Salt & Roe's Alison Arth on her perfect New York Day

Feb 11

Feb 11 Salt & Roe's Alison Arth on her perfect New York Day

Alison Arth, founder and owner of hospitality consultancy Salt & Roe, grew up hospitable (her family ran a bed & breakfast). After college, Alison traveled the world working for restaurant legend Daniel Boulud before landing back in San Francisco to work for Delfina Restaurant Group and open their elite downtown concept The Battery. Today, Salt & Roe works with clients across the country to help them design, open, and manage beautiful restaurants.

Like many San Francisco transplants, Alison loves her home but still has a soft spot for New York City, where she spent her early career as a manager at Daniel. Can I Speak to the Manager caught up with Alison at Cotogna for cocktails and New York nostalgia.

On days off in nyc:

My days off in New York were very few and far between, like every 40 days, and always a Monday or Tuesday. So, I planned my days off very carefully.

Waking Up:

Ideally, I'd wake up in my apartment at 69th and 3rd without an alarm. I'd walk down to Via Quadronno, where I would order a whole milk cappuccino. After that, I'd head to Laduree for macarons and walk the few blocks to Central Park and eat my macarons while sitting in the park. Delightful! Keep in mind, this was really once every 40 days. I'm a big reader - I love fiction and would often accompany my macarons with a new book.

Shopping and Champagne:

Later in the day, I would usually find myself at Ralph Lauren, where one of my best friends worked, trying on clothes and drinking champagne. This would lead into some sort of shopping at one of the B stores - Barney's, Bergdorf's, etc. - and I would buy one thing, usually something unaffordable.

For Happy Hour:

By this time, I'd usually head to the bar at The Modern for rosé and white truffle popcorn with my friend Erin, another restaurant manager in the city. When you visit another manager's restaurant on your day off, it means something, so they treat you well.

Night Moves:

Later on, I'd meet up with another partner-in-crime - a nurse who had a weird schedule like I did - and we'd go out. We always ended up at The Spotted Pig. Usually, I'd break the promise I made to myself earlier in the night to take the subway, and take a super expensive cab ride back to the Upper East Side.

On her San Francisco favorites:

I love the Ramen Shop - make sure to get the vegetable ramen and the black sesame ice cream sandwich. I'm going to El Buen Comer for my birthday* - it's owned by a lovely woman named Isabella who moved here for her family, speaks mainly Spanish, and is doing an incredible job. I'll be getting the green pork mole.

On her service peeves:

When I was a server and people would try to help me clear their plates. When you are clearing a large party of 8, you approach the table with a specific plan on exactly which order you are going to pick up the plates, how you are going to balance them on your arms, where you are going to put the silverware, etc. And then someone hands you their plate out of order - and everything's off.