The Culinary Institute of America's six award-winning restaurants offer extraordinary cuisines in a variety of settings. Although securing reservations on a Friday or Saturday can require advance planning, same-day reservations are often readily available for lunch and dinner on weekdays.
Please note: The Wine Spectator Greystone restaurant is located in St. Helena, CA; all other restaurants are located in Hyde Park, NY.
For Reservations:
Hyde Park, NY restaurants:
Call 845-471-6608 or reserve online
Wine Spectator Greystone restaurant (St. Helena, CA): Call 707-967-1010
John W. Fischer '88, C.H.E.,
Associate Professor in Table Service
John Fischer is an associate professor in table service at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY. Mr. Fischer serves as maître d' instructor in the college's Escoffier Restaurant. The Ivy Award-winning restaurant, which is also a classroom for students in the CIA's culinary arts degree program, features the culinary traditions of France with a light, contemporary touch.
His front-of-the-house class, titled "Advanced Table Service," emphasizes high-quality customer service, wine and spirits, restaurant trends, and sales. Mr. Fischer's students also study reservation and point-of-sale systems, managing costs, and managing service. Mr. Fischer is the author of the CIA's book about service and customer relations, At Your Service: A Hands-On Guide to the Professional Dining Room (John Wiley & Sons, 2005).
A 1988 CIA graduate, Mr. Fischer completed his externship field experience at Le Bernardin in New York City. Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2000 as a faculty member, Mr. Fischer held managerial positions at renowned New York City restaurants. He was general manager of Morrell Wine Bar & Café, manager of Carmine's and Arizona 206, cellar master at Rainbow!, manager and wine director of Fresco by Scotto, wine and floor manager at Manhattan Ocean Club, wine director and beverage manager at Campagna and Hudson River Club, and maître d' and wine director at Mondrian.
A Certified Hospitality Educator (C.H.E.), Mr. Fischer also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA.