Restaurants serve as the backdrop to big moments and small ones, from family celebrations and dates to business deals. They are among Debbie von Ahrens’ favorite destinations now, but she knows that it took time to learn how to use those moments well. Her years in New York restaurants and television advertising fill the pages of The Business of Dining: A Guide to Making a Five-Star Impression, a book for readers who want to feel comfortable at any table.
Why Business Meals Feel So High Stakes
For many people, a business dinner raises uncomfortable questions. What should I order? Which wine makes sense? What if I use the wrong utensil in front of a client? Debbie points out that these worries are common and have little to do with manners. They usually come from a lack of practice and preparation.
Her guide is available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle and audiobook editions. It covers the details that are easy to overlook, from tipping and stemware to how restaurants are run behind the scenes. It also shows how to entertain clients and handle awkward situations calmly, with the aim of helping readers feel comfortable in almost any dining situation, whether they are the guest or the host.
Listening is another theme. Debbie was once on a client call when an account executive introduced her to a top supervisor at one of the largest advertising agencies in New York, a woman with a very tough reputation. Trembling inside, Debbie smiled and the two had a pleasant conversation. The supervisor was surprised that Debbie was not intimidated by her, and she shares the story among her lessons on the importance of listening.
From a Greenwich Village Restaurant to the Television Business
One Fifth, a chic restaurant owned by George Schwarz, made a strong impression of its own: a long mahogany bar, jazz in the front room, and a staff dressed in black and white. Debbie could tell that every single thing in it had been chosen to enhance the patron’s experience. Debbie walked in as a 1978 transfer student at NYU, looking for work to cover school and living expenses, and she remembers feeling like the luckiest girl in New York when she was hired. She later became the restaurant’s first female wine captain.
A move into television followed. As Vice President and Director of Sales for FOX5 New York and MY9, she spent a great deal of time with clients and executives, and she came to see that each client she got to know added to her value at the company.
Once television was behind her, restaurants called her back. She worked at Augustine, helped reopen Balthazar after the pandemic, and later assisted in opening an entirely new One Fifth with Chef Marc Forgione. She found that talented, capable people still froze at the table, simply because nobody had taught them how dining and hospitality really work. That conviction became the guide, which earned a 2024 Best Independent Book Award and, at the 2024 Global Book Awards, a Bronze in Business Life. Debbie wrote it to help level the playing field, so that whether a reader is heading off to college, starting a first job, or building a career, the pages leave them feeling comfortable, capable, and ready for whatever seat at the table comes next.
About the Author
An author, speaker, and former television sales executive, Debbie von Ahrens also has years of experience in celebrated New York restaurants. Her corporate seminars and workshops, including a 90-minute seminar and a half-day workshop, cover hosting clients with confidence, networking strategies, and restaurant etiquette that matters.
Setting the Stage for a Beautiful Evening
Debbie hopes readers will walk into a restaurant and see more than a meal waiting for them. Behind every table are a restaurateur and a staff who have prepared the evening on the guest’s behalf, and once readers appreciate that, she says, they will realize the stage is set and can take the lead in creating a beautiful evening. She invites them to create those unique and magical moments, and then enjoy them.
We had the privilege of interviewing Debbie von Ahrens. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
I’m Debbie von Ahrens, author of the award-winning The Business of Dining: A Guide to Making a Five-Star Impression. After careers in New York City’s restaurant industry and broadcast advertising, I’ve brought those experiences together to help people feel more confident and comfortable in dining situations, particularly when business and relationships are involved.
Please tell us about your journey.
During my nearly 30-year advertising career, I attended countless business lunches, client dinners, and networking events. I saw firsthand how important these occasions could be in developing professional relationships.
My restaurant experience at One Fifth, Augustine, and Balthazar gave me another perspective. I understood not only what guests experienced but also everything happening behind the scenes.
I wrote the book to share that knowledge in a practical, approachable way.
What strategies helped you become successful?
Preparation and confidence are essential, but so is making others feel comfortable. I’ve always believed that the best business relationships develop naturally when people can relax, listen, and engage in meaningful conversation.
The smallest details often make the biggest impression.
Any message for our readers?
For young professionals, a business meal can be an opportunity—or an intimidating experience. Which fork do you use? How do you order wine? How do you handle an awkward situation?
These are things nobody should have to learn through embarrassment.
The Business of Dining offers practical answers to these questions and many more. My message is simple: professional presence starts at the table, and confidence comes from knowing what to do.
Thank you so much, Debbie, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
