I Regret Almost Everything, Keith McNally
I Regret Almost Everything, Keith McNally
2 Rating(s)
List: $25.99 | Sale: $17.15
Club: $12.99

I Regret Almost Everything

Bestseller

Author: Keith McNally

Narrator: Richard E. Grant

Unabridged: 11 hr 3 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/06/2025

Synopsis

New York Times Bestseller

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 Keith McNally

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 Richard E. Grant

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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Elaine on May 18, 2025

I found this book surprisingly good. Some of McNally’s bon mots and attempts to be paradoxical grate. But the history of his restaurants was a walk down memory lane for me, through various phases of the New York I love (and have been an obsessed foodie in my whole adult life). It’s also refreshingly......more

Goodreads review by Kelsey on April 22, 2025

Best if you live in New York City or are familiar with his restaurants. Probably 3.5 stars......more

Goodreads review by Cal on April 27, 2025

Fascinating writer. I would’ve done almost every single thing differently in my life.......more

Goodreads review by Chaya on May 05, 2025

I was counting down the days until I was able to read I Regret Almost Everything. The author has been very open about his life experiences after two serious strokes on Instagram and I was looking forward to reading his writings in a longer format. It turns out, I read this book after my father suffe......more

Goodreads review by Caroline on May 13, 2025

I loved this book. Witty and introspective and full of great stories......more

Quotes

"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"

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List