If you’ve ever walked into LIV, Komodo, or Papi Steak and wondered how those rooms feel less like restaurants and more like an experience that’s been waiting for you, Take It Personal by David Grutman explains it all. And I have to say upfront: I’ve personally known David for over twelve years, so I came into this one having an idea and living in Miami along the timeline of where many of these iconic places began.
What surprised me was how much the book made me feel like I was sitting across the table from him hearing the story at dinner. It’s written in his truly authentic voice, the same one I’ve heard over many dinners and conversations during our time living in Miami. If you’ve never met him, you’ll feel like you have by the end of the book. And if you have, you’ll be smiling on every page.
Masterclass meets Memoir
From cover to cover, this is a leadership meets hospitality book wrapped in a memoir filled with so many valuable lessons based on personal experience. David walks you through the origin stories of the empire he’s built including the late nights, the deals, the near-misses, the partners he bet on before anyone else did and he doesn’t sugarcoat any of it. You feel the heat, the music, the chaos, the relentless work… the book shares it all.
The “Take it Personal” Philosophy
The thesis is right there in the title: every guest, every interaction, every detail is personal. This isn’t a slogan for him, it’s how he actually operates (I truly can attest as I’ve seen it myself), and the book breaks down exactly what that looks like in practice. He talks about remembering names, anticipating needs, building rituals that turn first-timers into regulars. As a reader, you start to realize this philosophy isn’t just for hospitality. It’s how he runs his teams, his partnerships, his life and one of the many reasons why he is so successful in his endeavors.
The IP chapter is the hidden gem
The chapter on IP (intellectual property) was the one I didn’t see coming, and it’s the one I keep thinking about. Most hospitality or business advice books skip right past this. David doesn’t. He gets into how he thinks about owning ideas, building proprietary concepts, protecting what makes a brand a brand. It reframes the whole industry. You stop seeing restaurants and clubs as venues and start seeing them as IP: assets with stories, equity, and reach. For anyone building anything, not just in hospitality, that chapter alone is worth the read.
Leadership and team-building
The other thread that runs through the whole book is people: how he hires, how he trains, how he keeps a team motivated through unconventional hours of the hospitality industry. He’s generous with credit and honest about his standards. You walk away understanding that the magic of his rooms isn’t accident or aesthetics — it’s the team, drilled and cared for in equal measure. Attention to detail is incredibly important as part of the entire experience he takes you on with his businesses and it shows.
The verdict
Take It Personal is a must-read. It’s short enough to finish in a weekend, dense enough to keep going back to the deep lessons taught in it, and it sounds exactly like the man who wrote it. Whether you’re a Miami obsessive, an entrepreneur, or just someone who appreciates great service done with intention, pick it up. And if you’ve ever met David, prepare to hear his voice in your head the entire way through.