Rialto Owner Dishes on Finding Success in Boston's Restaurant Scene By Douglas Reeves

Introduction• James Beard Award winner Jody Adams, the sole

owner of the Boston mainstay Rialto, recently talked with The New York Times about how she’s found success in the restaurant business. Rialto, which has 50 employees and generates about $4 million in revenue each year, has operated in the Charles Hotel on Harvard Square for 20 years. Adams, who is married and has adult children, said that owning restaurants requires a “completely unpredictable way of life” and an ongoing commitment to work.

Boston's Restaurant Scene• Adams attributes her longtime success to paying

attention to the daily details, including making sure that her restaurants don’t waste food and that they make necessary adjustments to operate economically. She said Rialto has avoided the notorious turnover rate for food service employees by providing a safe and secure environment for them, and she noted that some of the restaurant’s staff have worked for Rialto since it opened. Adams focuses on hiring talented people who have passion and a commitment to the restaurant’s mission and who can work well with the kitchen staff.