Restaurant Leaders Unplugged

Restaurant phones never stop ringing, but you cannot afford to miss a single call. In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Randall Hom from Hosty AI shares how he went from stressed-out operator in San Francisco to building an AI voice assistant that answers calls, protects hospitality, and turns missed calls into real revenue.

Randall walks us through:

• Growing up in a family of operators and launching his own restaurant, Backpack
• The pain of having calls forwarded to his cell, even on closed days
• Why phone answering is one of the biggest hidden bottlenecks in restaurants
• How Hosty acts like a virtual host - answering questions, handling reservations, and capturing event leads
• A case study with Flour + Water and how sharing walk-in availability drove more traffic
• What it really takes to integrate with tools like Perfect Venue and reservation platforms
• The biggest fears operators have about AI and how to keep hospitality at the center
• Why AI will be an assistant, not a replacement, for great front-of-house teams
• How smaller independent restaurants can use AI to compete with big groups
  
  
  

If you are tired of missed calls, burned-out managers, and lost revenue, this conversation will give you a practical look at where AI voice tech is already working today - and what is coming next.

Connect with our guest:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hostie_ai
 Website: https://hostie.ai/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

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Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

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 What if your most loyal customers are the ones who had a problem… and you fixed it? In this eye-opening conversation, Ovation founder Zack Oates explains why guest recovery is the single biggest loyalty lever in restaurants. We break down the “first date” framework for guest experience, how to remove friction from the journey, and why consistency creates trust across locations.

Zack also shares how Ovation aggregates reviews and real-time feedback from first-party surveys and public platforms, turns it into simple operational scores, and guides GMs on what to fix next. We talk response rates, guest texting, and the stunning ROI of a fast recovery loop. On the leadership side, Zack opens up about building through adversity, aligning with your spouse on risk, and creating a culture of kindness, feedback, and ownership.

You’ll learn

• The guest-recovery math that turns complaints into lifetime value
• A simple way to greet, remove friction, and stay consistent across visits
• How to use AI-driven feedback to spot trends and set monthly ops goals
• Why kindness equals honesty when coaching teams
  
  
  
• Practical leadership habits that keep you grounded and focused
  
  
  

Connect with our guest:

• Social media links: https://www.instagram.com/zackoates
• Website: https://ovationup.com/
  
  
  

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

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In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, host Sebastian Stahl sits down with longtime Miami restaurateur Jimmy Carey, whose journey from dishwasher to chef to multi-location owner and now restaurant broker is filled with hard-earned lessons and practical wisdom.

Jimmy shares his 37-year journey through the highs and lows of the restaurant business — from underfunded beginnings and expansion challenges to understanding people, systems, and profitability. Learn how he reinvented himself after decades in operations to now help others buy, sell, and scale restaurants across Atlanta.

If you’re a restaurant owner, chef, or aspiring operator, this conversation is packed with truth, humility, and real-world advice on building sustainable success in today’s evolving restaurant industry.

Connect with our guest:
 Website: jimmycareycommercialrealestate.com/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

Former line cook turned wealth advisor David Spungen joins Restaurant Leaders Unplugged to break down the real economics of opening, funding, and scaling restaurants. We dig into what’s working right now outside the major metros, the true cost stack (rent, labor, food), when to use friends & family vs. alternative financing, and how operators can build financial literacy without becoming accountants. We also cover advisory boards, exit planning for fast casual vs. full service, and why personal wealth planning should start before the liquidity event.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How to pressure-test a restaurant model (traffic, Avg Check, turns, beverage mix, unit economics).
  
  
  
• Where operators are finding better profitability outside NYC/Miami — and why.
  
  
  
• Funding paths beyond pure equity: dining-credit prepay models (e.g., Inkin), build-out loans (e.g., Phoenix), equipment financing, and targeted crowdfunding (e.g., New Market).
  
  
  
• The finance stack that actually helps: great bookkeeping, hospitality-savvy CPAs, Restaurant365, and AI P&L visualization (Starfish).
  
  
  
• When to form an advisory board and how to run it so it’s useful.
  
  
  
• The fast-casual “3–5 units then scale” playbook vs. realities of fine dining.
  
  
  
• Why estate/tax planning shouldn’t wait until a deal is signed.
  
  
  

Connect with our guest:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-spungen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidspungen/channel/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

From working in his dad’s Quiznos to building one of the leading workforce platforms in hospitality, Jordan Boesch shares how 7shifts was born out of pure operational chaos—and how it evolved into a game-changing tool used by thousands of restaurants. In this episode, we dive into the messy MVP days, scaling challenges, real leadership, culture-building, and how 7shifts is tackling hiring and retention at scale.

If you’ve ever battled scheduling headaches, struggled with labor costs, or questioned how to build a resilient team culture—this episode is for you.

Connect with our guest:
 Website: https://www.7shifts.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7shifts/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, I sit down with Bob Sambol, founder of Bob’s Steak & Chop House, to unpack his remarkable journey from working in his father’s bar to running one of the most respected steakhouses in the country. Bob shares hard-won lessons on leadership, building a loyal team, scaling with consistency, and the simple business philosophy that’s kept him thriving for over 30 years.

If you’re a restaurant operator or aspiring entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with strategies you can apply today to grow your business, inspire your team, and deliver a guest experience that stands the test of time.

Connect with our guest:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobs_steakandchop/

 Website: https://www.bobs-steakandchop.com/bobs-steak-and-chop-house-location/dallas-lemmon

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we sit down with Matt Rolfe, leadership expert, author, and coach to the hospitality industry's top performers. Matt shares his raw and powerful story—from growing up with a learning disability to becoming a sought-after leader helping restaurant operators prioritize personal growth, build resilient teams, and lead with intention.

We explore the silent burnout epidemic plaguing restaurant leaders and what it really takes to step back, delegate, and grow sustainably. Matt drops wisdom on mindset shifts, positive conflict, behavioral change, and the real reason your team might not be hearing you. Whether you're scaling locations or trying to regain your balance, this episode is packed with practical tools, real talk, and transformational insight.

Connect with our guest:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_rolfe_coaching
Book: https://www.mattroefe.com/book
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattrolfe/
Website: https://mattrolfe.com/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

Anthony Valletta, CEO of BarTaco, joins Restaurant Leaders Unplugged to share how his team built one of the most unique and people-first brands in casual dining today. From his early days washing dishes to leading a fast-growing concept with over 35 locations, Anthony talks about:

• Building culture at scale without becoming another big-box brand
• Creating a “next-gen casual” dining experience
• How AI and guest data are shaping future loyalty and personalization
• The bold wage equity model that’s transforming team dynamics
• Lessons in humility and leadership from a career across Michelin stars, startups, and corporate giants
  
  

Whether you’re a restaurant operator, emerging leader, or brand builder, this episode is full of strategy and heart.

🎧 Connect with our guest:
 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bartacolife/

Website: www.bartaco.com

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyvalletta

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

Journalist‑turned‑industry‑insider Sam Oches (Editorial Director, Nation’s Restaurant News & Restaurant Hospitality) unpacks the post‑2024 shake‑up—why value promos are wearing thin, how tariffs could rewrite your P&L, and where the next fast‑casual boom will actually come from. We dig into:

• The two marketing paths every brand must pick: “irreverent fun” vs. “authentic consistency”
• Tableside tech, labor math, and the real future of full service
• How founders like Todd Graves & Peter Cancro keep culture alive at scale
• Sam’s career pivot, his best networking hacks, and the one metric he thinks operators still underrate
  
  
  

Stay to the end for Sam’s one‑sentence playbook to future‑proof any restaurant in the next five years.

Connect with our guest
 • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-oches-5923bb13/
• Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/connectfoodservice/
• Website: https://informaconnect.com/restaurant-leadership-conference/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

 In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we’re joined by Luke Hutchison—Army veteran turned tech entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Perfect Venue. Luke shares his journey from the battlefield to the boardroom, and how his event management software is helping restaurants boost revenue, cut admin time, and simplify private event sales.

We explore the biggest mistakes operators make with private dining, how to generate more leads from the guests already in your dining room, and how to build a culture that scales—whether in a platoon or a fast-growing startup.

If you're a restaurant owner, operator, or GM who wants to unlock the full potential of your private events, this episode is a must.

🎯 Topics covered:

• Why private events are often your most profitable channel
• How restaurants lose sales without realizing it
• Leadership lessons from the military you can apply today
• How Perfect Venue automates event sales from inquiry to payment
• Low-cost strategies to generate more private event leads
  
  
  

Connect with our guest:
 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukewhutchison/
🌐 perfectvenue.com

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!