Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

Our industry is always moving towards meeting high guest expectations, and their changing needs and desires. When Covid hit and our restaurants were forced to cut capacity, or shut inside dining down altogether, many of us immediately improvised with an outdoor solution. Parking lots, roof decks, sidewalks and even streets outside our restaurant became our new dining rooms. Well now that things co...

I believe that no matter what your concept, you can learn and grow your business from the pizza segment. It’s no surprise that pizza remains one of the strongest concepts in this business before Covid, during the pandemic and now as we emerge from the crisis. I also believe we should all approach our business like the CEO of a fast growing chain with the “Big” picture in mind. In this episode of t...

At some point, you’ll start thinking seriously about your “Exit Strategy” from the business. This might mean retirement, selling your operation, walking away to start a new business, or just spending more time with family. You can’t do any of these things without a solid manager or two that you can trust. So many of us spend so much time in our restaurants, but “empowering” our people to take on m...

It’s hard enough to run one successful restaurant keeping all the plates spinning day after day. What if you had to manage multiple diverse concepts and please a highly discerning clientele, while also executing big weddings and functions to boot? Think of the skillset and experience necessary, not to mention calm and cool under fire just for starters. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars P...

What can you learn from 102 years of success? Oh I don’t know… Service, Quality, Staff Training, Marketing, Consistency, etc.! Shall I go on? In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I can only be speaking with Mr. Kevin Bazner, the C.E.O. of A & W Restaurants. As a kid growing up in Massachusetts, I remember the classic “Car Hop” Service, the “Frosty Mugs” of trademark Root Beer, the...

It’s no secret that to be really successful in this business, you must stay focused on Efficiency, Productivity and Profit! And Cost Controls are right at the top of that list as well! Perhaps your restaurant’s biggest expense is Labor Cost, and with all the challenges of staffing right now, you need to also be thinking about keeping your team happy. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Pod...

The restaurant world has changed. Business is increasing, Customers expect more and staff are hard to find. This is a perfect storm for technology that empowers your customer to order, split checks and pay from their own mobile device which frees your team to deliver greater service. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Mr. Jon Squire, CEO of www.cardfree.com. Thi...

Food, Service and Ambiance are the magic dust’’ of any successful restaurant! But when you add LOVE to that equation, you’re going to create raving fans. That’s exactly what you’ll see in this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast. Listen as we feel the love speaking with Renae Scott of California based Ike’s Love & Sandwiches. As Chief Marketing Officer, Renae and her team are building powe...

Did I ever tell you about when my power went out and I had to move everything in the walk-in to a snowbank? Its true. Our restaurant had no generator and we couldn't afford to lose thousands of dollars of perishable inventory. I needed a system. In today’s episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Im speaking with Mr. Manik Suri Founder and CEO of Therma. Manik recognized that billions of dolla...

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...