Running a profitable restaurant doesn’t mean doing more — it means making simpler, smarter decisions.

In this episode of Restaurant Rockstars, Roger talks with Kelly of Hot Head Burritos about how focused menus, disciplined operations, and clearer decision-making lead to higher profit for independent restaurant owners.

Learn how simplifying menus, labor, tech, and daily decisions improves execution, margins, and sanity — without adding complexity.

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Ajinomoto Foods – Fast, easy-to-prep Asian products that save labor and protect profit

👉 https://ajinomotofoodservice.com

• Smithfield Culinary – Perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart

👉 https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield

• AtlasNova – AI-powered insights for smarter restaurant decisions

👉 https://www.atlasnova.ai/rockstars

Get 20% off with code Rockstars20

For restaurant training, coaching, consulting, and the Restaurant Rockstars Academy, visit:

👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com

Connect with Our Guest

Facebook: @HotHeadBurritos

Instagram: @hotheadburritos

X: @hotheadburritos

Website: https://hotheadburritos.com

Most restaurant problems don’t come from a lack of effort, they come from a lack of systems.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I break down the restaurant systems and SOPs that actually move the needle on profit, with a clear focus on prime cost, consistency, and control.

We talk about why systems matter more than personalities, how the right SOPs protect your margins, and what happens when your restaurant can’t function without you constantly putting out fires.

You’ll learn:

✔️ Which restaurant systems impact prime cost the most

✔️ Why SOPs create consistency even when staff changes

✔️ How to reduce labor and food cost without micromanaging

✔️ The difference between being busy and being profitable

✔️ How to build a restaurant that runs smoother and makes more money

If you’re an independent restaurant owner who wants better margins, less chaos, and a business that runs consistently, this episode will give you a clear framework to think differently about operations.

👉 Learn more about proven restaurant systems inside the Restaurant Academy:

https://restaurantrockstars.com

Labor costs are squeezing restaurant owners harder than ever but some restaurants are quietly winning.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger Beaudoin sits down with Lawrence from Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard to break down the thinking behind low-labor, high-margin restaurant models. This conversation isn’t about copying a walk-up counter concept, it’s about understanding the fundamentals that drive profitability, efficiency, and longevity in today’s restaurant economy.

We talk about why simpler operations often outperform complex ones, how smarter labor decisions protect margins, and why long-lasting restaurant brands stay deeply connected to their communities. Whether you run full service, fast casual, or multiple locations, the insights in this episode will challenge how you think about staffing, systems, and sustainable growth.

If you’re tired of working harder while margins keep shrinking, this episode will help you rethink what actually drives restaurant success.

Learn more about Restaurant Rockstars and the Academy:

👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com

👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com/podcast

Connect with Our Guest:

https://www.ritasice.com

https://www.instagram.com/ritasice/

https://www.facebook.com/RitasItalianIceCompany/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/rita's-italian-ice/

A global hospitality leader breaks down what really drives profitable restaurants. In this episode, Roger sits down with Marvin Alballi to unpack the thinking behind high standards, smart training, menu discipline, and guest-first leadership and why getting the fundamentals right is the most strategic move a restaurant operator can make.

Restaurant Rockstars Academy

Built for restaurant owners who want better margins, trained teams, and systems that actually work.

👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com

Restaurant Coaching & Consulting

Work directly with us to fix margins, improve execution, and build a restaurant that runs without chaos.

👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com/consulting

🎙 About the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

Real conversations with operators, chefs, and hospitality leaders on what actually drives profitable restaurants...not theory, not trends.

Thank you to our sponsors:

• AtlasNova: AtlasNova is like having an AI CMO and COO built into one platform. It connects your POS and marketing data, tells you exactly what matters, and then actually helps execute: campaigns, insights, next best actions, all without adding headcount. Less guessing. Less busywork. Better results. If you want your business to run smarter, not harder, check out AtlasNova at https://www.atlasnova.ai/rockstars and Get 20% off using the code Rockstars20

• Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish, every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, new ground chorizo or the broadest portfolio of pork. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information go to: https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield

If I owned your restaurant in 2026, here’s exactly what I’d fix first—and why it matters now more than ever. In this episode, I break down the Restaurant Operator Playbook for the year ahead, focusing on the systems, leadership, and profit drivers that separate struggling restaurants from those that thrive.

We cover how to stand out in a crowded market, build true leaders instead of babysitting managers, hire and retain A-players, tighten labor and prime costs, and stop the silent profit leaks hiding in your menu, portions, and daily operations. I also share proven strategies for increasing check averages, creating raving fans, and adding new cashflow streams without adding more stress or labor.

This isn’t theory. These are the exact systems I used to build profitable restaurants—and what I’d put in place immediately if I were running yours today.

If you want clarity, control, and stronger margins in 2026, this episode is your starting point.

Run a Smarter, More Profitable Restaurant. Discover the proven systems & solutions that drive sales, train staff, and maximize your margins.

Join The Restaurant Academy now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy

Thank you to our sponsors:

• The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits, maximize sales and train your team in restaurant fundamentals! https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

• Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish, every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, new ground chorizo or the broadest portfolio of pork. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information go to: https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield

• AtlasNova: AtlasNova is like having an AI CMO and COO built into one platform. It connects your POS and marketing data, tells you exactly what matters, and then actually helps execute: campaigns, insights, next best actions, all without adding headcount. Less guessing. Less busywork. Better results. If you want your business to run smarter, not harder, check out AtlasNova at https://www.atlasnova.ai/rockstars and Get 20% off using the code Rockstars20

What separates unforgettable restaurants from forgettable ones?

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger talks with Bob Campana, a serial entrepreneur and restaurateur who shares what real hospitality actually looks like in practice.

Bob breaks down how intentional design, human connection, and team culture create guest experiences that keep people coming back. From building dining rooms designed for conversation to leading teams with respect and purpose, this conversation challenges conventional thinking about hospitality.

Perfect for restaurant owners, operators, and hospitality leaders who want to elevate their guest experience and build a restaurant their community loves.

Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

Actionable insights on leadership, culture, and profitability for restaurant owners and hospitality professionals.

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts

The Top 3 Restaurant Profit Killers & How To Fix Them Fast (Free Video Training): https://restaurantrockstars.com/profits

An Important Message for Restaurant Owners: www.restaurantacademy.online/get-free-training-owners

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits, maximize sales and train your team in restaurant fundamentals! https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

Menufy: uplevels your SEO, takes direct online orders, markets to your guests & manages your online reputation. You get a custom branded SEO optimized website, data you control without losing 30% to 3rd parties, automated customer feedback, loyalty programs, built in chargeback protection and 24/7 support. https://restaurant.menufy.com/

The hospitality industry is burning out its best leaders…but it doesn’t have to. In this eye-opening conversation, Roger and coach Mike Messerof dig into the hidden pressures behind burnout, the mental health struggles no one talks about, and the simple practices that help restaurant owners lead without losing themselves. A raw, powerful, honest look at what it really takes to thrive in this business.

🔥 An Important Message for Restaurant Owners: www.restaurantacademy.online/get-free-training-owners

Restaurant Profit Maximizer Mini-Masterclass: Learn how just a few tweaks in the way you run your restaurant can hugely impact your profits.

https://restaurantrockstars.com/sp/restaurant-profits

Run a Smarter, More Profitable Restaurant. Discover the proven systems & solutions that drive sales, train staff, and maximize your margins.

Join The Restaurant Academy now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy

Connect with Restaurant Rockstars on Social Media:

LinkedIn Roger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-beaudoin-21590016

LinkedIn Restaurant Rockstars: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant-rockstars

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restaurantrockstars/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantrockstars

X: https://x.com/RestaurantRock1

Connect with our guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemesseroff/

https://www.mikemesseroff.com/

https://www.thecircleoffreethinkers.com/

Thank you to our sponsors:

🔥 The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits, maximize sales and train your team in restaurant fundamentals! https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

🔥 Menufy: uplevels your SEO, takes direct online orders, markets to your guests & manages your online reputation. You get a custom branded SEO optimized website, data you control without losing 30% to 3rd parties, automated customer feedback, loyalty programs, built in chargeback protection and 24/7 support. https://restaurant.menufy.com/

The systems, KPIs, and leadership habits top operators use to run high-performing restaurants without constant chaos.

Learn how top restaurant operators create proactive systems, master the KPIs that matter, and lead teams that deliver five-star guest experiences consistently. In this episode, Kristin from Craveworthy Brands breaks down the operational playbook behind 20+ concepts — including how to hire the right people, develop leaders, manage sales/COGS/labor, build a strong culture, and stop running your restaurant by putting out fires.

If you want a smoother operation, better profitability, and a team that actually shows up and performs, this conversation lays out exactly where to start.

Watch Free Restaurant Video Training: www.restaurantacademy.online/get-free-training-owners

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits, maximize sales and train your team in restaurant fundamentals! https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

Menufy: uplevels your SEO, takes direct online orders, markets to your guests & manages your online reputation. You get a custom branded SEO optimized website, data you control without losing 30% to 3rd parties, automated customer feedback, loyalty programs, built in chargeback protection and 24/7 support.

https://restaurant.menufy.com/

In this Hot Seat episode, Roger breaks down the restaurant operator training systems every owner needs to control costs and increase profit. Learn how to master inventory, prime cost, labor tracking, menu profitability, and team leadership so you can run a more efficient, more profitable restaurant.

🔥 Run a Smarter, More Profitable Restaurant. Discover the proven systems & solutions that drive sales, train staff, and maximize your margins.

Join The Restaurant Academy now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy

Thank You To Our Sponsors:

• Menufy: uplevels your SEO, takes direct online orders, markets to your guests & manages your online reputation. You get a custom branded SEO optimized website, data you control without losing 30% to 3rd parties, automated customer feedback, loyalty programs, built in chargeback protection and 24/7 support. https://restaurant.menufy.com/

• MenuTiger: Seamless QR menus, ordering and payment right from a guest’s phone made simple. It’s about efficiency and guest convenience. See how much smoother your restaurant can run at https://www.menutiger.com

Crust Pizza CEO Carl Comeaux joins the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast to share how he helped grow one local pizza shop into a 30+ location franchise - with goals to hit 200 and beyond. Learn how his team bootstrapped growth, built their own tech stack, and kept culture, consistency, and profitability at the heart of their success.

Listen for insights on:

• Scaling a franchise without private equity

• Building leadership from within

• Prime cost control and KPIs

• Custom POS and loyalty innovation

• Training through “Crust Pizza University”

🎧 Listen now: restaurantrockstars.com/audio/366-scaling-systems

Thank you to our sponsors:

🔥 MenuTiger: Seamless QR menus, ordering and payment right from a guest’s phone made simple. It’s about efficiency and guest convenience. See how much smoother your restaurant can run at https://www.menutiger.com

🔥 TerraSlate menus are waterproof, rip-proof, antimicrobial and easy to clean. They ship to every state and over a hundred countries with a fast 1 day turnaround and Free overnight shipping. Get your menus from TerraSlate at https://terraslate.com

🔥 The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits, maximize sales and train your team in restaurant fundamentals! https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

🔥 Menufy: uplevels your SEO, takes direct online orders, markets to your guests & manages your online reputation. You get a custom branded SEO optimized website, data you control without losing 30% to 3rd parties, automated customer feedback, loyalty programs, built in chargeback protection and 24/7 support.

https://restaurant.menufy.com/

Run a Smarter, More Profitable Restaurant. Discover the proven systems & solutions that drive sales, train staff, and maximize your margins.

Join The Restaurant Academy now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy