Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

Restaurant Marketing is so important, but few operators are also expert marketers. What most operators tend to do is experiment by trying this and trying that, hoping for the best. The problem is that most restaurant marketing is not trackable, so you don’t really know if it’s working. Worry not! In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast I’m speaking with Restaurant Marketing expert Caro...

We all bring passion and talents to this business and sometimes those talents become our competitive advantage. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Kevin Cimini, the owner and designer of Gair, a new restaurant startup in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn. Kevin masterfully applied his architecture and design background to create a dynamic space using historic b...

You might be thinking it’s time to sell your restaurant. Whether you wish to retire, start another business, have more time for family or you’re just done, this is your episode. This week on the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Robin Gagnon, the Co-Founder & CEO of “We Sell Restaurants”. With tremendous industry knowledge and an amazing track record of successful sales, Robin shares...

We all seek restaurant success but during these challenging times, you might be thinking “Is it all worth it” and “If we can’t be successful and happy with our business why do it”? Perhaps the answer is to true restaurant success is rekindling the passion for why you got into this business; but moreover, creating a special culture and leadership style that moves your business forward. “Leaders rec...

We all define hospitality in our own way, and it’s a foundational element in your business. Ensure that your staff is trained on what hospitality means and more importantly how it affects your guest’s experience. In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Alfio Celia, VP of Food & Beverage for Crescent Restaurant Group, a division of Crescent Hotels and Resorts....

Most of us started with a dream and an idea for a great restaurant concept. It’s always so interesting to me to see how restaurant concepts evolve and grow. While some operators are happy with one store, others have the vision to expand and grow their portfolio. This may mean multiple locations and/or multiple restaurant concepts. This week on the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Au...

This episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast is all about what it takes to maximize restaurant profit, to build your “dream team” staff, and to create a powerful brand and a legacy business. You’ll hear immediately actionable ideas to improve your sales, uplevel processes, boost team morale and ROCK YOUR RESTAURANT. There are so many nuggets and key-takeaways you can use in your own operation....

We are all trying to stay ahead of the trends, maintain a loyal staff and effectively handle problem customers. How you manage your staff plays a huge role in their happiness, their longevity, and their loyalty to your business. Having an amazing and extensive team at your fingertips is a critical factor in your restaurant’s success. Your team can also help you identify and anticipate trends, espe...

This episode is all about what it takes to run a great restaurant kitchen and a chef's journey to success! There are so many nuggets and key-takeaways you can use in your own operation. In today’s episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Chef Grace Goudie of Scratchboard Kitchen in the suburbs of Chicagoland. Listen or watch as Chef tells us: - How aspiring chefs can take their kn...

I coach my clients all the time to stop running a restaurant and start running a business. You can either have a restaurant strategy or keep putting out daily fires. Having a strategy is pro-active and moves your business forward. In this week’s episode of the podcast, I am speaking with restaurant strategy experts Carl Orsbourn and Meredith Sandland. Listen as Carl and Meredith coach us on: - Wha...

In this business of 1000 details, your primary focus is on pleasing your guests and putting out great food & drink. Some of the other necessary admin type tasks, like restaurant tip reporting, can be unpleasant and overlooked! Let’s talk about restaurant tip reporting and compliance. It’s hard to keep everything fair and everyone happy while staying on the right side of the IRS. In this episode of...

There is a magic formula to running a great restaurant. For some this comes easy, for others it’s elusive. What makes a truly great restaurant – one with long-time staff, great food & vibe, and most importantly happy repeat guests? Well, find out in this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast. I’m speaking with Michelle Corry who has a true passion for great restaurants. She cut her teeth und...

We all know that being a restaurateur can be greatly fulfilling, but also incredibly challenging. During these times, running restaurants can certainly take their toll, but after 40 years, this passionate restaurateur keeps forging ahead working three meals a day! In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with restaurateur Mani Bhushan of Taco Ocho in Dallas. At 70+ he is s...

Everyone has a restaurant concept. Maybe your concept rocks, or maybe it could use a refresh and/or pivot! In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Travis Talbot, a global restaurant concept developer, hospitality impresario, cookbook author & restaurant coach. Travis has developed over 500 concepts for resorts, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Don’t miss thi...

This country has gone crazy about breweries, and a strong beer program is highly profitable for every restaurant! Whether you love and serve beer or not, it’s important to put yourself in your guest’s shoes to find out what they experience in your operation. We’ve all heard of secret shoppers who come in and evaluate a restaurant’s ambiance, service and food and drink quality, but have you heard o...

If your operation sells alcohol, you know that hour by hour bar business and profit often far exceeds that of food. But it’s not just about bar profit. You want your bar menu to offer your guests the same excitement as your food menu. I was traveling to Seattle a few weeks back and met a master mixologist who absolutely captured his guest’s attention with his curated and custom crafted cocktails....

What’s the magic formula to succeeding in the restaurant business? It’s Food, Service, Ambiance and Brand Building! You’ll find it all if you tune-in. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Andrew Pudalov, the CEO of Rush Bowls. Following 9/11, Andrew successfully pivoted from a high-flying finance career to the restaurant business. He’s going to tell us: - The brainchil...

Arguably, starting a new restaurant concept is one of the hardest things you can do! This is one of the most competitive of all industries, and the details to not only start but successfully run a new operation are endless. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Chef Brandon Buck of a new restaurant concept called “Crush Yard”. We’ve all heard the term “eater-tainme...

Many of us had a dream to start a restaurant. How many of you started your restaurant with just a dream and no experience? How many of you want to start but don’t know where to start? This is your episode? In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Jonathan Weathington, the CEO of Shuckin Shack, a super cool Oyster and Bar concept. Childhood friends had an idea to start...

There is a magic formula to true restaurant success, and it’s all in this episode. Settle in, take notes, execute and then watch your guest counts rise and your cash register ring! In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Scott SirLouis of FSC Franchise Co. He is a veteran operator, franchise team builder and all-around restaurant guy. Don’t miss Scott telling us: 👉...

There are a lot of restaurant concepts out there. To build a strong growing brand, you need to create something that catches the public’s attention! When selecting a place to dine, there are many times when we just feel like trying many options. We graze on this, and we try that. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Brady Lee, the President of Graze Craze. Brady i...

If your entire team understands and practices authentic restaurant hospitality, you have a competitive advantage and happy returning guests. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars podcast, I am speaking with Steve Turk, Founder and CEO of Turk Hospitality Ventures which specializes in executing stand-out food & beverage programs in restaurants and hotels. Don’t miss this episode as Steve and...

Whether you have a single restaurant or multiple restaurant concepts in the great cities around the world, we all share a vision and a passion for hospitality. Pleasing guests and running a great business are of course the driving forces behind everything we do each and every day. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with John Meadow, Founder and President of LDV Hospi...

Restaurant kitchens are the “heart” of our house and our people, recipes, food quality and presentations are our lifeblood. These determine our guest satisfaction, online reviews, a ringing cash register and repeat business. It’s a magic formula and delicate balance that’s hard to master, but always worth improving. To build your own strong restaurant kitchen, you might want to take notes as our g...

What other restaurant franchise is still successful after 100 years? Fifty years ago, my family would drive in, the car hop would attach a tray to our car window and then bring the frosty cold mug of Root Beer, the Cheeseburgers and the ice cream sundaes…. I can still taste that experience and feel it today. It’s nostalgic and all-American! In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m...