Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

When I started my very first restaurant, I was obsessed with 3 things: Service, Quality and creating Amazing Dining Experiences for my guests. I relied heavily on my team to provide their unique talents, experience and personalities that consistently set us apart from our competition. I was a relentless Marketer and I was also obsessed with Profit and squeezing every dime out of my operation. I re...

You don't want to run a restaurant, you want to Build a powerful Brand that draws customers, positive reviews and press! I’m sure you'd agree that your staff are not only the foundation of your operation, but an extension of your brand. Nothing you do is more important than training your staff, keeping them performing their best and inspiring them to dazzle your guests. In this episode of the Rest...

What do one of the world’s largest companies have in common with you? An authentic vested interest in helping your restaurant operation succeed! As restaurateurs and managers, we continue to need all the help and support we can find to get past this crisis. Not just surviving the pandemic, but making your business better for your staff and customers everyday. Don’t miss this episode of the Restaur...

This is not a trick question! Would you like to multiply your restaurant’s sales and bring in more business when you need it without stressing out your staff, or adding more employees? Then listen to this week’s episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast. I’m speaking with Mr. Kirk Mauriello, the Co-Founder and President of Virturant. He’s going to show you how to expand your marketing reach and...

This restaurant needs no introduction. Your first thought might be orange hot pants, calendar girls and sex appeal, but this brand is going much broader and shifting its focus to a more well-rounded appeal. If nothing else, Covid changed the consumer’s mindset to “escape”. Escape from restriction, escape from routine and most of all escape from the rigors of daily life. Customers are now coming ba...

In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I speak with Ms. Karalyn White of Paramount Fine Foods, creator of Box’D. Listen and learn how this Middle Eastern food concept trades front of house order-takers for chefs and a concierge team, delivering healthy food fast. Here’s how it works: After placing an order – either through the Box’D mobile app or via in-store kiosks, Box’D chefs prep...

Exemplary service, hospitality and exclusivity are hard to achieve in any restaurant or operation, yet are highly sought by your customers. We all want to feel special and important, and those businesses able to deliver the “personal touch” will capture our business. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Ron Gorodesky Founder and CEO of Refined Hospitality. He is a...

It’s hard enough to start and successfully operate a restaurant in this country. But imagine doing it with numerous restaurants, while raising a family in a foreign land. This is the birth of a proud family legacy, and generations of pride in our business. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Yianni Kosmides of Apola Greek Grill. He is a Greek native who with his...

Every now and again, I meet wonderful people filled with passion and zest for life. Often, this translates into doing good for others and being fulfilled. Combined, these traits have become a business sharing the products of a romantic country, struggling to emerge from economic adversity. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Rafael Martinez De Sanzo, better known to h...

Every now and again I meet a true hospitality innovator. Someone who sees around corners and whose vision anticipates trends before they happen. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Mr. James Geier. He’s an artist, sculptor and designer at heart, turned restaurateur and event impresario (more on this in a moment). For nearly 3 decades his design studio 555 Internationa...

To build a powerful restaurant brand, you don’t need a Marketing Degree from Business School. You need imagination, creativity and an expert in your corner. What do you want your guests to think about your place? What image do you want to present? Will your ideas lead to more business and positive reviews? How will you convince customers to come in the door? In this episode of the Restaurant Rocks...

I’ve watched several concepts thrive during the pandemic, but this one defies the odds with incredible growth during the peak of Covid. Imagine opening 25 new locations while the pandemic is devastating much of our industry. If that’s not crazy enough, believe that these new franchise restaurant stores actually rang a 45% increase in grand-opening sales over those that opened pre-pandemic. There’s...

Many of us, myself included have been relentless in getting our fair share of all the free government money that keeps on coming. So you want to pay close attention and hang on every word in this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, as there is yet more free money falling from the sky. I’m speaking with Matthew Patrick, Founder & President of “Whirks” and Patrick Accounting and he will tel...

Imagine building a brand almost as recognizable as McDonalds. Sweet right? In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Jaime Oikle of Running Restaurants and I speak with Mark Kelegian. Mark is the President and master brand-builder of Randy’s Donuts. Randy’s is a super-powerful brand that is both pandemic-proof and iconic. This brand is also internationally recognized and growing fast! L...

What if you could offer your customers the ability to open their own tabs, split checks, pay and leave tips using contactless technology at their leisure. This is the future of restaurant service and true hospitality. In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Tim McLaughlin, CEO of GoTab and a fellow restaurant owner. Tim’s come up with a way to put control in your customer’s hands leaving your servic...

The sands of running restaurants keep shifting. The minute you think you’ve made a key-pivotal decision, the rules change again, and it’s back to the drawing board. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars podcast, my friend and industry pro Jaime Oikle of Running Restaurants interviews me on buying a restaurant just before the pandemic, the challenges we continue to face and our strategies to...

I’ve always believed a great restaurant website brings the food, drinks and experience to life for the customer and draws them in. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Tony Darden and Ted Beaman of a red-hot burger joint called Mooyah www.mooyah.com! I’ve always believed this business is all about entertainment, and these guys bring that showbiz approach to their...

If you’re a sports fan, you probably like sports bars. Before the pandemic, you’d enjoy gathering with friends sharing beers and great food watching incredible victories and heart-wrenching defeats. It was a weekly ritual that suddenly came to a screeching halt. Today I’m speaking with Geo Concepcion the CEO of Greene Turtle, a once fast-rising chains of sports bars. He had a thriving business wit...

If you want to run a restaurant and be like every other restaurant, go for it. If you want to build a brand, stay with us. This is a powerful episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast. It's different and a bit unconventional, but stay tuned to learn how to dominate your competition by becoming “notorious” in your marketplace. You do this through great customer service. I’m speaking with Mark Qui...

During this pandemic and reduced consumer confidence providing a food delivery service to your customers is a must! But you’re probably thinking where to begin? Well hold on, we’ve got you covered. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with two guys who can set up your restaurant delivery service from soup to nuts. If you need vetted, insured drivers, they have it. If y...

I’m a huge believer that training your staff to provide Superior Customer Service is “Job 1” for any business, especially restaurants. In the thousands of details in running your restaurant, nothing will build your business faster, nor have a greater impact on your profit and bottom line. This is more important now during the pandemic than ever. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast,...

I own a breakfast restaurant and this pandemic has hit us hard! We’ve been forced to pivot several times since March. We’ve shrunk our menu, shrunk our staff, closed our dining room, opened it back up and turned ourselves into a Grab N Go market… all in the name of survival and future success. Government relief funds have been our Godsend and is giving us the chance to pivot again with an all-new...

Whether you’re a restaurant owner, chef or line cook, now may be the time to uplevel your kitchen talent. This pandemic keeps on keeping on, but you’re future in this business depends on your creativity, skillset and value to your employer. So why not consider taking cooking classes online? In this episode of the Restaurant RockStars Podcast, I’m speaking with Ken Rubin, Chief Culinary Officer of...

Finding gratitude and hope this holiday...from my heart and home to yours.

Imagine a teenage passion for cake decorating leading to a high-flying career opening and investing in numerous restaurants, consulting to top hospitality groups, and then just before Covid hit, opening a new wine bar and restaurant. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Lindsey Anderson, a top sommelier and now proprietor of UVAE Kitchen & Wine Bar in Chicagoland....