The Man Behind Nobu: Building NYC’s Restaurant Scene with Drew Nieporent

All on the Table with Katie Lee Biegel · Apr 30, 2026 · 40m

Katie talks with legendary restaurateur Drew Nieporent for a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at his remarkable career and his new memoir, I’m Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Drew shares how growing up surrounded by the city’s diverse food scene sparked his passion for restaurants early on—eventually leading him to study at Cornell and even take his first job at McDonald’s, where he learned the power of consistency. From there, he went on to open some of New York City’s most iconic spots, including Tribeca Grill, Tavern on the…