A great restaurant is as much about the service as the food. It’s about the smile when you arrive, the way you’re seated at your table, the glass of your favourite wine appearing as if by magic. Nothing is too much trouble. The art of perfect service may seem effortless but what’s really going on behind the scenes…?

From belligerent Michelin-starred chefs to Bollinger-swigging managers, Britain’s best-known, best-loved maitre d’ is here to lift the lid on life behind the scenes of the world’s best restaurants. With over 25 years’ experience of charming guests, Fred Siriex has seen and heard it all, and as always, he’s here to help.

In Secret Service Fred shares his hilarious and hair-raising tales of life front-of-house, divulging his philosophy about how to ensure a first-class restaurant experience, and showing who’s ultimately in control in the dining room. Pull up a chair, settle in and prepare for the juiciest meal of your life as Fred reveals the highs, the lows and the keys to life on the other side of the table, all in his own inimitable style.

This beguiling book brings the First Dates world to the page: all the
heart-warming twists and turns of the most awkward meal of the daters’ lives, the larger-than-life characters we have grown to love, and the
timeless wisdom of Fred and his team.

They share their match-making secrets: from breaking the ice to dealing with surprises and getting to grips with the rules of attraction, along with all the toe-curling moments and across-the-table triumphs as couples seek to find The One.

This is First Dates. This is The Art of Love.