Podcasts about Hospitality industry

What if your biggest opportunity wasn't the one you planned for, but the one that forced you to prove you belonged?For Sarah Thompson, leading a fine dining Mexican restaurant as a non-Mexican chef wasn't the goal, but it became the proving ground. At Casa Playa inside the Wynn Las Vegas, Sarah has built more than a menu: she's built trust, earned belonging, and redefined what excellence looks like in a cuisine she wasn't raised in but has come to deeply respect.In this episode, we unpack how she overcame cultural bias in the kitchen, turned imposter syndrome into authentic leadership, and leveraged the resources of a major hospitality group to create a restaurant that's as respected by locals as it is by the Strip's most demanding diners.If you've ever had to earn your place in the room, you'll feel this one.To experience Casa Playa or learn more, visit wynnlasvegas.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if your entire career started with being told you were too nice to succeed?For John Terzian and Brian Toll, that's exactly how it began. These are the minds behind The h.wood Group: an empire born from rejection, reinvention, and the refusal to follow the rules.In this episode, they share how protecting guests instead of exploiting them became their superpower, why aesthetics matter more than you think, and how they transitioned from bottle service to building culture through culinary. We get into the painful leap from nightlife to fine dining, how they designed demand instead of chasing it, and the operational discipline required to stay profitable 10 years in.This isn't just about cool venues, it's about what it takes to last in an industry designed to burn you out.To learn more about The h.wood Group and their concepts, visit hwoodgroup.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the real reward in restaurants isn't the exit, but the impact?Scott Redler didn't just co-found Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, he scaled it to 400+ units without losing his soul.In this episode, we get into the mindset shifts that made that possible: from hiring like your business depends on it (because it does), to giving GMs ownership in everything but name. Scott shares how he built a culture of transparency and accountability, why the “no-jerk rule” matters more than a resume, and how he chose franchisees who shared his values, not just his ambitions.For operators who care about building something bigger than themselves, this is a masterclass in scaling with intention, and not ego.To learn more about Mocha's Coffee & Eatery, visit mokasusa.com_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I explain why your website is either helping your restaurant grow or quietly costing you business. Most restaurant sites look fine but fail to answer the questions guests actually care about. I break down what your website is supposed to do, how emotion drives decisions, and why clarity matters more than clever design. If your site is not converting visitors into guests, this conversation will change how you think about it.  TakeawaysEvaluate your restaurant's goals for the new year.Focus on real growth strategies, not just cost-cutting.Your website should evoke emotions, not just list offerings.Answer critical questions on your website to aid decision-making.Identify what makes your restaurant unique in the market.Clarify who your restaurant is for on your website.Define how your restaurant fits into customers' lives.Limit calls to action on your website to reduce decision fatigue.Show the effort behind your offerings to engage customers emotionally.Ensure your website invites customers into your restaurant's world.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Growth Strategies01:46 The Importance of Your Restaurant's Website05:38 Critical Questions for Website Effectiveness09:01 Emotional Engagement and Website DesignIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

What if resilience is just a code word for neglect?Catarina Bill of Southern Smoke is calling BS, and doing something about it. Born into the back-of-house world through her family's meat business, Catarina's not just preaching compassion, she's building infrastructure. Her work exposes the cracks in our industry's foundation: no healthcare, no mental health safety net, no margin for error.In this conversation, we get into the systems she's building to catch people before they fall, why professionalizing hospitality means meeting human needs, and the radical idea that support shouldn't be earned by burnout.This isn't charity, it's a wake-up call. And for anyone still wondering why staff won't come back, this conversation has answers.To learn more about Southern Smoke and how to support their mission, visit southernsmoke.org._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the best leadership training didn't come from business school, but from the brutal discipline of an Ironman?David Youngberg didn't start triathlons until 50. But the mindset it required, focus, repetition, resilience, changed how he runs restaurants. After two decades at BJ's and now CEO at Stonefire Grill, David brings that same intensity to team culture, systems thinking, and servant leadership. In this conversation, we get into how Ironman training sharpened his business instincts, what it takes to build 20-year team tenure, and why the best leaders don't demand more, they serve more.For anyone trying to lead with longevity in mind, this episode is fuel.To learn more about Stonefire Grill and their people-first approach, visit stonefiregrill.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I talk about why the start of a new year feels so hard for so many restaurant owners. The problem is rarely effort. It is usually a lack of focus. I break down how unclear marketing, too many offers, and weak pricing strategies quietly kill profitability. We dig into how to simplify your model, narrow your services, and create calls to action that actually convert. If you want this year to feel more controlled and more profitable, this is where to start.  TakeawaysEvaluate what really happened with your goals in 2025.Focus on proven strategies for real growth.More work does not equate to more money.Each service in a restaurant is a separate business.Narrow down to your hero service for marketing.Make one clear ask to your customers.Pricing should reflect the value provided.Perceived value can enhance customer experience.Avoid spreading yourself too thin with multiple offers.Reflect on where you can streamline operations for profit.Chapters00:00 New Year, New Strategies for Restaurant Growth01:46 Understanding the Restaurant Business Model05:05 The Importance of Focused Marketing08:24 Pricing for Profit and Perceived ValueIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

What if the best hospitality isn't taught – it's demonstrated, brick by brick?Wesley Sohn didn't just walk away from a promising finance career, he ran toward something deeper. Something messier. Something real. He started as a food runner, not to climb the ladder faster, but to understand the foundation better. And it shows. Today, Wesley helps lead one of the most intentional hospitality groups in the country, where culture is lived—not laminated—and SOPs don't kill creativity, they fuel it.In this conversation, we unpack the engineering mindset behind scalable hospitality, how real culture is modeled not mandated, the hidden value of invisible work, and what it takes to build restaurants that work, because the people inside them believe in what they're building.This one's for operators who know culture is your system, and your strategy.To learn more about Cote, visit cotekoreansteakhouse.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if staying small was actually the boldest move you could make in restaurants?Fred Piehl didn't come to San Diego chasing an empire; he came with Paris training, a place to sleep, and a 30–seat bistro he found on Craigslist that became The Smoking Goat.In this conversation, we break down why he and his wife Tammy treat restaurants like “leaky buckets,” how he built a life where skiing trips, summers in New Hampshire, and family dinners matter as much as Saturday covers and how he's resisted the pressure to scale for so many years.For operators who feel owned by their restaurants, this is a blueprint for taking your time, your profitability, and your joy back.To learn more about The Smoking Goat and One Door North, visit thesmokinggoatrestaurant.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

In this solo year end episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak reflects on the highs, lows, and hard lessons from 2025 across his hospitality portfolio and broader business journey. He walks through recent acquisitions, operational wins, and exits, while candidly unpacking mistakes around debt timing, goal setting, and team management. Jake also shares how shifting guest preferences, declining RevPAR, and rising costs are reshaping the hotel industry, and why experiential and luxury assets continue to outperform. The episode closes with a forward looking view on 2026 and what has him re energized about hospitality. He discusses: Key wins from 2025 including the White Barn Inn acquisition, early distributions, and high ROI operational improvements Lessons learned from debt maturities, refinancing risk, and how market timing can dictate outcomes Mistakes around goal setting, performance measurement, and acting too slowly on underperformance Why experiential and luxury hotels are outperforming amid declining RevPAR in other segments How changing guest behavior, supply constraints, and brand dynamics are shaping 2026 opportunities This episode is especially valuable for operators, investors, and entrepreneurs looking for an honest, experience driven perspective on navigating cycles in hospitality and building with intention. Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on X: ⁠https://x.com/JWurzak⁠ 1 on 1 coaching with Jake: ⁠https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching⁠ Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: ⁠https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo⁠ Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:15) - Highs of 2025: acquisitions and successes (00:07:03) - Lessons learned and mistakes made (00:17:02) - Looking ahead to 2026: trends and predictions (00:28:57) - Conclusion and exciting news for 2026 (00:29:51) - Closing remarks and podcast information

What if the best restaurant stories aren't about food—they're about identity, risk, and reinvention?Johno Morisano didn't set out to open a restaurant—he set out to escape. But a chance encounter with a Greyhound bus station, and later, chef Mashama Bailey, sparked something deeper: a creative and cultural reckoning that became The Grey.In this conversation, we unpack how Johno turned personal uncertainty into professional clarity, why the partnership with Mashama worked when others would have failed, and how building a restaurant from scratch became an act of redemption. We get into what it really takes to thrive in a small market, how to build a business that feels like it belongs, and why chasing growth without meaning almost cost him everything.This isn't about real estate or restaurants. It's about what happens when you finally stop running—and start building.For more on The Grey and his work with Mashama Bailey, visit thegreyrestaurant.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

Change remains the only constant in hospitality, but today's accelerated pace brings unprecedented opportunities to innovate and differentiate your brand. Technology and AI are enabling streamlined operations and personalized guest experiences that drive loyalty and revenue.Consumer behavior shifts like mindful drinking trends, for example, present deep challenges but can also open new revenue streams for savvy operators who know how to pivot. In this Keynote from Cornell's Nolan School of Hotel Administration, we'll explore successful adaptation strategies that can strengthen your business model and broaden your appeal.Join industry leader Peter Karpinski from Pyramid Global Hospitality and Cornell Senior Lecturer and industry veteran Douglass Miller as they discuss how to survive and thrive in this rebounding market as well as what it takes to gain competitive advantage. They'll also share storytelling techniques for reaching today's experience-hungry consumers.Check out Doug's Beer Essentials Cornell Certificate Program herePyramid Global Hospitality  Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.

What do you do when the real estate market collapses? If you're Ian Livingstone, you buy. In this episode of Distinguished, Dean Arun Upneja speaks with Ian Livingstone, the co-founder of London & Regional Properties, one of the UK's largest private real estate groups, about what it really takes to build a £30 billion global empire, through booms, crashes, and everything in between. Livingstone shares how he went from running 170 optician stores to reshaping urban skylines; why crisis moments create once-in-a-generation opportunities; and how he's built cities like Panama Pacifico, where 20,000+ homes, schools, and commercial districts grew from a single idea and decades of patience. A candid, behind-the-curtain conversation on timing, conviction, distressed assets, hospitality real estate, and why the future of leisure and experience-driven travel still holds unmatched potential, even in the age of AI.  Email us at shadean@bu.eduThe “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. Host: Arun Upneja, DeanProducer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate RelationsMarketing: Rachel Hamlin, Senior Marketing ManagerResearch: Lu Lan Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

What if knowing nothing was your greatest strategic advantage?Alex Pincus didn't grow up in restaurants—he grew up on boats. And when he stumbled into hospitality, it wasn't with a plan. It was with a floating bar, a donated ship, and zero experience. In this conversation, we unpack how that ignorance created freedom, why top-line success almost hid the real problems, and how grief rewired his entire relationship with risk. We explore the tension between magic and margin, the beauty of seasonal business models, and the mindset behind building concepts that break every rule.This episode is for anyone who feels called to go off-script—and needs a reason to trust that instinct.To learn more about Crew and their waterfront concepts, visit crew.fun._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the biggest threat to your restaurant's success isn't a lack of ideas—but too many of them?Chris Gannon built BOLAY with the DNA of a legacy brand—his father helped launch Outback Steakhouse. But unlike the bloomin' days of casual dining, fast-casual success demands ruthless focus.In this episode, Chris shares how over-innovation almost broke his business, why the need to be creative can kill consistency, and the real lesson behind scaling a scratch-made concept. We get into why most founders outgrow their own systems, how a background in marketing helped him build culture from day one, and the power of saying no to the next shiny object.If you're trying to grow without losing your soul—or your sanity—this one's for you.To learn more about BOLAY and their mission to make bold, fresh food fast, visit bolay.com_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Featuring top hospitality leaders from Groucho's Deli, Long John Silver's, Tiki Taco, Cowboy Chicken, Crazy Pita, and Beans & Brews Coffee House, including Mehdi Zarhloul, Brittany Mercer, Eric Knott, Deric Rosenbaum, Doug Willmarth, and Tim Newton, this episode dives deep into the latest hospitality trends and technology shaping the food service industry. Recorded live at FS/TEC from Amazon Business Studios, Hospitality Hangout brings you insider insights on growth strategies, brand building, and innovating within the hospitality industry.Our guests share valuable perspectives on scaling both legacy and emerging brands while maintaining strong culture and operational excellence. The conversation covers key topics such as franchising, modernizing technology stacks, leadership best practices, digital marketing, and disciplined management needed to thrive in today's competitive food service landscape.Join us for an engaging discussion that captures the energy of FS/TEC and offers actionable advice for entrepreneurs, founders, and hospitality professionals focused on long-term growth, innovation, and staying ahead in the evolving hospitality industry. Episode Credits:Produced by: Branded Hospitality MediaHosted by: Michael Schatzberg, JImmy FrischlingProducer: Julie ZuckerCreative Director: Adam LevineShow Runner: Drewe RaimiPost Production: Three Cheers Creativewww.thehospitalityhangout.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nokukhanya Mntambo talks to Surprise Mankge, Founder of Silverspoon, about what it takes to build a food business without a fixed storefront, how logistics and demand shape survival, and what makes Silverspoon stand out in a crowded hospitality space. The Money Show is a podcast hosted by well-known journalist and radio presenter, Stephen Grootes. He explores the latest economic trends, business developments, investment opportunities, and personal finance strategies. Each episode features engaging conversations with top newsmakers, industry experts, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and politicians, offering you thought-provoking insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape.    Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa     Follow us on social media   702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702   CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Mina is the best in the biz. He's mastered excellence at scale. What's equally impressive is that he's done it alongside his partner Patric Yumul for the last 20 years.Think about how much our industry has changed in the last 20 years. Today, the three of us reflect back on their decades long partnership together and look forward to the next chapter of their partnership.For more on the Mina Group go to https://www.michaelmina.net_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if imposter syndrome wasn't a weakness, but a compass?Emily Brubaker didn't think she was ready to run a resort kitchen. She didn't think she'd win a national TV competition. But she did both—by betting on her values, not her ego.In this episode, we get into the real story behind her journey from Vegas fine dining to Omni La Costa. She opens up about leaving the kitchen to raise kids, coming back through heartbreak and grit, and the radical changes she's making to leadership culture in resorts.We talk about redefining balance, leading with empathy, and what it looks like to finally believe in yourself—without losing your edge.This one's for every operator who's ever felt like they didn't belong. Emily shows us that growth doesn't always start with confidence. Sometimes it starts with a question: “What if I'm wrong about myself?”To follow her work, check her Instagram @chefbrubs. _________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Lauren Fernandez went from working in restaurants, to working on restaurants, to influencing the industry at scale. After cutting her teeth as a corporate executive turned franchisee, she's taken the lessons she's learned and crafted not only an educational platform, but an investment engine for those that come after her. Today, we discuss what she's built and how it works to ease the burden of independent restaurateurs.For more information on Lauren and Full Course, visit https://www.fullcourse.com/_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Recorded live at SocialWest 2025 in Calgary, this special episode of the Marketing News Canada podcast features a conversation with Joshua Counsil, Co-Founder of Good Robot Brewing and guest host Meredith McKeough.Joshua shares candid lessons from building a multi-dimensional hospitality and beverage business spanning beer, non-alcoholic drinks, events, and co-packing for major retailers like Costco. The conversation explores why guest experience is one of the most powerful marketing tools available, how storytelling influences customers, employees, and even lenders, and why scrappy, generous marketing often outperforms big-budget campaigns.From navigating PR crises to designing small moments that create outsized word-of-mouth, this episode is packed with practical insights for marketers, founders, and brand leaders looking to build trust, loyalty, and long-term growth.

What if the most powerful thing you bring to your restaurant isn't a recipe—but your story?Alon Shaya built Pomegranate Hospitality not on a model, but on a mission: to lead with identity, not conformity. In this episode, he shares how embracing his immigrant past changed everything—from how he cooks, to how he hires, to the way he gives back. We get into the power of cultural storytelling in a commodity industry, the systems that let passion scale, and why he built an entire nonprofit around the teacher who saved his life.This is for every operator who's tired of chasing trends, and ready to build something real.To learn more about Pomegranate Hospitality, visit pomegranatehospitality.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

The pandemic taught many of us many different lessons but it taught Chef Fabio Vivani how to fight back. The chef spent the years rebounding from the pandemic curating a concept that he believes is not only recession proof, it's pandemic proof. Today we sit down to discuss the formula he's crafted for guaranteed success so that we too can protect our businesses from what's lurking around the corner. For more information on the chef, visit https://www.fabioviviani.com/_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if staying quiet is the riskiest move you can make?Katherine Miller built her career where politics and policy collide—and she's not afraid to bring chefs into the fight. From her early days in democratic campaigns to working with global nonprofits and the UN, Katherine's mission has been clear: empower the most trusted voices in food to influence the systems that shape it.In this episode, we dig into why chefs are uniquely positioned to drive real change, how restaurant owners can speak up without alienating guests, and the surprising cost of silence in today's political climate. She shares a clear, actionable framework for advocacy and explains why being apolitical doesn't protect you—it sidelines you.For any operator wondering how to take a stand without losing their seat at the table, this is the conversation you've been waiting for.To learn more about her work and pick up a copy of At the Table, visit table81.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

December is supposed to save your year, but for a lot of bars it quietly becomes the month with the biggest waste bill.You're packed, bottles are flying, the kitchen is slammed, and somehow the money left over never matches how hard you worked.In this episode, we walk through a simple 48-hour December bar waste audit that shows you exactly how much you're losing to over-pouring, spoilage, shrinkage, and messy inventory.You'll hear how to match what actually left the shelves with your food cost and pour cost, spot red flags in prep and ordering, and tighten things up without slowing service or becoming the “bad guy” on shift.The goal is simple: actually keep the extra December profit instead of watching it disappear into the trash, the sink, and the write-offs.

When you open a restaurant you've investing in more than a business, you're investing in a community.  As we change and evolve as individuals so do our communities and few places more beautifully illustrate this capacity to change more than Portland, Oregon. Today's we chat with, Portland's adopted son, Celebrity Chef Gregory Gourdet. Instead of staking his claim in his hometown of New York or following the trends out to Los Angeles, Gregory has chosen to walk a more complicated path, using this talent and his food to help mend together a community that is still struggling to become the best version of itself.For more on the chef visit https://www.gregorygourdet.com_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if the biggest threat to your restaurant isn't bad food or poor service—but bad tech?That's the bet Ankit Gupta is making. After shaping food delivery at tech companies globally, he saw a blind spot no one was fixing: restaurant tech was leaving restaurants behind. Now he's leading the product team at Otter, and his mission is clear: to completely redefine what a restaurant point of sale system is and how it can holistically serve the changing needs of restaurants today.In today's conversation, he shares why POS systems should be more than a way of collecting revenue–they should be creating new revenue opportunities, how data and marketing can work together through automation to scale your brand, and what operators can learn from manufacturers to scale profitability.This is more than a conversation about tech—it's a conversation about identity, resilience, and realizing that the tools that will free us in the future already exist today.To learn more about Otter and the most powerful restaurant operating system ever created, visit tryotter.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I believe restaurants have always had a pervasive culture, albeit at times not the healthiest culture. Restaurateur Ellen Yin is out to change that and she's leading by example. Today we sit down to discuss her unorthodox path through the industry and how in breaking the mold, she's developed the formula to heal our industry.  To learn more about Ellen and her restaurant group, visit https://highsthospitality.com/_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if the only way to build a restaurant worth running was to make it fun—even in crisis?Andy Shallal didn't set out to be a restaurateur. He left a stable path in medical science, waited tables to get by, and discovered something powerful: hospitality could be a vehicle for joy, justice, and deep human connection.In this episode, Andy shares how he built Busboys and Poets into a mission-driven brand that prioritizes people over profits—and why “fun” is his north star, even through economic collapse and a global pandemic. We get into the power of quitting the wrong path, how food becomes a spiritual force, and why transparency and storytelling matter more than ever.If you've ever wondered whether restaurants can still change lives, this conversation is your answer.To learn more about Busboys and Poets, visit busboysandpoets.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

World-famous restaurateur Will Guidara is back with his latest project — and it's not a restaurant, it's a book. Will was made famous by the over the top service he provided at Eleven Madison Park and, as it turns out, there was a method to the madness.In this episode, Will and I sit down to discuss the formulaic way that he set expectations for his guests' experience and the process he created to exceed those expectations.Be sure to pick up a copy of Will's book, “Unreasonable Hospitality”, when it releases on October 25th._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Most leaders talk about transforming hospitality. Bashar Wali actually walked away from a $150 million hotel portfolio to do it. The founder of This Assembly, Wali is building a new kind of hospitality ecosystem, one centered on emotion, belonging, and human connection rather than automation and efficiency. In this episode, Dean Arun Upneja speaks with Wali about why the future of hospitality isn't just digital, but deeply human. From challenging the idea that loyalty can be bought with points to exploring how AI should enhance emotional intelligence, Wali urges leaders to rethink what makes hotels truly memorable. A celebrated thought leader and frequent speaker at BU SHA, Wali is known for his powerful TED Talk on why “humanity matters more than material luxuries” and for his keynote at the 2024 BU Hospitality Leadership Summit. With more than 20 years of leadership experience at companies like Wyndham International, Starwood, and Provenance Hotels, he continues to inspire the industry with his conviction that hospitality isn't a transaction; it's a feeling. And in an AI-driven world, that feeling may be the most valuable asset of all. Email us at shadean@bu.eduThe “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. Host: Arun Upneja, DeanProducer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate RelationsMarketing: Rachel Hamlin, Senior Marketing ManagerResearch: Lu Lan Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I dig into one of the toughest parts of leadership: firing. I explain why it isn't a failure but a form of maintenance that protects your team, culture, and long-term success. You'll learn how to identify performance issues early, make fair and informed decisions, and create a system that supports accountability without losing empathy.  TakeawaysFiring should be seen as maintenance, not failure.Keeping mediocre managers can be more costly than firing them.Performance management is about diagnosing issues before dismissing employees.Not every performance problem is a people problem; sometimes it's about systems.Clarity, capability, and care are key factors in employee performance.Firing protects standards and culture, not just punishes individuals.Every firing should lead to a review and improvement of systems.Documenting what broke helps prevent future issues.Refining roles is more important than simply refilling them.Share insights about firing practices to help others in similar situations.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Success Strategies01:02 Understanding Employee Performance Management05:44 Implementing Effective Firing PracticesIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

Travel agencies and hotel operators in Japan are dreading a difficult season ahead as Chinese tourists cancel orders under diplomatic tensions (10:27). China and Kyrgyzstan have pledged mutual support for each other's sovereignty and development after the first foreign ministers' strategic dialogue (15:47). And Washington reportedly expects Ukraine to concede some land under a peace plan that Kyiv said it had no role in drafting (25:08).

Getting people through the door is hard, but getting them to keep coming back? That's where most bar owners drop the ball. Discounts might feel like the move, but they're quietly killing your margins and not building real loyalty. This episode breaks down a smarter, cheaper way to lock in regulars by actually making them feel seen, no gimmicks, no stamp cards. We're talking real talk on recognition, retention, and how to use your POS data to turn first-timers into lifers.If you want your bar to feel like their bar, this is the one to listen to.What You'll Learn:

What if the stable path isn't the right one?Mohammad Farraj was on track to be a trauma surgeon. Instead, he left medicine to launch a taco truck—against family expectations, cultural pressure, and common sense. That truck became Talkin' Tacos, a fast-casual franchise now operating in seven states.In this episode, Mohammad shares what pushed him to walk away from a “safe” life, how a teenage TikTok creator sparked their first viral moment, and why obsessing over experience—not just food—created a brand that keeps growing.This is for any operator who's ever felt the pull to start over and build something real.To learn more about Talkin' Tacos and their nationwide expansion, visit talkintacos.net._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

You can have a packed dining room and still be bleeding money, and most owners don't realize it until it hurts. The real problem isn't that you're not busy, it's that you're guessing which hours actually pay the bills instead of looking at what the numbers are quietly trying to tell you. In this episode, I walk you through a simple 5-minute daily habit that shows you exactly which shifts are truly profitable and which ones are just keeping the lights on. You'll see how to spot your strongest dayparts, where labor is quietly eating your margins, and where small adjustments in hours, staffing, or promos could pay off big. By the end, you won't just feel busy, you'll know, in black and white, when your restaurant actually makes money. What You'll Learn

What if your $10 chicken taco isn't competing with food—it's competing with feeling?Matt Egan didn't just open restaurants—he staged immersive experiences. Drawing from a background in film, Matt treats each concept like a set, every server like a character, and every moment like a scene that should stick with you.In this episode, we unpack how he turned storytelling into a competitive edge, why throwaway content kills brands, and the real reason legacy restaurants in L.A. are closing.This is for operators who feel like the work is great but still getting ignored—and are ready to turn their restaurant into a platform for emotion, identity, and belonging. Because when the product is an experience, the margins are in the meaning.To explore his concepts, visit https://www.mirate.la/_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses. In this episode, I dive into one of the most overlooked parts of running a successful restaurant—the lease. I explain how rent isn't just an expense but a performance metric that can shape your entire business. You'll learn how to negotiate from a position of strength, build better relationships with landlords, and know when walking away is the smartest move for your bottom line.  TakeawaysYour lease can bankrupt you while you're succeeding.Treat rent as a performance metric, not a bill.Negotiate from proof, not panic.Investors don't ask for discounts, they ask for upside.A bad lease with great sales is just a trap.Know when to walk away and leave rich.Highlight every clause that changes over time.Schedule a lease review with your accountant, not your landlord.Your landlord is your most dangerous business partner.Share this with an owner still negotiating like a tenant.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Success Strategies01:52 Understanding the Lease as a Business Tool05:39 Negotiation Tactics for Restaurant OwnersIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

What happens when the dream starts to feel like a trap?For Paul Denamiel, chef-owner of Le Rivage, the pandemic forced a reckoning. After decades of nonstop hustle—no days off, total immersion—he finally stepped back…and liked what he saw. Time with his wife. Peace. Clarity. And the terrifying realization that maybe, just maybe, the restaurant didn't need him anymore.In this episode, Paul opens up about the drug of service, the grief and growth that followed his father's passing, and how he learned to run a restaurant without sacrificing himself in the process. He shares how failure shaped his business chops, why he rejected the spotlight even after working at Le Cirque, and how it feels to finally find someone worthy of taking the reins.This is for every operator wrestling with legacy, identity, and the cost of doing it all.To learn more about La Rivage, visit lerivagenyc.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if your biggest failure was the reason your next move actually worked?That's the story of Henry Rich—former candy entrepreneur turned neighborhood restaurateur—who's spent the last 15 years building one of Brooklyn's most beloved hospitality groups. He didn't start with a restaurant pedigree or investor backing. He started with recession scars, a cheap lease, and a gut-level belief in community over concept.In this episode, Henry unpacks how early failure gave him an “unfair advantage,” why occasion matters more than aesthetic, and the brutal economics of opening restaurants in 2025. We get into unit economics, location strategy, and why most restaurateurs are scaling too fast—and paying for it later.This is for operators who've been burned, who are building back, or who are trying to play the long game in a short-term world.To learn more about the Oberon Group and their work in Brooklyn and beyond, visit theoberon.co._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Send us a text with your feedback on an episode and recommendations for topics you'd like us to discussWow! Episode 62 is here and what a special one. She puts the Angel in Los Angeles and her positive mindset is inspiring and left the guys in awe! Caitlin Bryant, CEO and Founder of Make Good Company, joins the guys.  Caitlin's story and her nontraditional path into aviation as well her drive should be a story that everyone listens to and uses it to motivate you and your dreams...and do it with a smile! Tune in as we cover (along with her happiness about the LA Dodgers):Caitlin's Start in the Hospitality Industry and The Places It Took Her ToHer Unique Intro to the Airport SpaceUnderstanding Airport Concessions and Customer ExperiencePersonal Growth, Importance of Family & Ancestors, and Cultural HeritageWBE Owned and Led, Staying True to Yourself and Keeping That Glass Half Fulland of course....Fun Question to End the Show!Learn More About Caitlin: Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-bryant-66867922 Make Good Company: https://makegoodcompany.com/Click subscribe and please leave a rating and review! We appreciate all of our listeners! Please leave a comment and rating via the podcast platform you use to enjoy your podcasts! Make sure to follow the No U-Turn Podcast crew on Linked In and Instagram! Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-u-turn-podcast/ Instagram: nouturn_podcast Follow the guys on Linked In: Ravi Singh: www.linkedin.com/in/ravi-h-singh-1508006 Chris Fernando: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fernando Basil Yap: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basil-yap-461b1975 Check out Terry Ann Fernando, the designer of our No U Turn logo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-ann-fernando-70b5b07

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I dig into how smart menu design can completely transform your restaurant's performance. I explain how structure, storytelling, and price positioning shape the guest experience and directly impact profitability. You'll learn how to streamline decisions, highlight your most profitable items, and turn your menu into one of your most powerful marketing tools. TakeawaysStructure is key to a profitable menu.Cutting choices, not items, improves decision-making.Menus should guide the guest's journey logically.Price positioning enhances perceived value.Storytelling in menu descriptions increases sales.Emotional language resonates more than technical jargon.Observing guest behavior can identify menu choke points.Clear section headings improve menu navigation.Pricing anchors make items feel more affordable.Redesigning menus can reduce decision time.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Marketing Masterclass01:02 Understanding Menu Structure for Profitability03:17 Designing Menus for Decision Efficiency05:12 The Importance of Price Positioning06:11 Crafting Emotional Menu Descriptions07:38 Actionable Steps to Improve Your MenuIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

Could you quit at the top of your game–just as your dreams were coming true? At the height of critical acclaim, Kevin Tien walked away from Himitsu, not because it failed, but because it no longer aligned. That decision rewired how he thinks about success, leadership, and the cost of ignoring your gut.In this conversation, Kevin opens up about leaving good money and momentum on the table, learning the hard way that growth without clarity leads to chaos, and why he now builds restaurants that invest in people first—even if it hurts margins. We dig into the emotional toll of misaligned partnerships, the power of complementary leadership, and how quitting isn't weakness—it's evolution.If you're stuck between what's working and what's right, this one's for you.To learn more on Moon Rabbit, visit moonrabbitdc.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if the true path to restaurant profitability is rethinking our business model entirely?Close to a decade ago, today's guest changed the way I saw our industry forever and he's here to do the same for you. Today we sit down with Celebrity Chef Neal Fraser as he pulls back the curtain on how Redbird—a 50-seat dining room attached to a cathedral—became one of LA's most dynamic and profitable hospitality businesses. He shares how focusing on events over covers gave him control, stability, and scale. We get into the systems he built, the mindset shift that made it possible, and why too many operators are white-knuckling restaurants that no longer serve them.This is for operators tired of hoping for Wednesday walk-ins—and ready to take back control of their business.To learn more about Redbird, visit https://redbird.la._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I break down why discounting is one of the biggest traps in the restaurant industry and how it can actually hurt your brand long term. I explain how to build real value through storytelling and emotional connection instead of cutting prices. You'll learn how to create scarcity, meaning, and loyalty that drive both profit and trust—without relying on discounts to fill your seats.  TakeawaysDiscounting attracts deal seekers, not true believers.Sell meaning, not math; value is a feeling.Scarcity builds desire, while discounting builds doubt.A full room doesn't equate to a full bank account.Profit is the cure; busy is just a drug.Kill blanket discounts for a week to assess impact.Highlight the story behind high-margin items.Replace discounts with scarcity plays.Track margin instead of traffic for better insights.Rewrite marketing messages to focus on meaning.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Marketing Strategies01:50 The Dangers of Discounting05:39 Building Value Through Meaning and ScarcityIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

What if chasing prestige meant sacrificing everything else?For Jeff Bell, managing partner at the iconic PDT in NYC, bartending has never just been about cocktails—it's about culture, connection, and the quiet cost of longevity.In this episode, he shares what 15 years inside one of the world's most celebrated bars has taught him about endurance, humility, and the evolution of hospitality. We get into why bartending is both beautiful and brutal, how alcohol amplifies more than it numbs, and what makes a bar truly last. This isn't about kitschy phone booths or speakeasy gimmicks—it's about the discipline and heart behind enduring relevance.If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build something timeless, this is that conversation.To learn more about PDT and their award-winning cocktail program, visit pdtnyc.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

What if trying to control everything is the very thing holding your business back? Most operators think control means being everywhere at once. Today's guest thinks that mindset is killing your business.After opening 100+ stores, managing $100M in revenue, and building teams across international brands, Won Jeong realized the real goal isn't knowing everything—it's building systems so you don't have to.In this episode, we unpack how training becomes a growth engine, not a time suck. Won shares how AI is transforming onboarding from guesswork to guided execution, why memorizing SOPs is a waste of leadership potential, and the real ROI of training that makes your team independent—not dependent.If you're ready to stop firefighting and start scaling, this episode is your blueprint.To learn more about Smart Trainer and the future of restaurant training, visit SmartTrainerApp.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I'm Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I've spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I dive into what it really takes to scale a restaurant successfully—and why opening a second location isn't always the right next step. I break down how to strengthen your systems, master your financials, and get your house in order before expanding. I share the key lessons I've learned about maximizing one restaurant's potential first, so growth becomes sustainable, not stressful.  TakeawaysExpansion isn't a milestone; it's a multiplier.A second location doubles your overhead, not your skill.Scaling inside one location is smarter, cheaper, and faster.Most operators have 30 to 40% more revenue potential in their existing location.If you can't take a two-week vacation without issues, you're not ready to multiply.Expansion is math, not momentum.You need a minimum of 18% net profit margin before expanding.Having a cash cushion of six months of operational costs is crucial.You should have a leadership team that can clone themselves.Focus on maximizing current revenue before considering a second location.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Success01:51 The Myths of Expansion05:40 Preparing for Expansion07:07 Actionable Steps for GrowthIf you've got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

What if AI could make your restaurant more human, not less?That's the bold idea Devana Bhargava is betting on. As a product leader at Yelp, she's rethinking restaurant tech from the inside out—building tools that support staff instead of replacing them.In this episode, we dig into the design philosophy behind Yelp Host, why your Yelp page converts better than your Instagram, and how Devana's team builds with operators, not just for them. She shares the questions that unlock real insights, the AI features that are actually working, and why independents are outpacing the big guys with smarter tech.This one's for every operator who's tired of tech that gets in the way—and ready for tools that finally get it right.To learn more about how Yelp is supporting restaurants with human-first tools, visit restaurants.yelp.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Does the world really need another coffee shop?That's the question Darren Spicer had to answer before walking away from a six-figure career to start Clutch Coffee. The answer wasn't coffee—it was connection.In this episode, Darren breaks down why community, not caffeine, is his true product, what he learned from Dutch Bros, how he made it his own, and why being “Chick-fil-A for coffee” means never settling for average service.For every operator asking what business they're really in—this episode delivers clarity.To learn more about Clutch Coffee Bar and their work in the community, visit clutchcoffeebar.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars