My restaurants are never opened on Thanksgiving; I want my staff to spend time with their family if they can. My feeling is, if I can't figure out how to make money the rest of the year so that my workers can enjoy the holidays, then I don't deserve to be an owner.

Awards and honors
In 1995 The Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine named Symon as Cleveland’s hottest chef. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as Iron Chef America Food Feuds and The Best Thing I Ever Ate as well as Cook Like an Iron Chef on the Cooking Channel and The Chew on ABC. He took a part time job at Gepetto's Ribs on Warren Rd.

Symon describes his cooking as "meat-centric. Additionally he owns Michael Symon's Roast (also known as Roast) in Detroit Michigan. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as Iron Chef America Food Feuds and The Best Thing I Ever Ate as well as Cook Like an Iron Chef on the Cooking Channel and The Chew on ABC.