Not every first restaurant succeeds. Many of us have opened concepts with the best of ideas and intentions only to see the dream fade. But those who see a more powerful future vision and keep going may rise to extraordinary heights.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Austin Samuelson of Tacos 4 Life. Austin and his wife started their first concept by trying to make a healthier pizza. It wasn’t the success they hoped for, but that did not deter them from realizing a much bigger mission. As 25 million children die from starvation worldwide each year, the Samuelson’s are making a huge difference one meal at a time.

The pair crowdfunded their next concept from about 350 people, with a truly one-for-one model—for every taco, salad, quesadilla, rice bowl, or nachos sold, 24 cents is donated to Feed My Starving Children, which is the equivalent of one meal. Since opening, Tacos 4 Life restaurants have collectively donated more than 19 million meals. When you buy a meal, you feed a child in need.

Listen on as Austin shares:

- The Tacos 4 Life start-up story and how they grew to 21 locations

- Branding and ambiance as a competitive advantage

- Catering as a profitable brand extension

- Their unique way of staffing, onboarding, and training during the labor crisis

- Marketing that works

And of course, how great food and service give back to the world at large.

Don’t miss this episode, then Rock Your Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/

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

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

You know a really great restaurant the minute you walk in the door. It’s attention to detail, the way you’re greeted and made to feel comfortable, the ambiance, service provided and of course the food & drinks.

Hitting all these marks is a continual challenge, but my guests today aren’t missing a beat!

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast. I’m speaking with family operators Joe, Nicole and Blane of the Blue Collar Restaurant Group http://www.bcrg.co/

They have 9 concepts and growing!

Listen as they tell us:

- The true meaning of “Service First”

- How creating a culture based on family uplevels the guest experience as well as the team

- The importance of cross-training to increase skillsets and move versatile “key” team-members across the organization

- How supporting the communities, they serve, and veterans helps their restaurants “do good by doing good”

- Necessary technology that enhances the personal touch with their guests

- Recognizing up and coming talent for their operation and longevity of staff

And of course, dealing with today’s uncertainties in running restaurants.

Now go out there and ROCK Your Restaurant!

Roger

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

>> SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

>> Plate IQ - Simplify and automate your accounts payable. Plate IQ is your paperless Digital Filing Cabinet that frees your workspace from invoices, receipts, and statements. Learn More: https://www.plateiq.com/

>> Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/

>> 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

Pride and passion run deep in the restaurant business no matter the size of the organization. Some may be fulfilled running a single independent restaurant while others aim to grow their concepts to multiple locations.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Anthony Ackil who co-founded and grew a 70+ unit restaurant chain, then exited to become the Founder of www.streetlightventures.com No matter your restaurant plan and strategy, stay tuned to learn how to: run a great restaurant, grow one concept to many and maybe even get inspired to discover new opportunities.

We’ll be discussing:

- Anthony’s story of growing his successful chain and investing in other successful hospitality operations

- What critical foundation makes one great restaurant able to become an even more successful chain or franchise

- The secret to “consistency” and fostering raving fans for your operation

- Staying relevant and the need to keep innovating

- Restaurant systems necessary to facilitate growth

- How effective training raises morale and elevates company culture

And importantly, what investors look for in a growing restaurant operation.

Listen on and ROCK Your Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/

Smithfield Culinary – Inspiring head-turning menu creativity. Visit us for culinary trends and chef-created recipes. Learn More: https://smithfieldculinary.com/

Plate IQ - Simplify and automate your accounts payable. Plate IQ is your paperless Digital Filing Cabinet that frees your workspace from invoices, receipts, and statements. Learn More: https://www.plateiq.com/

Everyone is searching for solutions to today’s restaurant “big issues” ie: labor, prices, shortages…

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Sam Zeitz, CEO of www.grubbrr.com Grubbrr offers one such solution with their self-ordering technology and digital restaurant kiosks.

Listen on as Sam tells us:

- What the “restaurant of the future” looks like

- How this technology combines order by phone with speed, convenience and ease of payment

- The way Grubbrr offers Upsells & Suggestive Selling to increase the guest check

- Leveraging “Artificial Intelligence (AI)” for most popular or profitable items

- How to keep guests informed and notified by text and the “Progress Board”

And of course, the on-boarding process and timing to get your restaurant set up..

ROCK Your Restaurant.

Roger

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

SparkPlug - The World’s 1st Incentive Management Platform for Restaurant Servers. Sparkplug Will Pay $200 For Your Restaurant’s 1st Incentive Campaign. Learn More: https://Sparkplug.App/rockstars

Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/

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

To build a great business, it takes not only a clear vision but a relentless pursuit to stay ahead of your competition. As restaurateurs, we are competitive by nature, and to play our best game, we need to always strive to stay fresh, innovate and dazzle our guests.

In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Mark Setterington, the Co-Founder and CEO of Island Fin Poke Co. Mark is a 35-year industry veteran who has managed some of the world’s leading restaurant brands.

As you listen, you’ll see what it takes to build a unique innovative brand and unified culture while targeting rapid growth.

Listen as Mark shares:

- The meaning of the Hawaiian term “Ohana” and company culture that is not only embraced, but shared and practiced company wide

- How to create a universal Vibe that translates the brand no matter the location

- Launching a new concept where the food and experience sells itself

- The guest service experience and how it is consistently delivered

- Repeat business and what brings them back for more

- The importance of keeping operations simple and efficient

And of course, one man’s journey that brings intuition and broad experience to bear on founding and operating a dynamic concept.

Listen on, then go out there and ROCK Your Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

SparkPlug - The World’s 1st Incentive Management Platform for Restaurant Servers. Sparkplug Will Pay $200 For Your Restaurant’s 1st Incentive Campaign. Learn More: https://Sparkplug.App/rockstars

Smithfield Culinary – Inspiring head-turning menu creativity. Visit us for culinary trends and chef-created recipes. Learn More: https://smithfieldculinary.com/

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

A 20+ year run in this business holds hard-won experience and many stories!

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Eric Scheffer of

www.thescheffergroup.com. Eric is a true industry leader, visionary, and builder of five dynamic concepts in Asheville, NC.

Listen as Eric shares with us:

- The “secret sauce” of a truly great restaurant and what it takes to get there

- Where restaurants are falling short in running their business

- The importance of “Culture” and its impact on the team and hospitality

- Leadership style versus management style

- The how-to of building a “Brand”, not running a restaurant

- Why 100 employees stay loyal and their long tenure to his brands

And we discuss the labor crisis, today’s challenges, and Eric’s best advice to operators moving forward.

Don’t miss this episode, then go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant!

Roger

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/E301RRP

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

SparkPlug - The World’s 1st Incentive Management Platform for Restaurant Servers. Sparkplug Will Pay $200 For Your Restaurant’s 1st Incentive Campaign. Learn More: https://Sparkplug.App/rockstars

Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/

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

I had great success by incentivizing my entire team to strive for maximum performance and guest service. You might say it was my “secret weapon” for over 20 years running restaurants. Now, it’s more important than ever to keep your good people happy and create a culture that attracts new team-players.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Andrew Duffy, the CEO and Co-Founder of http://www.sparkplug.app, the world’s first Incentive Management Platform for restaurants.

Andrew shares with us:

- The difference between Leading and Managing your team

- What Hospitality really means

- Why the disparity in restaurant earnings, and how incentives keep the entire team performing their best

- The results of polling 500 restaurant workers about their current compensation

- How to customize incentives for any team goal

- Capturing valuable incentives from your suppliers

And the importance of training, menu and restaurant knowledge to truly serve your guest.

Now go out there and ROCK Your Restaurant!

Roger

https://restaurantrockstars.com/audio/episode-300-incentives-may-solve-your-labor-challenge/

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

Smithfield Culinary – Inspiring head-turning menu creativity. Visit us for culinary trends and chef-created recipes. Learn More: https://smithfieldculinary.com/

Plate IQ - Simplify and automate your accounts payable. Plate IQ is your paperless Digital Filing Cabinet that frees your workspace from invoices, receipts, and statements. Learn More: https://www.plateiq.com/

SparkPlug - The World’s 1st Incentive Management Platform for Restaurant Servers. Sparkplug Will Pay $200 For Your Restaurant’s 1st Incentive Campaign. Learn More: https://Sparkplug.App/rockstars

These are crazy times for all of us, and now more than ever it’s up to you to deliver dining experiences that WOW your guest, make them forget their daily routine and give them a memorable escape. This is the “key” to loyalty, repeat business and the pride that comes from making guests happy.

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Bob Ray, the C.O.O. of Margaritas a 25 location Mexican concept that really knows how to dazzle its patrons. Imagine walking in the door and feeling the hospitality, sights, sounds and tastes of south of the border. You’ll really feel like you’ve just landed in Acapulco or Mazatlán.

Listen as Bob speaks to:

- How providing authentic and genuine dining experiences leads to high check averages, repeat business and glowing reviews

- Effective on-boarding, staff training and retention

- Providing staff with the tools they need to succeed and time-off to recharge

- Vital technology for convenience, productivity and enhanced guest experiences

- Management priorities and proven results

- Margarita’s proven marketing strategy

And how this restaurant group achieved 20% sales increases during multiple quarters of the pandemic and a 50% higher cash contribution YTD 2021.

Don’t miss this one, then go Rock YOUR Restaurant!

Roger

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/E299RRP

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/

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

Imagine the know-how and experience you would have after building 1,500 restaurants. Would you then have the Golden Touch?

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with Kevin King, President of www.donatos.com, Kevin’s long career has taken him some of the most successful franchises in the business including Dominos, Papa Murphys, Smoothie King and others.

Listen on as Kevin tells us:

- The Fundamental Elements of Restaurant Success

- How Donatos is dealing with labor, inflation, and the supply chain

- Why piled high edge to edge toppings still make sense with rising food costs

- Why Donato’s is unique and their extraordinary, continued growth during the pandemic

- Necessary technology and other critical operating systems

- His best advice to operators now

And the learnings and experience that come from an illustrious career.

Now go out there and ROCK Your Restaurant!

Roger

Episode Page: https://bit.ly/E298RRP

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/

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

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

An “A-Player” is someone with great personality, stellar product knowledge, a true understanding of service and a strong desire to please the guest. Imagine if your entire team took this approach!

In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Zaylan Jacobsen. Zaylan is a veteran server, bartender and team leader who saw a gap in staff training and service. He not only found a way to up-level the guest experience in his own employer’s restaurants but is now disrupting the industry.

Listen as Zaylan describes:

- How great restaurants create a strong culture

- The importance of effective training on the guest experience

- Seeing your staff as valuable “assets” not replaceable commodities

- Valuing and encouraging team contributions

- Technology that unfortunately detracts from true hospitality

- Better ideas to combat the labor crisis

- Turning restaurant jobs into careers with limitless potential

You’ll want to stay tuned as Zaylan describes how and why he created a game-changing restaurant training App that will transform service in restaurants and hospitality operations. Get your free Demonstration at www.srvnow.com

Now go out there and ROCK Your Restaurant!

Roger

Thank you to our Sponsors:

SRV - Unlock Staff Potential and Maximize Sales. SRV teaches your team to profitably sell and accurately create the food and drinks at your restaurant. Learn More: https://srvnow.com/

Davo – Automate Your Sales Tax. Why not Try Davo FREE for 30 days: https://www.davosalestax.com/