In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Jeff Caldwell, V.P. of Operations for the Encore Boston Harbor Hotel.

Jeff is a hospitality veteran who cut his teeth at Wynn Resorts; the company known for transforming the rebirth of Las Vegas into the world-class destination it is today.

Listen as Jeff shares his passion for hospitality and Leadership including:

- The importance of mentorship and inspiring others to their best performance

- His career challenges and triumphs

- How passion, pride and relationships lead to amazing guest experiences.

- How to keep a close eye on the competition and then blow them away.

- A company culture of teamwork, respect, and recognition

- What it takes and how to prepare to become a leader in a hospitality organization

And of course, his inspirational mantra from an early mentor: “It’s not about right or wrong, it’s about guest satisfaction”!

This episode is all about the “right stuff” and best practices that lead to greatness in the hospitality biz!

Watch or listen, then go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

Roger

Ask Roger a Question or share a story: https://www.speakpipe.com/RestaurantRockstars

Learn the Top 3 Profit Killers for Restaurants: https://restaurantrockstars.com/profits/

Thank you to our sponsors:

Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

VERGE Funding Group: Set up your personal meeting with Karen to see how much money your business may qualify to get back at this link:

https://calendly.com/vergefundinggroup/erc-qualifying-call-rrs

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

GoTab – The GoTab platform empowers you the operator to run a leaner and more profitable business. www.gotab.com/rockstars

I’ve always said, you can’t have too many “hooks” for your restaurant.

Anything interesting, unique, or powerful that catches the guest’s attention and leads to sales, reviews or buzz is free marketing!

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Casey Biehl, VP of Ops for Fat Boys. This growing pizza chain is company owned with locations in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Besides their unique hooks, much of Fat Boys success is due to company culture and leadership. They believe in building strong relationships across their pizza chain from team to guests to suppliers.

Watch or listen as Casey talks about:

- Growing from one successful location to two to nine across three states

- The importance of company culture vs. a mission statement

- Quality and guest satisfaction that come from making your products from scratch daily.

- How a food truck increases visibility and awareness for the brand

- Appealing menu items that are a draw alongside the pizza

- Adding a profitable alcohol and beer program

And of course, how this pizza chain is family friendly and “gives the people what they want”!

Don’t miss this episode, come up with some new unique “hooks” for your business then go out there and ROCK your own Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables, and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/

Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

GoTab – The GoTab platform empowers you the operator to run a leaner and more profitable business. Request a DEMO: www.gotab.com

Many of us have a dream to become a restaurateur. For some of us that dream was fulfilled with a restaurant concept or location. For others, that dream multiplied from one restaurant to several. And for some…that dream is an inspiration just waiting to be realized!

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with chef and restaurateur Gregoire Jacquet. He is the founder of Grégoire Restaurant , a passion project & “gourmet fast-casual” concept in the Bay area of San Francisco.

Listen as Gregoire tells us about his journey as a chef and restaurateur including:

👉 Growing up in France and how a passion for cooking led him to America.

👉 His early beginnings and learning the meaning of hospitality.

👉The importance of building relationships with local quality suppliers

👉How a failed cooking experiment led to his most popular dish that’s key to the success of his concept and franchise.

👉The process to “trademark” and protect a unique signature menu item.

👉Gregoire’s hiring, training, and onboarding approach.

👉How he works “on” his business, so he no longer needs to work “In” it

And…his creative $10,000 incentive for referring a qualified operator to sign a Gregoire franchise agreement.

This episode is all about a restaurateur’s best practices that led to success.

Watch or listen, then go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

🔥 Full Episode + Show Notes - bit.ly/E354RRP

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

🌟Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

🌟VERGE Funding Group: Set up your personal meeting with Karen to see how much money your business may qualify to get back at this link:

https://calendly.com/vergefundinggroup/erc-qualifying-call-rrs

🌟The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

🌟GoTab – The GoTab platform empowers you the operator to run a leaner and more profitable business. www.gotab.com/rockstars

If you really want to move the needle on your business, you need to run a business and not a restaurant. This means working “ON” your business now, not necessarily “In” it. It’s important to dedicate time each week to systemize your business so you run it and it doesn’t run you.

Beginning to understand your restaurant numbers and getting a feel for the cash that flows in and out each day is very important. You can make small shifts each week that will really boost your bottom line.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Jonathan Rosa of Moura CFO. Jonathan grew up in a restaurant family, studied finance in business school and then went on to hone his knowledge and craft at Burger King Corporate HQ. His deep restaurant finance experience now helps operators like you dial in your restaurant finances, plan for the future, and find greater success.

Listen as Jonathan shares:

- How he works with clients as a “Fractional CFO”

- The small changes you can make day by day and week to week to transform your business and bank account.

- How to track cash flow and forecast for seasonality or slow downs

- The mistakes restaurant owners are making and what to do about it

- Why you should not be satisfied with strong sales numbers without digging deeper.

- The all-important cost controls in any restaurant

And a real-life client story of positive and simple change for greater success.

Watch or listen to this episode, work “ON” your business today and go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

GoTab – The GoTab platform empowers you the operator to run a leaner and more profitable business. www.gotab.com/rockstars

This is a high-risk business and the unexpected really could be around the next corner. You need to cover your business with proper restaurant insurance for what you know could happen as well as what you don’t know could happen.

There are so many types of coverage and so many questions, but thankfully today’s guest is a hospitality veteran and restaurant insurance expert.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with John Cassetta, Head of Restaurant Insurance Solutions for CoverWallet, a leading provider to the restaurant industry. John cut his teeth in restaurants and his sons are now following in his footsteps, so he understands your business.

Listen as John tells us about:

- The most common risks facing restaurants today.

- Restaurant insurance essential to your business regardless of size

- How he works with each client to evaluate their business insurance needs

- The importance of umbrella policies for added coverage and peace of mind.

- Cyberthreats... the how and why restaurants are being targeted.

- Business Interruption, Employer Practices & Product Liability coverage

And a real deep dive into serving alcohol and what Liquor Liability does and does not cover.

This episode is a crash course in restaurant insurance, so watch or listen, make sure you’re covered then go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

Roger

Connect with our guest:

• www.coverwallet.com

• CoverWallet Twitter: @CoverWallet

• CoverWallet Facebook: @CoverWallet

• CoverWallet LinkedIn: @CoverWallet, An Aon Company

• CoverWallet Instagram: @coverwallet_ins

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Jon Taffer, television personality behind the hit show “Bar Rescue”, industry leader, consultant, and multi-dimensional entrepreneur. Jon is a true industry guru in all things bars and restaurants with a lifetime of experience and so many key-learnings to share.

Don’t miss this episode as Jon Taffer shares:

- His hospitality roots and amazing career

- The biggest lessons he’s learned in life that he applies to the businesses he works with

- Big mistakes owners are making and what to do about it.

- The importance of foundational operating systems in any bar or restaurant

- True leadership versus that overused term management

- His thoughts on leadership and getting the most from your team.

- The guest value-proposition and raising prices.

And of course, a behind the scenes look at “Bar Rescue”, and the amazing business transformations Jon Taffer accomplishes together with his team. This episode is jam packed with nuggets that will get your gears turning and feet moving.

Watch or listen to this episode, get inspired and go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

https://restaurantrockstars.com/audio/episode-351-bar-rescue-jon-taffer/

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

GoTab – The GoTab platform empowers you the operator to run a leaner and more profitable business. Request a DEMO: https://gotab.com/rockstars

I’m obsessed with restaurant finances, marketing and hospitality and you should be as well. As a forward-thinking operator, you can learn new things each day that move the needle and immediately work to put them into practice in your restaurant.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Russ Spencer, a true industry professional, a guru of restaurant finances and an old friend whose Senior Director of Restaurant Success for “Craftable”. Russ has decades of restaurant experience and a selfless dedication to help improve individual operator’s businesses.

Listen as Russ shares:

- Restaurant Profits today vs. pre-pandemic

- The critical restaurant financial systems you need in your operation.

- Big mistakes restaurant owners are making and what to do about it

- The importance of inventory, food cost and all-important profit contribution

- The why and how of menu engineering

- His thoughts on leadership and getting the most from your team.

- The guest value-proposition and raising prices.

This episode is jam packed with golden nuggets and key-learnings about restaurant finances that will get your gears turning and your feet moving.

Watch or listen to this episode, get inspired and go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

https://restaurantrockstars.com/audio/episode-350-killer-advice-on-restaurant-finances/

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

VERGE Funding Group: Set up your personal meeting with Karen to see how much money your business may qualify to get back at this link:

https://calendly.com/vergefundinggroup/erc-qualifying-call-rrs

We all have a restaurant startup story. Maybe, you had great recipes, or possibly you just saw a couldn’t turn up opportunity.

Many of you had prior experience, but some, like me, and my guests today had virtually no restaurant experience at all before startup.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Dan Londono and Dan Sobsey, co-founders of “Alfalfa”. Alfalfa’s restaurant startup success began at a local farmer’s market and now they’ve grown bi-coastal.

Listen as Dan & Dan share:

- The brainchild and vision for “Alfalfa”

- Why salad and donuts make a successful menu.

- Their philosophy of “joy through balance”, and what this means to their team and their business model.

- How the pandemic led to growing in California after their initial restaurant startup in New Jersey.

- The key attributes they look for in new hires plus onboarding best practices.

- Alfalfa’s company culture that is embraced by staff and guests alike.

- Starting a successful catering program with pizzaz!

And of course, the importance of local presence and giving back to the communities they serve.

Watch or listen to this episode, have a vision for moving your business forward and then go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

VERGE Funding Group: Set up your personal meeting with Karen to see how much money your business may qualify to get back at this link:

https://calendly.com/vergefundinggroup/erc-qualifying-call-rrs

Management is the old way of running your business. Leadership and delivering hospitality excellence is the way forward.

During this time of labor challenges, shifting this approach will not only attract and retain great people, but uplevel your guest service and satisfaction.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Tina Hewett-Gordon, a 31-year leader at the Nonantum Resort on the coast of Maine. Tina’s style of recognizing talent, empowering her team, and dazzling guests is an inspiration to our industry demonstrating how run a truly great hospitality organization.

The Nonantum has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine, while Tina has won numerous awards for service including the “State of Maine Governor’s Award for Excellence in Tourism”.

Don’t miss this episode as Tina shares:

- Being recognized and promoted to lead 3 decades ago.

- How to recognize talent, lower turnover and deliver the best to the guest each day

- What great new hires bring to the table.

- Her successful team “onboarding & training” philosophies

- Recognition & Rewards that inspire and motivate staff.

- A typical day in the life of a hospitality leader

- The importance of a strong company culture

And of course, Tina’s service and advocacy to our industry at large.

Watch or listen to this episode and then go out there, empower your team and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

VERGE Funding Group: Set up your personal meeting with Karen to see how much money your business may qualify to get back at this link:

https://calendly.com/vergefundinggroup/erc-qualifying-call-rrs

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

Popmenu - For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars

The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/

Many details create a successful growing business, but most important will always be your people. It’s one thing to be a manager, but quite another to be a true leader.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Joe Kahn and Chris Artinian of Condado Tacos. The key to their success in growing to locations in 9 states and beyond is their company culture and how they lead. This company continues to recognize talent in their people, giving them rare opportunities to also become leaders that drive this brand forward.

Besides atmosphere and a highly successful concept based on Tacos, Tequila & Margaritas, listen as Chris and Joe share:

- Condado Taco’s powerful vision that never deviates from the core mission.

- The importance of an inclusive “come as you are” company culture.

- Why sourcing only, the freshest ingredients bring guests back again and again.

- Past and present challenges and the future of their operation

- The efficiencies and consistency of a common commissary kitchen

- Condado Taco’s winning marketing and loyalty strategy

- What’s on the menu including margaritas, and craft cocktails.

And of course, best practices from running a single store to growth in multiple states.

Watch or listen and then go out there and ROCK your own Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our sponsors:

Smithfield Culinary – Inspiring head-turning menu creativity. Visit us for culinary trends and chef-created recipes:

https://smithfieldculinary.com/smokenfast/

VERGE Funding Group: Set up your personal meeting with Karen to see how much money your business may qualify to get back at this link:

https://calendly.com/vergefundinggroup/erc-qualifying-call-rrs

The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/

The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables, and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/