I didn’t like this book. The writing fell flat, the story didn’t draw me in, I couldn’t find it in me to care about his ode to the restaurant business

This book was so enjoyable! Having never worked in the food service industry, I was mesmerized by the insider knowledge and love this writer shows for the work and people necessary to bring your food to the table. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the author, the University of Minnesota Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would especially like to thank the publisher, who made a galley copy available as I was unable to download the eBook - this did however delay my review. My apologies!

This memoir told in restaurants worked at is a great read. The author - on sabbatical from his academic career - needs cash and returns to what seems to be his destiny: working as a waiter. Having grown up in the Midwest, the "supper club" in the title caught my eye, but this is so much more than just a recounting of working in a restaurant. We follow the author from his first exposure to restaurants as a young boy, through his first jobs and end with what sounds like an absolute pinnacle for adventurous foodies. His memories and experiences are personal and told with humor and convey the joy and satisfaction of good food, and working with others to create and serve art in food form.

Matthew describes so clearly what it is like to wait in a restaurant. He takes you from the worst to the best and everything in between. I loved the descriptions and differences between causal and fine dining. He also described really well what make a good restaurant from the customer and employee perspective. Even if you don't care how restaurant service works, just read if for the story itself. This was beautifully written.

This is an unusual read for me, but I am so glad to have read it. I have never worked in the food industry so what an eye opener.. I was so absorbed in both the large and small issues that restaurants deal with. Good read for a foodie.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where memoirs and foodie titles are popular.

*4.5 stars*

Fast-paced, love (a restaurant) memoir…

Not a traditional love story, of course. This is man reminiscing about his time at his restaurant. The restaurant. One he loved to eat and drink at, and then, one where he loved to work. From his need to work, to the last day at The Brewer’s Table, the author honestly and earnestly shared the highlights, the lowlights and everything in between…

He was so excited about the subject and it showed in each memory he shared. How he got started and enjoyed the waiting business and why, after he didn’t need the job anymore, he stayed. Food, camaraderie, friendship – he had a lot to say about it and I enjoyed reading it all. Not stuffy or pretentious, he didn’t judge or define. Instead he offered the facts and his feelings about them – and it was grand…

In this foody-centric world, with vlogs, blogs, books and shows aplenty, this felt like a refreshing, new contribution…

A somewhat self-indulgent look at waiting tables in restaurants to make ends meet. As someone who worked in "the business" for many years, I cannot say I found his romanticized view of the food world believable, and I wondered if he actually did this to write the book, and not really for the need for the job. This did not whet my appetite for more of Batt's writing. indulgent look at waiting tables in restaurants to make ends meet.

I was interested in the memoir of a man deciding to work in a restaurant again while on sabbatical from his teaching job. That is not a combination that is expected. He does it because of a love for restaurants and food.
Dealing with obnoxious patrons is exhausting even to read about. It must be much worse to deal with in real life.

As a Midwesterner, beer and food fan, and curious diner I found this to be a very enjoyable "behind the cutain"-type read. I was drawn in by the cover and the title, for sure. I highly recommend this as a great Fall read. Oh, the book also touches on academia and references mainstream indie and other bands throughout. Bravo.

Matthew Batt is a college professor on sabbatical and has realized that he needs to supplement his income until he returns to his teaching position. He falls back on the work that he enjoyed in his younger days – waiting tables at a restaurant – not just any restaurant but a new high-end restaurant being launched by one of the biggest breweries in Minneapolis.

This book provides an inside look at what a waiter does before, during and after his shift, from memorizing the ingredients in all the dishes on the menu to dealing with the kitchen staff to diners who aren’t happy with the restaurant’s limited menu. As one who has never had a job waiting tables, some of this was news to me, although a lot seemed like common sense. I chuckled more than once while reading, and applauded his patience when dealing with rude and obnoxious diners.

The book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it just the same, and will think about some of the things the author mentioned the next time we go out to eat.

thought it would be like bourdain's writing and stories but it was very much not. i appreciated the writing and the way a person can find a way more meaningful way to live their life. moving from academia or any career like that to the restaurant industry is a huge change.

Moving Memoir Of A Memorable Moment. This is a memoir of one of those moments in one man's life where he was just looking to make a buck and make sure his family was ok... that turned into something he found he loved doing. After it ended, this book has become his love song to that period in his life, that place, and those people. And yes, Batt discusses his entire life, including touching on what he is doing outside the restaurant quite a bit. But even when the tale leaves the restaurant, it never strays too far... and it always comes back fairly quickly. Overall a poignant tale that will leave you looking back on the similar periods of your own life. Very much recommended.

This book is exciting at times, but at other times the author's tales lead to feelings of second-hand embarrassment which makes it difficult to continue. The timeline is also over the place, and the author often switches between years and different restaurant positions, which leads to a deep sense of confusion. All of that being said, I did enjoy reading about the kinship between the author and his co-workers, especially the relationship with Jorge. Not the best memoir I've read, but also not the worst.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

A super interesting look into the lives of waitstaff in a popular restaurant/bar.

I enjoyed this story as it unfolded and the team members became family. It was sad to end. Definitely opened my eyes to the inner workings of a new restaurant. You see the ups and downs, what makes a restaurant work and how important teamwork is. The author has a humorous way with telling a story, very entertaining!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

An interesting and engaging read. The author is a college professor on sabbatical is in need of an infusion of cash so he takes a job a at the restaurant thinking it would be only until his sabbatical was ended. He takes us along the journey and shares his experience from interview to the very last meal served. The restaurant was very well respected, received many awards and accolades and lasted three years when the owner shut it down. The story is told with honesty, humor, humility and weaves his love food and the industry with his love for his academic career. This read was much more than I expected and it was a truly wonderfully engaging read.

I've read many chef memoirs so reading The Last Supper Club was a different angle in the same industry. This is more of a love letter to an industry and a restaurant.

I hope that Matthew Batt is able to continue writing as he is a great talent. I also hope that he has all of the cauliflower he could ever want.

Thanks to netGalley and the publishers for the opportunity.

I really enjoyed this. It was interesting to read and very enjoyable. This is a great book to quickly read and relax to.
I just reviewed The Last Supper Club by Matthew Batt. #TheLastSupperClub #NetGalley
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Thanks to NetGalley and Univ Of Minnesota Press for an advanced copy of this book. I love to cook and always enjoy a good "behind the scenes" look at what it takes to running a restaurant and being employed in one of the many jobs, especially the chefs. I looked forward to reading this and it proved to be quite different from say, "Kitchen Confidential". I found the dilemma Matthew Batt felt between his official career in academia and his experiences in working in restaurants quite interesting. Given the incredible cost, both literally and figuratively, that went into completing his degrees so he could teach in a university, one would think he would do all he could to pursue that. Yet, his inner sense led him to see that he really enjoyed working in the restaurants, despite the typical societal putdowns of being a server. This book is more about the author's personal journey than a tell all book about the restaurant business. I recommend this book to all who may struggle with their own personal pursuits.

I love a book about food. I read cookbooks and enjoy reading recipes. I don’t know what it is – soothing, maybe? The Last Supper Club is also a memoir, set in the Midwest, and takes you through the journey of a professor-turned-server or maybe the other way around.

It gives all the behind-the-scenes, messy, and sometimes comical details of kitchen life and customer interactions. There’s a part where the author lists a bunch of restaurants familiar in his area. As someone who likes to read lists of ingredients and restaurant descriptions, I enjoyed it. However, others may feel it does little to move the story along.

There are a few instances where the story and timeline are a little jerky. My feeling is it’s intentional to mimic restaurant chaos. With that being said, Batt does a good job with description and taking you into the hospitality world. So, any flaws, if you can call them that, are minor.