The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World: The Twin Towers, Windows on the World, and the Rebirth of New York

by Tom Roston

The remarkable story of a restaurant on top of the world—built by a legend, destroyed in tragedy—and an era in New York City it helped to frame 

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. 

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Food, Audiobook, New York, Biography, American History

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2019

Reviews

[Joanne Clarke Gunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book was special for me. I have vivid memories of eating at Windows on the World and it was a spectacular restaurant - more than a restaurant, it was a thrilling experience. I hate having to even use the word was because it is still hard to believe that Windows on the World is gone forever along with the gleaming towers of the World Trade Center.

This book provides the interesting history of the creation of Windows on the World and of the magical touch of Joe Baum whose exacting direction (some would say tyrannical) and demands for perfection made the restaurant (as well as several other restaurants in the WTC) what it was. The last few chapters entitled "The Last Meal", "The Morning of September 11", and "That Terrible Day" brought tears.

An interesting read if you want to know more about the creation and destruction of the fabulous Windows on the World.

[Jill Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Book review)
It's been said that often a restaurant's staff can become a small community. From the front to the back house workers, the kitchen staff and waitstaff, and going back to the original designers, people meld into a unit. They're all working together to give the diner the best meal and setting they can provide. I'd imagine this is especially true in a restaurant as storied as "Windows on the World", the restaurant at the top of World Trade Center's North Tower. It was this Tower that was hit on September 11, 2001 by American Airlines #11. As most people know, there were no survivors from the building's upper floors, including those people who had been working and eating in "Windows". Author Tom Roston writes about the WTC, and in particular, the restaurants, in his new book, "Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World: The Twin Towers, 'Windows on the World', and the Rebirth of New York".

Tom Roston begins at the beginning - the 1960's - when powers-that-be in New York City decided to turn around Lower Manhattan. Long an area of houses and small businesses, several builders and the Port Authority made plans to erect two towers - each about 110 stories high - and transform Lower Manhattan. The Towers were built and became the jewels of the Financial District. (The author does say they were not well-received at first, but seemed to "grow" on people.) The developers decided to put restaurants at the 106th and 107th floors; the complex eventually had three or four restaurants but the main one was "Windows on the World". They were all operated by the same companies, which changed as the years went on.

One of the best parts of Roston's book is the emphasis on how the menus were developed. Lots of chefs seem to have a hand in shaping the cuisine over the years, beginning with the French food that was de riguer at fancy New York restaurants. The menus changed as the tastes of diners changed and food like sushi became more accepted.

Okay, how difficult is it to open and operate a restaurant? Pretty damn difficult, as most new restaurants close within their first few years of business. Famous restauranteur Joseph Baum and his small company were hired to make the complex a huge success, where, hopefully, the food and ambiance would match the views. But the economic times - the early 1970's - were also bad in NYC and the city was seen as crime-ridden. Against all odds and problems - from labor problems to not being able to cook with gas in the restaurants - the restaurant and its auxiliaries, opened staffed and on time. Early reviewers were more complimentary about the views than the food, but the place was a success.

Tom Roston takes the reader behind the scenes from the conception of the idea, through the design, building, and staffing the restaurants. This happened twice; there was a second reopening of "Windows" in the mid-90's after it was closed in 1993 after Tower 1 was bombed. And then, the restaurant was closed... for good on September 11th. I assume there's a restaurant complex at the top of building that was erected after the Twin Towers came down, but I doubt it can match the original, "Windows on the World".

[Elizabeth Holihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only did this book provide the history of WOW, it also gave so much information about the logistics and politics of creating the WTC - the good, the bad, the ugly. The author did a great job of compiling information and stories from so many employees of WOW that I really felt like I understood the atmosphere of this incredible restaurant. It breaks my heart that I’ll never get to experience all its glory but this book was a pleasure to read. The last few chapters had me crying for the loss of this beautiful place and it’s incredible workers and their families.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

pros
- the first chapter was SO compelling that the rest let me down a little
- extremely well researched
- love the end-notes telling more about the info gathering for each chapter

cons
- very dry and a little boring

[Barred Owl Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The remarkable story of a restaurant on top of the world—built by a legend, destroyed in tragedy—and an era in New York City it helped to frame

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.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book that has been on my reading list for a while, and I have decided that I really really need to reduce the list so am trying to read at least one or two a month. I think I saw a review that impressed me enough to put it on the list, but knowing how the story ends is why I kept putting it off. Well, I am glad I read it. It was an interesting look at the people involved in the conception and construction of the huge complex known as the World Trade Center at a time when New York City had been suffering under financial stress, high crime, garbage on the streets and more...to the point where people were wondering if it was worth it to live there. And I liked that it was like being backstage at a show, wondering if the audience were applauding or leaving in droves. Very complex story told with many voices in an interesting, involving matter. And yes, the ending was the one we all know but a different aspect. Well worth reading though I could have wished I didn't finish it the same day as John Lewis's service...too many tears.

[Heather Brenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/4.5. I loved most of this, some parts definitely slowed me down. Lots of niche stories I found really interesting and this might have kickstarted my new obsession with restaurant books!

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book discusses the creation of the Windows on the World restaurant that was located in the World Trade Center. I did not know there was a restaurant there until I started reading disaster books about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. I really enjoyed learned about the staff of the restaurant and how they created a cohesive unit and provided an unforgettable experience for guests. I liked that the book included information about the other bombing of the World Trade Center as well. This book was included on Audible Plus, but is about to expire so I hurried and listened to it at work yesterday and today. I really liked this book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the history of the restaurants in the Windows on the World which resided in the Twin Towers/ the World Trade Center in NYC and was created by the restaurateur, Joe Baum. Roston gives the readers a behind the scenes look at the restaurants in the WTC and the people who ran them. He also talks about the history of the city during that time period and the tragedy that still affects people today. Sad but a compelling read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy stories about New York, particularly during the time period that the book covers, and reading about the history of New York through the lens of the Windows on the World restaurant was fascinating yet heartbreaking. I learned a lot about food. I didn't realize how many high-profile chefs were involved in the Windows on the World project. I also learned a lot about the role that those chefs played in creating contemporary food trends/movements that we take for granted today. A beautiful story with lots of material, but I could see how the topic might be too niche for some.

[Michaela Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soria’s account of of her visit to Ground Zero is one of the most poignant, yet beautiful, recollections I have ever read about the aftermath of and the healing from 9/11.

[Bob Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super interesting read about windows to the world. The last 30 pages are incredibly sad.

[Carissa Hudgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned a lot about this world famous restaurant that was located at the top of the Twin Towers. Everyone who was on staff that day on 9/11 died. This explained the history of the restaurant, the building of the twin towers which was completed in the 1970’s and the opening of “Windows on the World”. Readers get to know various employees from the restaurant and their backstories, I just wish there would have been more of that rather than so much focus on the restaurants Joe Baum started before Windows on the World.

[Katie E TW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a comprehensive history of the Windows on the World restaurant and also documents social /political changes during the eras of the 1960s-2001 in New York and also globally.
Extremely interesting and well written book, in which the author pays great attention to detail. His sources are clearly listed in an appendix at the end of the book and he has included some fascinating photos of the people and places featured in the book.
I enjoyed reading this book, despite the sadness surrounding the eventual fate of the Twin Towers.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been collecting WTC photos since high school, haunted by watching the Towers burn and fall on live tv. Some of the most interesting I’ve seen have been inside Windows of the World, a restaurant that occupied two of the top stories on the North Tower. It was due to celebrate its 25th anniversary a month before the obscene assault that was 9/11, having made itself New York’s premiere dining experience. The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World is a history of not only the restaurant, but of New York City’s postwar rise, its struggle in the 1970s, and the role of the Trade Towers in revitalizing it — and of Windows in broadcasting it. As I’ve never read a formal history of how the Trade Towers came to be, that was fascinating in its own right — but the focus on Windows brought other subjects into consideration. I was astonished to learn, for instance, that most of the Towers’ food services were centrally owned and organized, and that food served by the Windows staff was prepped over a hundred stories below where food from other restaurants was also being made ready. It was an unexpected look into how the Towers actually functioned. There were also some astonishing stories, like the arrest of a robber at Windows while said robber’s wedding reception was kicking off: in the audience were interesting figures like Paul Castellano, Gambino crime family kingpin, and members of the Bonanno family.

The major figure of The Most Spectacular Restaurant is Joe Baum, a New York restaurateur who rose to fame through a series of themed restaurants like The Forum of the Caesars and the Four Seasons. He focused on making restaurant dining an experience, not just a time of eating well-prepared food in comfortable conditions. Baum was known for his high attention to detail, whether in perpetuating the aesthetics of the restaurant — the Roman restaurant served wine in iced buckets modeled after centurion helmets — or in customer service. “Every thing we do is marketing,” he said — everything a guest would see or touch or taste was a way to impress and sell the restaurant. Given that his establishments attracted major clientele like the Kennedys — Marilyn Monroe gave her infamous serenade to JFK in Baum’s restaurant — he was chosen to create a restaurant to headline the Trade Towers. The importance of the restaurants was deemed such that Baum’s need for wider windows forced a change that would ripple throughout both towers, not just the North tower where Windows would be. Amusingly, Baum also headed the design of a cafeteria that would serve construction workers during the Towers’ build-out: he incorporated wood and concrete into its aesthetics and called it “The Loading Zone”. Baum would be responsible for bringing Windows to life, and then — after a long removal from the restaurant — overseeing its redesign and reopening after the bombing of the towers. Although cost overruns were the norm with Baum (“the only man who can blow an unlimited budget”) his knack for anticipating what would bring in customers was such that after he left Windows, he was paid $250 million to advise on revamping the restaurant at Rockefeller Center. There are other figures, though, like Kevin Zraly — an intense oenophile who guided the creation of Windows’ approach to wine and taught a wine-appreciation class to members of the Club, an elite social group headquartered at Windows.

Most of the 1980s and early 1990s are passed over: the restaurant appears to have maintained overall fiscal success despite losing its luster over the years, finding itself outstripped by newer restaurants. After Baum leaves the scene, the book has a brief transition period before jumping into the 1993 bombing of the Trade Towers. While the parking lot bomb didn’t cause any direct damage to the restaurant itself, aside from smoke damage, the food-prep and mechanical utilities it relied on were so destroyed that it was forced to close. Baum returned to oversee a redesign of the interior, and nearly three years later Windows was officially reopened. (There’s an amusing article about the reopening called “Windows 96”, a play on Microsoft Windows 95’s staggering launch the prior year.) The redesign also affected the menu: while the original Windows was very French, the new Windows incorporated more food trends of the 1990s, like sushi and kabob, despite Baum’s resistance to “New American Cuisine”. He oversaw the launch, but would surrender to prostate cancer within two years — probably a great mercy given that it meant he wouldn’t see the destruction of what he’d poured so much of himself into across the course of decades.

The book ends, as the reader might expect, with the horror of 9/11: Windows was directly above the impact zone and its staff and morning guests were quickly overwhelmed by smoke. The morning manager called for help several times, but with both stairwells blocked, there was precious little the dispatcher could do. Close to eighty Windows employees lost their lives that day, and survivors — those not on shift, or who were seeing to business in other areas of the complex or the city — clung together, helping one another find work. Some even created their own restaurant together, one that reflected Windows’ increasingly cosmopolitan menu. This spoke volumes to me about the camaraderie that existed at the restaurant in its “city in the sky”

This was quite an interesting read; the author wrote it as a tribute to a restaurant that was a large part of his life, the site of many “occasion” dinners — birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It’s based on hundred of interviews and the research and records already created by Zraly and Baum. The sommelier Zraly had begun work on a book like this before, but found it too emotionally difficult to begin writing: he was able to connect Roston to many of the people whose memories are recorded here. The book also draws extensively on newspaper articles and the like. The under-the-hood restaurant workings might be tedious for some readers, but I enjoyed learning about restaurant operations — and the inner workings of the Towers — along with the story of the restaurant itself. Occasionally the author tries to connect the story to that of broader New York, but that angle makes marginal contact with the ball at best. The only exception for me was getting the “Windows” version of what happened the night New York’s five boroughs all lost power in 1977. Suddenly being at the top of a 110 story skyscraper in a sea of darkness — and later, violent looting — would be nightmarish. This was a history that proved to have multiple points of fascination, and was clearly written with affection.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a long heartfelt review of this book, with my feelings about New York history and my life here and 9/11, and it disappeared, and I'm not writing it again. But this was a fascinating book, especially if you've ever lived in the city.

[Emily Kennard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little more into the weeds with less personal stories than I would have liked. But its a very interesting viewpoint into 9/11 and comprehensive

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the Advanced Readers Copy of The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World, provided by the publisher, Abrams Books.

Working in a restaurant is hard work and often looked down upon, but fascinating. It's a world that many of us don’t get to see or experience. Tom Roston takes us inside the inner workings and history of one of the most interesting and famous restaurant’s that’s ever been. Part historical, part memoir, The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World shows that creating and running a successful eating establishment takes long hours, plenty of hard work, and all of the creativity you can muster. Windows of the World was the highly anticipated restaurant and club that would live at the top of the World Trade Center and it would be one of the most unique places in New York City.

Today, when we think of the World Trade Center, we don’t think about its beginning. We think of the horrific events of 9/11 and how they changed America forever. If you back up to the 1960’s and the planning stages of these enormous buildings, you encounter an idea of progress and hope- two buildings built during a tumultuous time, in a city that was down on its luck. The individuals behind the building saw something special, what it could be - and what it could become.

Following the big shots of the restaurant industry during the three decades Windows of the World existed, the reader is given an inside look at how one builds the most famous restaurant in the world from just an inkling of an idea to a multi-million dollar eatery. Restauranteur Joe Baum was the driving force behind this special place and it probably never would have existed without him behind the wheel. Every inch of the dining rooms and kitchen had his thumb print and it’s because of his genius that it became what it did.

With bumps along the way- recessions, a city riddled with crime, and governmental red tape - we see a restaurant that persevered in spite of the obstacles it encountered, much like the city it inhabits. We see progress, both for the city of New York and the restaurant, both surviving often by sheer will. Windows would become the place to go to celebrate, to be seen, and to see the skyline that was second to none. Its success came from the dedicated staff, those that saw how special it was and the management that believed in it from the start. While it was a challenging atmosphere to work in, to say the least, it was dynamic enough to be a coveted job.

Roston explores the restaurant industry in New York in a way that brings the reader into the food culture. His very thorough research shines through in an extremely respectful manner of this group of people that rode a roller coaster of success that ended in the most tragic way possible. This is a story that hasn’t been told on this stage, and it’s one that needed to be told. It’s a piece of history that we share as Americans.

This book is a great read for any historian, the New York City lover, or the dedicated foodie. I recommend The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World to anyone that has a special place inside of them for a time that can only live on in our memories.

Look for The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World by Tom Roston at your favorite independent bookseller in September 2019.

[Mike S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book published in 2019 about the Windows on the World restaurant (which was actually a collection of a few different Restaurants and Bars) located at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It would, of course, be destroyed during the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the building.

The book basically tells the story of New York City and the World Trade Center from the perspective of the operation of the restaurant, and the various obstacles that had to be overcome to operate it. The book details events that occurred as the towers were being built, including a fight with the architect about whether to make the windows on the 106th and 107th floors wider so patrons would get a better view of the city, the fighting that went on between the staff members, the difficulties of getting the restaurant up and running after the 1993 bombing in a parking garage below the buildings, and the resurgence that the restaurant experienced in the late 1990s that lasted until 9/11.

The book does details some of the events of 9/11, first at the beginning, telling the story of the head chef who survived only because he decided to get his glasses fixed in the morning instead of the afternoon, so he was downstairs in the mall under the buildings when the plane hit the tower. Then, toward the end of the book, the author talks about the phone calls that the people trapped at Windows were making as conditions inside were getting worse, and how the handful of Windows employees who were below the impact zone heard pleas for help over walkie talkies, saw people waiving tablecloths out the broken windows, and saw people jumping. The final couple of chapters discuss the aftermath of 9/11 and provided an update on some of the survivors, as well as some of the family members of the people who died that day.

The book is 320 pages, but it is not what I would call a fast read, especially if you want to get all the details. I do think the author spent a bit too long discussing what was going on in the 1970s, but once you get through that part, it does start reading a bit faster. I would also not call it a book about 9/11 as there are really only two relatively short chapters devoted to that day, and one chapter devoted to what was going on at the restaurant on September 10th. Even so, it is very interesting to get some of the history about how the Trade Center came to be, the ups and down that NYC went through over the course of time, and Window's place in all of it.

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really can't remember how I came across this book (book review, story, can't remember?) but I have had this book for years, sitting on my shelf. It felt like it was time to read it, if only for something different and maybe a little happier. I have never heard of Windows on the World, had never visited it, etc. But I do like like stories of places like famous restaurants, etc. so I was intrigued by this.

Author Roston took the story of Windows on the World from its inception and all the way through 9/11 and all the stories that come with restaurants. The highs and lows and some of the more prominent guests, plus the events and special things that happen, etc. Perhaps not unlike other restaurant stories, except this one obviously had money, was in New York, etc.

Overall, I found this very dull. I did not realize this had been built on over 150 interviews: it certainly reads like it. It is not at all interesting and I was surprised that a story like this could be so dull. Even with the painful story of how everyone at the restaurant died on 9/11, with no means of escape or died jumping/falling from the building, etc.

It was ultimately not at all an interesting book, which was a pity because it seemed like it would be at least a good look at a restaurant like this (given how precarious the industry is, very few restaurants will ever have their histories recorded like this.) I am sure there are certainly people who would find this interesting: restaurant aficionados, if you liked Windows on the World, if you have an interest in 9/11 history (which is covered, but to be very clear, this is very much about the restaurant itself), etc.

I bought this and would have preferred a library borrow, but as a reference this might be a good resource for some to have.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and Informative

This book gives us not only the history of the famed Windows On The World restaurant but also, much like the spectacular view the restaurant afforded diners, it gives the reader an inside and comprehensive overview of what incredible work and money went into every little detail of WOW!
I had unfortunately never been to this restaurant and also, know nothing about what it takes to start one from scratch. I hadn't realized, for instance, that so much decision making and attention to every little detail is required in order to have the best chance of success. One must make decisions as to how they will fund their restaurant, what is the vision and is it realistic for the area it caters to, what will the restaurant be called, what types of cuisine will it serve, where will the food, linens, silver etc come from, who will design it, what will the kitchen layout be, will you serve alcohol, do you have enough parking, will you have entertainment etc. It was very interesting reading about how many of these visions were brought to life for Windows On The World! And the photos near the end only added to the story and made it even more realistic and special.
It is very well done and researched! I highly recommend the book for those interested in knowing more. Lastly, my deepest condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of those we lost on September 11, 2001. These workers must have been horrified at the tragedy they found themselves stuck in. I pray it was over quickly for them. I know their memories will live on and may they rest in eternal peace and comfort!

[Chris O'Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I can't praise this book enough.

Initially I was drawn to it by my fascination with 9/11 and the World Trade Center complex, but I had no idea it would be so interesting to read about restaurateurs (a term I hadn't heard of before reading this book) like Joe Baum and what it takes to create and run a restaurant. Thanks to the likes of this book, I think I'm also developing an increasingly broader interest in New York and its history.

There's a spectacular amount of entertaining and well-researched detail in here about the happenings at Windows on the World, particularly in the 70s and the late 90s. Very usefully, the author often takes care to place the events being described in the context of the political and economic climate of New York at the time.

As someone who has an interest in the fine-grained details of the events of the day of 9/11, I enjoyed the book's unique information in this respect. If you're like minded, I'd say you'd want to read this book just for that reason. There's also an interesting chapter on the '93 bombing.

I really enjoyed the style of the book: it's so well written, just an absolute pleasure to read. I may even read it again at some point.

Finally, I want to thank Tom for including his 'Notes' chapter at the end. That was a nice little treasure trove. I've now got dozens of other books and articles I want to look up and read.

[Raidene · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 It was difficult to start reading this book knowing how the World Trade Center tragedy changed all our lives. But, Rolston’s extraordinary book not only tells the story of the restaurants perched at the top of the tragic World Trade Center but also delves into the up and down history of a remarkable city, the Politics, the unions, the restaurant trade and all the people from managers, waitstaff, chefs and customers who made this iconic location worthy of such a moving book. Many personal stories including those about Joe Baum who worked relentlessly to turn these restaurants into National showcases, the many well known chefs, a manager who unknowingly(?) was involved with a man who would be arrested at their wedding reception in the Windows of the World Restaurant to the hard working staff, including many immigrants and undocumented workers from all over the world really highlighted what a melting pot this country is.
Roston conducted hundreds of interviews, was given access to many tapes, transcripts and dozens of pictures-all of which he wove into a readable story that reminds us not only that ‘we will never forget’ but that the resilience of the human spirit is real and people can and do come together to overcome even the most horrific things that life throws at us.

[Brooke Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

My undergrad book club allows us to vote on our favorite among three proposed titles, and this one got my vote because back in the mid-'80s I had dined there twice, and felt a personal loss when it was destroyed on 9/11. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know the full story of how Windows on the World was conceived, financed, constructed, staffed, equipped, and received by critics and diners, as you will learn all about those things (and much more) in great detail. I'm giving it only four stars though because although it attempted to put the story of the restaurant within the context of what was going on in NYC, it could have used more coverage of that and less coverage of less intriguing topics such as contract negotiations and financial arrangements. There are a lot of anecdotes involving celebrities, well-known chefs, and people behaving badly to keep the reader interested, and enough descriptions of food to make the reader hungry, but I don't believe it quite rises to the level of say a David Grann work, where pretty much everything is fascinating so that the book becomes hard to put down.

[Jo12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished "The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World" by Tom Roston

A brilliant history of Windows On The World, the iconic restaurant that sat 107 floors at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center and the people who worked and died there.

In this thoroughly researched account, Roston does a magnificent job of describing the evolution of the restaurant business in NYC in the second half of the twentieth century and the part played by restaurateur extraordinaire, Joe Baum and his dream restaurant Windows On The World. Together they changed the culinary world forever.

The author brings to life the people responsible for creating and working at this one of a kind restaurant. He makes you appreciate the talent and toil it takes to create a successful fine dining establishment.

The chapters on "The Last Meal" and 9/11 are riveting!

Needless to say, I highly recommend it to those who love historical non-fiction and culture!

[Robert Sparrenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I found this one but it was a hidden gem. I was fortunate enough to have lunch at Windows on the World back in May of 2001. The author does such a great job describing the experience of riding in the elevator to the 107th floor, the view in the restaurant and the food served there(I had the club).
At the time and since then, I thought the main reason for eating there as the view. Typical tourist I guess. While reading this book I realized that there was so much more going on. The people involved in making Windows so successful wanted it to be about the food and the experience. The descriptions of the food and the planning were fascinating. Weaving the history New York City into the book made it that much better.

From reading this book, it becomes evident that the tourists and the locals knew that Windows was a special place in NYC. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house there. Some of the pictures at the end brought it all back.

Excellent book

[Maja M.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest: I was attracted to this book/ story after I saw a documentary about the "falling man" of 9/11, who was a part of the broader story related to "WOW".

This book seems like a diary, sometimes like newspapers or magazine articles, sometimes like a business fact sheet, with many details and many persons included by the time you get to the pg. 300, you forget some stuff from the beginning.

However, this is a fascinating chronicle about NYC from the late 50s to the present time,
depicting how the city changed in all senses, including the story about WTC and "Windows on the World."

I love that the author didn't use 9/11 as the "selling point."
Yes, who wrote about it because that is how the story of "WOW" unfortunately ends physically, but he did it very dignified, not dramatic, or more sentimental than the whole tragedy is.

A great addition is the photos.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a book club, and would not have picked it up on my own volition. The story is a well-written and chronologically organized narrative of the history of Windows on the World, the restaurant on the top of the World Trade Center's north tower, from its birth in the mid-1970s until its catastrophic end on 9/11. Roston sets the stage in the context of NYC's economy and political leadership from the early 1970s through 2001, and developed his narrative through an impressive litany of interviews and research.

This was not a compelling read for me, because (1) I had lived in NYC for most of my adult life (and its suburbs during my childhood) so there wasn't much new to me about the city's history and rebirth; and (2) I was in lower Manhattan on 9/11. The penultimate chapter proved to be too much for me and I had to skip it.

[Ershen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Roston’s comprehensive book details the inception and storied past of Windows on the World — the institution of a restaurant that was located on 106 and 107th floor of the World Trade Centre’s North Tower, lost to history following the collapse of the towers. It’s packed with stories and riveting anecdotes that portrays Windows with a sense of irreplicable charm: a melting pot with immigrant staff from all corners of the world, established by a tyrant of a restaurateur, situated in the hyper competitive dining culture of 80’s New York.

Tragedy aside, the restaurant and Towers themselves have their own story to tell — which Roston does in a super compelling manner. A great read if you’re curious about restauranting or dining culture.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 3.5 to 4* book. I am not a history fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book which, although focused on Windows on the World, couldn't tell that story fully without including some of the Twin Towers' building and the city's history.

I loved the chapters on the big black out and on Fournier's wedding. I enjoyed meeting all the characters: Joe Baum, Kevin Zraly, David Emil, Michael Lomonaco, Claudette Fournier, Albert Lee, Marc Murphy, Michael Whiteman, James Beard to name a few. I learned about the Newarker restaurant at Newark Airport back in the day. I enjoy fine dining, especially as it was back in the day. I'd been to Windows on the World.

There is so much to chew on here...
Recommend.