Restaurant Punk

As a restaurant owner, trying to do everything yourself can be tempting. Especially on slow days, you may consider sending your server home and taking the tables (and tips) yourself. Is this the right mindset for an entrepreneur? Nick, George, and Noelle are answering questions, including: 

• Should restaurant owners take tips if they serve tables?
• Why is it important for restaurant owners to be physically present at their business?
• Who should receive the tips for to-go orders?
• Which Restaurant Punk host does the best Yianni impression?

Everyone knows Guac costs extra at Chipotle, but at what point do restaurant upcharges take it too far? From drink refills and to-go coffees to complimentary water cups and extra sauces, Nick, Yianni, and Peter discuss the economics of ‘extras’ and answer questions, including:

• How do you feel about restaurant upcharges for extra toppings, sides of sauce, and cups of water?
• Why is boardwalk restaurant service so different from a standalone restaurant?
• Is it acceptable for restaurants to charge for drink refills?
• Does paying extra make you enjoy your meal less?

Marketing and advertising have evolved tremendously since the days of simple print ads in the local newspaper. Today, businesses use everything from billboards and banner places to social media trends and cutting-edge website design to set themselves apart from competitors. So, if a business owner could only have a website or a social media presence, which option is a better investment? Nick, Yianni, and Noelle are exploring generational differences in opinions and answering questions, including:

• How old is Yianni, and does he look his age?
• What’s more important for a business – a website or social media presence?
• Does social media ever dictate what you decide to eat for dinner?
• What’s the most effective social media platform for restaurant advertising?

Everybody makes mistakes...everybody has bad days, but is it ever ok to take them out on your server at a restaurant? Noelle, Peter and George are discussing how customers’ bad moods have impacted their businesses and answering questions, including:

• How can restaurants manage a customer’s bad mood? 
• Do bad reviews ruin your day as a business owner?
• Should restaurants respond to online customer reviews? 
• Do people know the differences between fresh and boxed pasta?
• Are you old enough to remember Blockbuster?

#restaurantpunk #kararestaurantgroup #blockbuster #movies #mistakes #badmood #customerservice #restaurants #hospitality #smallbusiness #businessowner #grumpy #karen #entrepreneur #reviews #badreview #yelp #tripadvisor

If you ask nearly anyone who works in the restaurant industry, it can be grueling and utterly unrewarding. Despite this, habitual restauranteurs continue to open new concepts year after year. So, what fuels the desire to work in an industry that feels like it’s killing you on a daily basis? Peter, Emaleigh, and Nick are answering questions, including:

• Do you learn more from in-restaurant training or culinary school?
• Why is the hospitality industry so addicting?
• What are the differences between opening a restaurant today and 20 years ago?
• How are liquor licenses granted in New Jersey and elsewhere?
• Does America’s ‘dining out’ culture contribute to the misconception that anyone can operate a restaurant?
• What is the most unexpected cost when opening a restaurant?

#restuarantpunk #kararestaurantgroup #restuarantownership #businessowner #entrepreneur #entrepreneur #liquorlicense #diningout #restaurants #operatingcosts #maintenance #unexpected #surpriseexpenses #misconception #chaos #controlledchaos 

McDonalds vs. Burger King, Chipotle vs. Moe’s, Wendy’s vs. Chick-fil-A – fast food is an American obsession and a divisive one at that. Noelle is asking the question: what is your ultimate fast-food item? Tune in to hear what Peter, George, and Noelle think, plus answers to these burning questions:

- Are Wawa snack wraps comparable to the discontinued McDonald’s version?
- Do SpaghettiOs still slap?
- Would you consider Subway or Five Guys fast food?
- Are there any fast-food restaurants you won’t eat at?
- Have you ever tried a burger from P. Terry’s?

#restaurantpunk #restaurant #fastfood #quickservice #qsr #hospitality #desertedisland #favoritefood #podcast #mcdonalds #burgerking #chipotle #tacobell #moes #chickfila #pterrys #burger #obsession #subway #fiveguys
#junkfood #cheatday #cheatmeal

Music is an essential part of establishing the atmosphere in any business, but especially so in restaurants. Why? Tune in to hear what Yianni, Nick, and Noelle have to say about the topic while answering questions, including:

- How does your upbringing impact your musical preferences as an adult?
- Who would make a better playlist: Yianni or Noelle?
- What impact does the tempo of the musical playlist have on the energy of a restaurant?
- Why is it important to curate your own playlist for your business?

#restaurantpunk #kararestaurantgroup #restaurant #podcast #music #playlist #vibe #vibes #musicgenre #spotifywrapped #spotify #itunes #youtube #playlists #musicplaylist #hospitality #experiential #atmosphere 

Everyone loves brunch, but if you HAVE to choose between breakfast or lunch, which do you prefer? Peter, Nikos, and Guest Host Ryan Jones are exploring their opinions on which meal is more fun to cook, serve, and eat on this week’s episode of Restaurant Punk. Questions include:

• Which meal is easier to cook, breakfast or lunch?
• What “service” factors impact the ease of a shift for waiters and waitresses?
• Which breakfast foods are the most difficult to cook in a restaurant kitchen?
• How do you pre-poach eggs?
• What are the best and worst factors about serving breakfast and lunch?

#breakfast #pancakes #lunch #waiter #waitress #server #service #restaurantlife #restaurantpunk #restaurants #businessowner #podcast #kararestaurantpunk #chef #poachedeggs #restaurantbusiness #kitchen #kitchentricks 

Every business is different when it comes to its system of employee compensation, and bonus programs can be especially controversial. For restaurant owners, it can be especially tough to determine if and/or how to award performance incentives. Join Nick, Nikos, and George to determine 

• Should every employee get a bonus, or should it be based on performance?
• What alternatives are there to cash bonuses for employees?
• Do employers set an expectation of annual bonuses if they award them once?
• If you’re awarding bonuses, how do you determine how much to give each employee?
• Can bonuses backfire, even when intended to show employee appreciation?

#bonus #performancebonus #employment #employeeperks #workperks #restaurantpunk #kararestaurantgroup #reviews #tripadvisor #yelp #hospitalitycareers #kitchenjobs #chef #restaurantlife #restaurantjobs #appleturnovers #christmasparty #christmascookies #podcast

“So you’re telling me that now I not only have to remember to bring my own grocery bags to the store, but the prices are higher, AND I have to scan and bag my own groceries?” – Yianni, essentially. If you agree, you’re not going to want to miss this episode of Restaurant Punk with Yianni, Liz, and George and questions, including:

• How have state-wide bag bans impacted businesses and customers?
• How do you feel about advances in technology that eliminate jobs?
• Does it bother you when restaurants don’t give you to-go silverware or bags?
• Are men less likely to carry reusable shopping bags than women?
• Do big box stores take advantage of customers by making them do the work instead of paying employees?

#restaurantpunk #kararestaurantgroup #customers #byob #bagban #bringyourown #bagboy #employment #AI #technology #podcast #restaurants #hospitality #jobelimination #togo #takeout