figure out who stole them. Each chapter explores a different employee's backstory - a format that Kauffman is especially skilled at - as Orsa interrogates each person about the theft. She does a wonderful job conveying a lot about a person through just a few pages or a single scene. I loved the complicated workplace dynamics and the taut climax that aired deep-seated grievances. Funny and empathetic, The Reservation is a satisfying read.

[Anne Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Kauffman may not work for everyone but she certainly works for me, and this novel was no exception. She has solidified herself as a favorite author of mine because her character studies are so perfectly executed, and she does so with such skill, it just never stops blowing me away. In one short chapter, we know absolutely everything we need to know about a character to really “know” them. Many other writers struggle to accomplish this over the course of an entire novel.
With this story, we get the perspectives of everyone who works at a restaurant, from the busboy to the servers to the chef to the dishwasher. And each POV is new and surprising and ends with a visceral punch to the gut. That said, this book wasn’t perfect, and I had a few qualms with it. But in the end, I enjoyed the writing so much, I’m able to forgive these indiscretions.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen perspectives on a day in the life of a restaurant. And a big day it's meant to be because Mama Orsa's is going to host John Grisham and his entourage. This looks at the day from the POV of everyone from customers to bus boy to chef to owner and so on. Each gets their own chapter (or part of the menu). Know that you won't get deep with any one of them but that some of the chapters could be stand alone short stories. There's the missing steaks and the high stakes of the evening and both bring a touch of urgency. Kauffman has a good touch with the multi-pov and it works well here. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. An interesting read that might make you chuckle in spots and shake your head in others.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Loved the premise of this novel - a light mystery at an upscale restaurant, the night that a famous author is expected to have dinner there. Each chapter is more or less from the perspective of a different employee at the restaurant. We get a quick, small insight into each employee's life, learning that things usually aren't always as they appear - everyone has secrets. This was a quick, easy read.

I thought the ending dragged a bit too long but I enjoyed the overall message of the book.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a Tuesday at Aunt Orsa's, the one fine dining restaurant in a small midwestern college town. Usually Tuesday evening is one of the slower nights, but best selling author John Grisham is dining at the restaurant after doing an event in the town. When Danny, the Operations Assistant, arrives at Orsa's in the morning he discovers that someone has stolen twenty-two rib eye steaks. He informs Orsa when she arrives of the theft and she wonders which of the employees could have taken them. The Reservation recounts the day and evening at the restaurant through the eyes of all the employees. Readalikes include Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman and Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan.

[Jessica O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem — if I was a foodie I’d be able to describe it as dish that warms you up, makes you feel good, and you just know it’s made with organic, farm fresh ingredients.

A fine dining restaurant prepares for an exclusive VIP, and the reader is taken on a journey with several different points of view leading up to the reservation. Each character is well drawn, empathetic, and not without their unique faults.

The author expertly reveals just enough about each character and event to keep you turning the page, but never loses the focus at the heart of the story — people all trying to survive based on their past and current circumstances. I loved this book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Counterpoint Press for an advance readers copy of this book.

Kauffman does a deep dive into character in this literary novel that spans just one day in a busy restaurant where 22 steaks have gone missing putting in jeopardy the big night they are hosting John Grisham. Each of the workers/characters has a chapter, but we learn about the entire ensemble through the chapters featuring each individual. Poignant and sometimes heartbreaking as we dive deeper and deeper int0 the lives of each character.

[Ilyssa Wesche · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me SO MUCH of Kitchens of the Great Midwest, including having one chapter that 1) I did not totally understand and 2) kinda ruined my reading experience. In this case it was towards the end - I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say more.

What I did love about this book was having one chapter from each character's POV, learning so much about them in these chapters, and really feeling like I understood everyone's perspective and motivation.

[Annie Waddoups · Rating 4 out of 5]

This multi-perspective novel covers a day in the life of Aunt Orsa's, a restaurant in a midwestern college town. Twenty-two steaks are discovered missing and the restaurant is expecting none other than John Grisham for a 7 p.m. reservation. Part The Bear, part exploration of class and the anthropology of the modern restaurant kitchen, part whodunit--this is an enjoyable and insightful read.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC to read and review

[Kate Czyzewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Kauffman has done it AGAIN!
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The Reservation is a character driven story of a busy restaurant and its employees. When a large dinner party is booked, the employees prepare to host. When 22 steaks go missing right before the reservation, chaos ensues.
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Told in various points of view for each employee: owner, manager, host, chef, waiters etc....I was consumed by this story.
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Rebecca will forever be an auto-buy author for me. She creates stories and characters like no other!