If you’re a restaurant operator, AI might feel like a buzzword — something for Silicon Valley, not your kitchen line.

But the truth is, it’s already affecting your business, whether you’re using it or not.

This isn’t a prediction. It’s what’s happening right now.

And restaurant leaders embracing AI in simple, strategic ways are getting back something precious: time.

At the 2025 Food on Demand Conference in Las Vegas, I sat down with Bryan Rutcofsky, co-founder of Marqii, to talk about one of the hottest and most misunderstood tools in the restaurant business right now: Artificial Intelligence.

Final Thought: Don’t Fear AI — Train It

Like a new hire, AI only works if you show it how your business thinks, talks, and serves.

With tools like Marqii, you can feed it your tone and style and let it scale the parts of your hospitality that matter online.

You’re still the soul of your restaurant.

AI just helps you multiply that soul across screens, search results, and guest interactions. All without losing your voice.

Want to see what technology can actually do for a restaurant?

We use Marqii at Cali BBQ — and it’s been a game changer for saving time and responding better.

Message me (@shawnpwalchef) and I’ll let you know why you should sign up, too.

On this episode, learn about the restaurant technology that is helping Irv's Burgers expand their roadside burger enterprise into a new era.

https://restauranttechnology.substack.com/

When you walk into an Irv’s Burgers location, it feels like classic America — Route 66 vibes with smash burgers, hot dogs, and soda pop.

But behind the counter? That’s all 2025.

I traveled to Las Vegas and caught up with Lawrence Longo, the man behind Irv’s remarkable revival and expansion, at his location inside the Durango Hotel and Casino’s food hall.

Irv’s Burgers is going full throttle.

What started in 1946 as one of the first roadside burger joints has been rebuilt as a scalable, tech-forward concept—complete with digital payroll, automated sales tax, and vendor payments that run themselves.

With seven stores already open and an eighth launching on the Las Vegas Strip at Planet Hollywood, Lawrence’s vision is clear: an All-American burger stand in every neighborhood.

But rapid expansion comes with friction. That means he’s always looking for technological solutions to make the journey smoother.

https://irvsburgers.com/

At Sami & Susu in New York City’s Lower East Side, Mediterranean flavors and neighborhood vibes come together in a cozy wine bar. It’s also a place where smart technology quietly powers the experience behind the scenes.

In this episode, owner Amir Nathan shares how he and his partner Jordan Anderson navigated the challenges of opening their first business — and how tools like Toast POS, Resy reservations, and Davo Sales Tax help them keep stress low and guests happy.

Learn how thoughtful tech choices help them manage reservations booked out weeks in advance, run payroll from a phone in minutes, and automate the headaches of sales tax — so they can focus on what matters most: creating a warm, welcoming space recognized by the MICHELIN Guide as a Bib Gourmand.

Tune in for real-world insights on using technology to support restaurant success — and get inspired by Amir’s story of believing in the mission and never stopping.

👉 Hit play now to hear the full conversation!👉 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review — it helps us share more stories that matter.👉 For more deep dives into restaurant tech and operator insights, check out the full archive at restauranttechnology.substack.com.

TECH IN THIS EPISODE:

* TOAST

* DAVO

* RESY

Welcome to Restaurant Technology. On this episode I visit El Primo Red Tacos in Downtown Miami to see how technology like DAVO and Toast is helping them run faster and better.

Join the conversation on Rising Tides Live every Wednesday and Friday at 10am (PST)

TECH IN THIS EPISODE:

* TOAST

* DAVO

The true cost of employee turnover is higher than you think. Our Rising Tides Community got a chance to sit with 7shifts CEO Jordan Boesch to talk about his company's new 2025 Restaurant Labor Cost & Profitability Survey and more.

READ THE REPORT: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurant-labor-costs-playbook

Rising Tides is our weekly LIVE streaming show where we’re joined by some of the top thinkers and biggest brands in the hospitality business — and beyond.

You can take the virtual stage and share your story — or if you want to engage off-camera you can always join the live chats on YouTube, LinkedIn, or wherever you stream the live show.

Nadine De La Fuente, marketing manager for Marqii, shares 8 ways to make your Google Business profile serve up more traffic for your restaurant.

This is the Restaurant Technology Substack series where we give you insights and ideas to improve your operations with tech. Please subscribe and share this post.

TECH IN THIS EPISODE:

MARQII - Digital Hospitality, Simplified

Marqii organizes and automates SEO-critical tasks for you from one simple, easy-to-use dashboard, helping your business rise to the top of “near me” searches. Try it out at https://marqii.com/

This is the Restaurant Technology Substack series where we give you insights and ideas to improve your operations with tech. Please subscribe and share this post.

Our partners at Marqii got together three restaurant marketing masterminds (Josh Kopel, David Rev Ciancio, and Shawn Walchef) to explain the ways that regular restaurant owners can use readily available tools to spread the word about their business.

TECH IN THIS EPISODE:

MARQII - Digital Hospitality, Simplified

Marqii organizes and automates SEO-critical tasks for you from one simple, easy-to-use dashboard, helping your business rise to the top of “near me” searches. Try it out at https://marqii.com/

Welcome to the Restaurant Technology Substack Series. On this episode I visit Hidden Craft in San Diego to learn about the technology and tools they use to make their restaurant run better.

Join the conversation on Rising Tides Live every Wednesday and Friday at 10am (PST)

TECH IN THIS EPISODE:

* TOAST

* DAVO

* POUR MY BEER

Welcome to the Restaurant Technology Substack Series. On this episode we talk to Marqii CEO Avi Goren about how the tool helps restaurant and hospitality operators work faster and better.

Join the conversation on Rising Tides Live every Wednesday and Friday at 10am (PST)

TECH IN THIS EPISODE:

MARQII - Digital Hospitality, Simplified

Marqii organizes and automates SEO-critical tasks for you from one simple, easy-to-use dashboard, helping your business rise to the top of “near me” searches. Try it out at https://marqii.com/

Welcome to the Restaurant Technology Substack Series. On this episode we go inside Tahini Street Food in San Diego to see how the fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant uses technology in their operations

Join the conversation on Rising Tides Live every Wednesday and Friday at 10am (PST)

TECH IN THIS EPISODE:

TOAST - Point-of-Sale and Management System

RESTAURANT365 - Back-Office Software

DAVO - Sales Tax Software

SLING - Employee Scheduling

SLACK - Team Communication

KORMAZ MEKATRONIK - Donor Production Robot