Restaurant Influencers

For the cofounder of Asian-inspired restaurant chain Chicken Meets Rice (@chickenmeetsrice) Shone Tran, a night out drinking with a friend and eventual business partner led to much more than memories of laughter and great conversations. Listen to this interview to learn about pulling inspiration from tragedy, taking small steps, and thriving in business with your best friend. https://content.calib...

Hernán Regiardo and Samantha Trottier, founders of Mate Society (@workbymate), built a reputation for beautiful photos and appealing content. The TikTok stars have even partnered with big companies like Bang Energy drinks and Hello Kitty. Listen to this interview to learn about authentic online connections, being in the creator economy, and choosing the right brand deals. https://content.calibbq.m...

Super Taco Mexican Restaurants (@supertacomex) founder Julian Cervantes knew as a young man that he wanted to own a business. He just didn’t know what to open or even how to get started. Luckily there were people around him who could help. Watch this interview to learn about starting a business from scratch, having a Plan B, and balancing family and a restaurant. https://restaurantinfluencers.medi...

Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani has solidified his stature as a titan in the restaurant industry with hard work and a strong personality. Watch this interview with the food entrepreneur and CEO to learn about how culture should be the number one goal for any business, finding — and using — celebrity, and learning to stick to a specific system. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try TOAST Technology...

Javier Correa has spent his entire life in the restaurant industry. His Sombrero Mexican Food restaurant made its mark with a simple marketing technique: good food. Listen to this interview with the third-generation restaurant owner to learn about celebrity endorsements, finding an effective pace, and scaling a business. https://restaurantinfluencers.media TOAST makes your restaurant better: https...

Robert “Don Pooh” Cummins has enjoyed success from music to food. He’s done it all by having a keen eye for talent and a willingness to keep trying. Listen to this interview with the Brooklyn Chop House Owner about working in the music industry, opening franchises, and creating avenues for black entrepreneurs. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU ANSWERING and Save $100: https://popmenu...

It takes great people to run great companies. Levy Restaurants (@levy.restaurants) became great by its commitment to culture. Listen to this interview with Jennifer Allen, vice president of restaurant operations, to learn more about running successful restaurants, being a “restaurant girl,” and her company’s values. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU ANSWERING and Save $100: https://p...

Typically you don’t want customers saying W.T.F. But not at Velvet Taco, where the innovative WTF — Weekly Taco Feature — draws in food fans every week. Listen to this interview with CEO Clay Dover (@velvettacoceo) about limited time offers (LTOs), building customer rapport, and their promise to always try new things. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU ANSWERING and Save $100: https:/...

With confidence, drive and enough time, Just a Taste blog founder Kelly Senyei was able to turn her hobby into a business. Listen to this interview to learn about Food Blogging for Dummies, writing a cookbook, and generating revenue from online content. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU ANSWERING and Save $100: https://popmenu.c...

Wow Bao CEO Geoff Alexander learned that in order to expand a virtual restaurant concept you have to “wow” with impressive branding. Listen to this interview to learn about improving your online presence, digital ordering innovations, and letting go in order to grow. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Sign Up for POPMENU and Save $100: https...

Sweet Baby Ray’s is a household name. But even a world-famous brand has room to grow on social media. Listen to this interview with Duce Raymond of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Catering to learn about making TikToks, going viral, and getting a shoutout from Mark Zuckerberg. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU Answering and Save $100: http...

When co-founding Popmenu, CEO Brendan Sweeney knew they would do things differently. The first rules? No corporate bullshit or egos. Listen to this interview to learn about building a positive user experience for customers, and the importance of answers. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers, presented by Toast. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try out POPMENU and save $100: ht...

When Olo was listed on the NYSE, it was Day 5,769 of the company. But for CEO Noah Glass, it was still Day 1. Listen to this interview to learn about using digital data to make guests feel like regulars, on-demand commerce, and deciding to Embrace The Suck. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers, presented by Toast. https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU Answering and Save...

Matt Plapp is on a mission to help the best restaurants become even better. Listen to this interview with the America’s Best Restaurants CEO to learn about restaurant tech, making a CRM, and how it only takes 600 customers to transform your P&L. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers, presented by Toast? https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU Answering and Save $100: https...

Shaz Khan knows the adage of not mixing friends and family with business or money. But when he co-founded a restaurant he mixed all four. Listen to this interview with the co-owner of Tono Pizzeria and Cheesesteaks to learn about scaling a company and combining friendship and business. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers, presented by Toast? https://restaurantinfluencers.media T...

Andre Vener helped create a household name in Dog Haus (@doghausdogs) with a dynamic approach to classic food choices. Listen to this interview to learn about launching successful restaurant brands, franchising, and scaling with ghost kitchens.  LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers, presented by Toast? https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try POPMENU Answering: https://popmenu.com...

Before he was a James Beard nominated chef, Matt Horn (@MattHornX) started out humbly cooking over a fire in his grandmother's backyard. Listen to this interview with the Horn Hospitality Group CEO about growing a global brand with social media and why he decided to “burn the boats.” LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LEARNED on Restaurant Influencers, presented by Toast? https://restaurantinfluencers.media Try...

Eitan Bernath (@eitan) built an empire before turning 20. Listen to this interview with the personality and creator about starting a career early, working with Drew Barrymore, and writing a cookbook. WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of Restaurant Influencers, presented by Toast? Leave a review to let us know! https://restaurantinfluencers.media Reclaim the power of your phone with POPMENU ANSWER...

Nina Manchev left her comfort zone to connect with new audiences using video. Listen to this interview with Forte Tapas owner and entrepreneur Nina Manchev (@fortetapas) about connecting with video, learning to be confident on camera, and appearing on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of Restaurant Influencers, sponsored by Toast? Leave a review to let us know! Make...

Technology helps restaurants thrive. Listen to this interview with Toast CEO Chris Comparato (@chriscomparato) about leading with the customer in mind, having a digital-first mentality, and how innovative tech like what Toast provides are helping restaurants find the success they deserve. WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of Restaurant Influencers, sponsored by Toast? Subscribe and leave a review...

The future is in your hands: your phone. Restaurateur Stratis Morfogen joins us at the MURTEC Conference in Las Vegas to talk about using new technology at his Brooklyn Dumpling Shop and other creative concepts, and how all businesses can be improved with smartphone storytelling. WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of Restaurant Influencers, sponsored by Toast? Subscribe and leave a review to let u...

“How do we strive for excellence every day?” That is the question that Philip Camino uses as the foundation for his hospitality company’s consistent pursuit of greatness. “If you make it great, people are going to find it.” Listen to this interview with the restaurateur to learn about finding lifelong customers with hospitality, adapting to a changing restaurant business, and the importance of wel...

After massive success building the purpose-driven restaurant chain Tender Greens, David Dressler found his own purpose — to help others do the same. Listen to this interview with the author of “Ten Year Plan: How the Founders of Tender Greens Scaled Their Heart-Centered Brand” to learn about scaling a $100 million company, thoughtful approaches to business, and building heart-centered brands. WHAT...

Brandon Dearden is living a chef’s dream and sharing it with the world on social media. Using TikTok as his main social networking tool under @chefauthorized, the “CEO of ChefTok” has amassed over half a million followers on the platform. Listen now to learn the Silicon Valley chef’s tips for going viral on social media with consistency and simplicity. WHAT DID YOU LEARN on Restaurant Influencers,...

Chef Roy Yamaguchi knows it takes great people to make great food. The celebrity chef and multiple restaurant owner found success by focusing on his belief in creating a culture of warmth and hospitality. The focus of Roy’s food empire is on a foundational question: What can you do for people today that’s above and beyond?  WHAT DID YOU LEARN on Restaurant Influencers, sponsored by Toast (@Toastta...