Will Guidara

Will Guidara
Name	Will Guidara
Birth date	1979
Birth place	Sleepy Hollow, New York, United States
Occupation	Restaurateur, author, hospitality entrepreneur
Years active	2000s–present

Will Guidara is an American restaurateur, hospitality entrepreneur, and author known for his work in high-end dining and restaurant operations. He rose to prominence as co-owner and co-proprietor of Eleven Madison Park in New York City, later founding hospitality ventures and publishing books on service and leadership. Guidara's career spans collaborations with chefs, hotel groups, and culinary institutions across the United States and internationally.

Early life and education

Guidara was born in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and raised in Westchester County during a period when the American dining scene was influenced by figures such as Alice Waters, Thomas Keller, Michelin Guide, Ferran Adrià, and Dan Barber. He attended local schools before matriculating at the Culinary Institute of America and later studying hospitality-related programs influenced by institutions like Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and New York University hospitality courses. During his formative years he encountered mentors and contemporaries connected to establishments such as Gramercy Tavern, Blue Hill, Per Se, Le Bernardin, and Daniel Boulud's restaurants.

Career

Guidara began his career in the restaurant industry in the early 2000s working in front-of-house roles at New York City venues tied to restaurateurs like Danny Meyer, Union Square Hospitality Group, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and groups associated with Ian Schrager. He progressed through positions involving service design, event operations, and restaurant management that intersected with organizations such as James Beard Foundation, Slow Food USA, Wine Spectator, and hospitality consultancies that advise portfolios including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Aman Resorts. His professional network expanded to include chefs, somms, and operators from restaurants like Momofuku, Balthazar, Jeune et Jolie, and The Modern.

Restaurateur and Eleven Madison Park

Guidara is best known for his tenure at Eleven Madison Park, a restaurant co-owned and operated with chef partners and hospitality teams affiliated with Danny Meyer's Shake Shack-era peers and the broader New York fine dining community. Under leadership aligned with culinary figures such as Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park achieved recognition from the Michelin Guide and critics at publications like The New York Times, The New Yorker, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Eater. The restaurant competed for and received awards from institutions including the James Beard Foundation, World's 50 Best Restaurants, and the Good Food Awards. Operations at Eleven Madison Park involved collaborations with suppliers and producers associated with Hudson Valley farms, Eat With-style experiences, and partnerships resembling those between restaurants and hospitality groups like Alinea Group and Noma affiliates.

Collaborations and partnerships

Beyond Eleven Madison Park, Guidara formed partnerships with restaurateurs, chefs, and hospitality entrepreneurs tied to organizations such as NoMad Hotel, The NoMad Restaurant Group, Make It Nice Hospitality Group, and hospitality investors similar to those backing expansions by Union Square Hospitality Group and Tock (reservation system). He worked with chefs and culinary teams linked to Daniel Humm, Grant Achatz, Nobu Matsuhisa, Marcus Samuelsson, and consulting firms that advise entities like Ruth Reichl-connected projects and international dining destinations including Mugaritz and El Celler de Can Roca. His ventures included collaborations with beverage partners associated with Pernod Ricard, wine importers tied to Vineyard Brands, and philanthropic organizations such as City Harvest and the No Kid Hungry campaign.

Publications and media appearances

Guidara co-authored and contributed to books, essays, and interviews alongside figures from culinary and business worlds including Daniel Humm, Danny Meyer, Adam Grant, Brené Brown, and institutions like the Harvard Business Review and New York Times business pages. He appeared on broadcast and streaming platforms featuring chefs and hospitality leaders similar to Anthony Bourdain, David Chang, Gordon Ramsay, and series produced by Netflix, Chef's Table, and industry podcasts distributed by Wondery and NPR. His writing and speaking engagements have engaged audiences at venues such as Aspen Ideas Festival, TED Conferences, James Beard Foundation events, and culinary symposiums hosted by Institute of Culinary Education.

Awards and recognition

During his career Guidara and his restaurants received accolades from the James Beard Foundation for categories including Outstanding Service and Outstanding Restaurant, earned stars from the Michelin Guide, and ranked on lists compiled by World's 50 Best Restaurants and editorial teams at The New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine. He and his teams were profiled in features by The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Forbes, and Bloomberg Businessweek for innovation in hospitality, workplace culture, and experiential dining.

Personal life

Guidara has maintained connections with cultural and philanthropic organizations in New York City, supporting charities and community initiatives aligned with food access and hospitality workforce development such as City Harvest and culinary training programs linked to Hot Bread Kitchen and ProStart USA. He resides in the New York metropolitan area and engages in public speaking, mentorship, and advisory roles with culinary institutes and hospitality startups.

Category:American restaurateurs Category:People from Sleepy Hollow, New York