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About The Book
New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the 2026 Gotham Book Prize
The entertaining, irreverent, and surprisingly moving memoir by the visionary restaurateur behind such iconic New York institutions as Balthazar and Pastis.
A memoir by the legendary proprietor of Balthazar, Pastis, Minetta Tavern, and Morandi, taking us from his gritty London childhood in the fifties to his serendipitous arrival in New York, where he founded the era-defining establishments the Odeon, Cafe Luxembourg, and Nell’s. Eloquent and opinionated, Keith McNally writes about the angst of being a child actor, his lack of insights from traveling overland to Kathmandu at nineteen, the instability of his two marriages and family relationships, his devastating stroke, and his Instagram notoriety.
Winner of the 2026 Gotham Book Prize
The entertaining, irreverent, and surprisingly moving memoir by the visionary restaurateur behind such iconic New York institutions as Balthazar and Pastis.
A memoir by the legendary proprietor of Balthazar, Pastis, Minetta Tavern, and Morandi, taking us from his gritty London childhood in the fifties to his serendipitous arrival in New York, where he founded the era-defining establishments the Odeon, Cafe Luxembourg, and Nell’s. Eloquent and opinionated, Keith McNally writes about the angst of being a child actor, his lack of insights from traveling overland to Kathmandu at nineteen, the instability of his two marriages and family relationships, his devastating stroke, and his Instagram notoriety.
About The Author
© Victoria Dearing
Keith McNally, called “The Restaurateur Who Invented Downtown” by The New York Times, founded Balthazar Restaurant, Balthazar Bakery, Pastis, Minetta Tavern, Pravda, Schiller’s Liquor Bar, Morandi, Cherche Midi, Lucky Strike, Nell’s, Cafe Luxembourg, and the Odeon, plus the staggeringly unsuccessful pizzeria, Pulino’s. McNally is the author of The Balthazar Cookbook and Schiller’s Liquor Bar Cocktail Collection, and the writer and director of two features, End of the Night and Far from Berlin. He lives in downtown New York.
About The Reader
Photograph by Pip
Richard E. Grant was launched to fame in the 1987 cult classic Withnail and I. Since then, he has gone on to star in a wide variety of films, including his Oscar Award–nominated performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2018. An avid reader, in 2021 he hosted the BBC’s literary travel series Write Around the World with Richard E. Grant. He married Joan Washington in 1986 and has a daughter, Olivia. You can find him on Twitter @RichardEGrant and Instagram at @Richard.E.Grant.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (May 6, 2025)
- Runtime: 10 hours and 46 minutes
- ISBN13: 9781797188614
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Raves and Reviews
"Richard E. Grant showcases the compelling life of legendary restaurateur Keith McNally, who does not shy away from the complicated stories that make up his life and choices. Having started out in the film industry, McNally discovered true theater in building successful restaurants, including New York's Balthazar, where the right environment and staff made the perfect dining experience. Then, a debilitating stroke made speaking almost impossible. Happily, Grant brings a commanding narration to the proceedings. His timing, along with his eloquently dry delivery, is masterful. Grant's narrative skill is on full display as McNally shares his professional failures and personal struggles, including a suicide attempt and fractured relationships with his family. Throughout, Grant's performance is spellbinding"
– Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award, AudioFile magazine
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Book Cover Image (jpg): I Regret Almost Everything
Unabridged Audio Download 9781797188614
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Author Photo (jpg): Keith McNally © Victoria Dearing(0.1 MB)
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