Meet Daniel Henn of Worden Hall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Henn.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Daniel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My dad worked as a server in a French restaurant in Mystic, CT while I was growing up to make some extra money. I was always enthralled by the techniques and “floor show” that he and his fellow servers exercised every night and knew that was going to be my calling. I started washing dishes when I was 15 but then left the industry to pursue a couple of years of college. I returned when I was 20 as a busboy in the same French restaurant my dad had worked in years earlier. I progressed through the company, learning every role both in the front- and back-of-the-house. My restaurant experience took me to Boston, where I was able to work at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Park Square. My friend (and future business partner) Dylan Welsh was a bartender at a place across the street, and naturally we spent a lot of time at each other’s establishments. Dylan left his restaurant group to start his own endeavor in Davis Square- Five Horses Tavern. He was able to persuade me to leave Davio’s after 10 years and run his restaurant while he looked for a second location. After a couple of years at Five Horses, we found a great location for our 3rd venture- Worden Hall. We’ve been here ever since!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Opening and managing any business- let alone a restaurant- is always a challenge. Not only are you clearing all of the bureaucratic and administrative hurdles that are part of the opening process, but you’re working with all of the individual personalities that comprise your restaurant staff. Still, at the end of the day, successfully taking care of our guests’ needs trumps the hours and effort put into the business.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Worden Hall – what should we know?
The core of our entire business, the bedrock that we build off of, is hospitality. Providing a great experience that meets or exceeds our guests’ expectations is what it’s all about, and I’m fortunate that I’m surrounded by a support team of amazing people that feel the same way. Any restaurant in Boston can serve you a burger and a beer, hopefully it’s our service and hospitality that sets us apart.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Knowing how to listen. It sounds simple but taking the time to hear out your team’s suggestions, thoughts, and grievances goes a long way to keeping the operation running smoothly.

Pricing:

• Prices range from $5 for some of our bar bites to $27 for our most-expensive entree.

Contact Info:

• Address: 22 W Broadway
  Boston, MA 02127
• Website: www.wordenhall.com
• Phone: 617-752-4206
• Email: info@wordenhall.com
• Instagram: WordenHall
• Facebook: Worden Hall
• Twitter: WordenHall

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.