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 more than 200
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.