The Restaurant Innovator

From shifting dining habits to an increasingly crowded marketplace, the relationship between full-service dining and off-premises technology has fundamentally transformed. In this episode of The Restaurant Innovator, FSR editor Callie Evergreen chats with DoorDash’s Jeff Frost about how operators can navigate this evolution to build an enduring, profitable off-premises strategy. We break down how restaurants can leverage marketplaces as top-of-funnel discovery channels while converting first-time guests into loyal direct-order regulars through tailored rewards and guest data ownership. Packed with candid insights on executive delivery dashes and back-of-house efficiency, this conversation offers full-service owners and operators a practical playbook for driving guest frequency and sustaining authentic hospitality in the digital era. 

Thank you to DoorDash for sponsoring this episode. 

To learn more, visit https://doordashformerchants.com/fsr. 

On this episode of The Restaurant Innovator, FSR Editor Callie Evergreen sits down with Chef Dimitri Ponomarchuk, Director of R&D and Corporate Chef at The Krusteaz Company, to explore how full-service restaurant operators and menu developers can take pancakes and waffles far beyond the traditional breakfast plate. Chef Dimitri shares how these familiar products can support creative, operationally simple menu ideas across dayparts, with room for adding savory twists, global flavors, and even wellness-minded innovations. From savory and spicy aebleskivers to duck confit waffle stackers, pancake-batter coatings, waffle sandwiches, nacho-style silver dollar pancakes, and protein- and fiber-forward applications, this episode offers inspiration for turning a classic kitchen staple into a versatile menu solution.  

Thank you to Krusteaz Professional for sponsoring this episode. To learn more, visit krusteazpro.com.

What changes when a restaurant surpasses the 10-unit threshold? Howard Greenstone, CEO of Emmy Squared Pizza, joins the podcast to discuss his return to the 30-plus-unit chain and what it takes to scale a neighborhood concept. Along the way, he shares how Emmy Squared is updating its menu for changing consumer habits and why listening to guests matters more than chasing every trend.

How do you build a restaurant group that earns Michelin recognition, attracts top culinary talent, and still makes financial sense? In this episode, Grove Bay Hospitality Group co-founder and CEO Ignacio Garcia-Menocal joins Callie Evergreen to unpack the strategy behind the company’s award-winning growth. From launching a first restaurant that lost money in its early months to operating chef-driven, Michelin-recognized restaurants, Ignacio shares the lessons that shaped Grove Bay’s approach—and why a culture of kindness is essential.  

Sean Marzan, executive chef of The Wharf at Sunset Walk and Lizzie’s Memphis Style BBQ, shares how he transformed the chaos of the kitchen into a culture built on consistency, collaboration, and care. He discusses his journey from food runner to executive chef, the mentors who shaped his leadership style, and why passion and a willingness to learn matter more than technique when building a team. Sean also explains how he orchestrates The Wharf’s fresh-catch approach with strong supplier relationships and Lizzie’s low-and-slow barbecue methods, all while creating memorable experiences for both locals and visitors. 

In our first collab episode with Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, editors Callie Evergreen and Satyne Doner sit down with Caitlin Mateo, the director of kitchen operations and development at Founding Farmers—the farmer-owned, scratch-made restaurant group with locations across the DMV and Pennsylvania. We chat about her journey from anthropology to cooking and how she leads a kitchen team across multiple locations while keeping them engaged in the mission of the brand. Caitlin also shares her approach to menu innovation and how she balances flavor, ingredient sourcing, speed of execution, labor, and guest expectations.  

For more from Women in Restaurant Leadership, listen to the WiRL podcast on Apple and Spotify.

How does an independent restaurant evolve without losing its identity? Cees Brinkman, founder of Nashville’s Pharmacy Burger, and director of operations Daniel Frazier share how scratch-made food, a distinctive beer garden, and a collaborative culture have helped the brand grow from one East Nashville restaurant to three locations. Along the way, they discuss the post-COVID restaurant landscape, rising costs, changing alcohol habits, the impact of GLP-1 drugs on menus, and why restaurants can still offer something increasingly rare: a place to put down the phone and connect with the people at the table.

With a culinary portfolio spanning more than 50 restaurant concepts, Resorts World Las Vegas has to deliver both scale and individuality. Executive chef David Werly and Kusa Nori executive chef Ryan Nuqui join the podcast to share how they protect each concept’s identity while driving consistency across the resort. They discuss making modern Japanese dining more approachable through tableside experiences, rethinking innovation beyond the plate, developing future culinary leaders, and creating the personalized hospitality that keeps guests coming back.

What does it take to turn a hotel amenity into a destination restaurant? Philip Bates of TMC Hospitality joins the podcast to discuss the strategy behind Maleza’s expansion from Drift Palm Springs to a standalone restaurant at The CAMP in Costa Mesa. Bates breaks down the importance of market fit, distinctive design, operational consistency, and knowing when not to grow too quickly. Along the way, he explains why better hotel food and beverage can create a virtuous cycle for both local diners and overnight guests.

In this episode of The Restaurant Innovator, host Callie Evergreen sits down with Jessica and Damien Zouaoui, co-founders of Oakwell Beer Spa, to talk about turning a 25-country journey and a chance discovery in Poland into a franchise-ready social wellness concept. The founders unpack Oakwell’s two Denver-area locations, where private beer-infused spa suites meet a hospitality-led tap wall featuring guided tastings of craft beer, wine, cider, and nonalcoholic beverages. Jessica and Damien also share how they built the operating systems, service standards, and market strategy to support national franchise growth across more than 100 potential U.S. markets.