Opening a restaurant is exciting—but building it can make or break your business.

In this episode of Dine & Dish, Restaurant Diva host Michele DiMeo sits down with seasoned general contractor and managing partner of Madison Construction Steve DiPietro to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build a restaurant the right way—from planning and budgeting to timelines, permits, and avoiding costly mistakes.

We cover what owners should do before signing a lease, how to choose the right build team, where to spend (and where to save), and the design decisions that impact operations long after opening day. If you're building, expanding, or even dreaming of your next concept, this episode is packed with real-world advice you don't want to miss.

New episodes air weekly—pull up a chair and dig in.