Best Improving Restaurant Operations Podcasts (2025)

1
440. Improving Restaurant Operations: A General Manager's Guide - Andrew Roy 30:00

5d ago30:00

30:00

Andrew shares what it takes to be a remarkable General Manager and his journey in the restaurant industry, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to enhance their establishment's operations and culture. His experiences and insights offer valuable lessons for restaurant professionals aiming to refine their operations and build a robust company…

1
Curing Burnout: Anese Cavanaugh on Leadership, Burnout, and Creating High-Impact Teams 39:59

1d ago39:59

39:59

Burnout isn’t about working too much—it’s about what drains you. Anese Cavanaugh has spent the last two decades helping leaders master their Intentional Energetic Presence (IEP) to create thriving, engaged teams without running themselves into the ground. Her work with Zingerman’s and top companies worldwide has proven that energy, not time, is our…

1
Office Hours: How to Build an Unforgettable Brand 6:54

1d ago6:54

6:54

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…

1
Use These 3 Follow-Up Scripts in Your Restaurant 18:17

1d ago18:17

18:17

#442 - Use These 3 Follow-Up Scripts in Your Restaurant ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: INKIND To the over 1,800 U.S…

1
Redefining Teamwork: Shawn Gawle on Building Culture, Mentorship, and Michelin-Level Dining 37:50

4d ago37:50

37:50

Great food gets guests in the door, but a great team keeps them coming back. Shawn Gawle, the awarded chef behind Camaraderie, has mastered the art of creating exceptional dining experiences by prioritizing mentorship, culture, and intentional leadership. In this episode, we explore Shawn’s journey from celebrated chef to chef-owner, how his philos…

1
Ep. 029 - Hospitality Security Customer Service 29:16

4d ago29:16

29:16

In this episode of the Nightlife Security Podcast, host Manny Marquez and Dr. Richard Bistline discuss the critical role of customer service in security operations. They explore how security personnel can enhance guest experiences by shifting from a traditional "command and control" approach to a more welcoming, proactive strategy. The conversation…

1
Episode 5: The New Landscape of Restaurant Real Estate 29:42

4d ago29:42

29:42

The fires have dramatically altered LA’s real estate market, creating both challenges and opportunities for restaurant owners. Real estate expert Dan Fagan shares insider knowledge on where the best opportunities are now, how to negotiate stronger lease terms, and how consumer behavior is reshaping restaurant site selection. Whether you're looking …

1
The Power of Menu Engineering 28:59

4d ago28:59

28:59

#441 - The Power of Menu Engineering ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TORK TORK understands that expectations for food service, sustainability, and guest experience are higher than ever. That’s why they provide products and services that help restaurants meet those demands. VISIT: https://www.torkusa.com/your-business/solutions/overv…

1
"Training for Success: Building a Rockstar Restaurant Team from Day One" 15:58

7d ago15:58

15:58

In this episode of Restaurant Talk, we dive deep into one of the most overlooked — yet critical — elements of a successful restaurant: employee training. We’ll discuss how to create an onboarding process that sets clear expectations, instills your restaurant’s culture, and empowers staff to deliver outstanding service. Whether you’re launching a ne…

1
Culture Is Your Competitive Edge: Lisa Schultz on Eliminating Drama and Creating High-Performing Teams 37:21

8d ago37:21

37:21

Most restaurants accept drama and dysfunction as part of the business—but what if eliminating them was the key to higher profits and better retention? Lisa Schultz, Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Roadhouse, has spent the last 20 years proving that culture is the real secret to success. By implementing no-drama leadership, open-book finance, and em…

1
Office Hours: The 3 Keys to Escaping Day to Day Operations 8:33

8d ago8:33

8:33

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…

1
This is How to CRUSH Street Fairs This Summer 15:27

8d ago15:27

15:27

#440 - This is How to CRUSH Street Fairs This Summer ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: INKIND To the over 1,800 U.S. r…

1
S2 Ep8: Welbilt and Bringing New Young Talent Into the Industry 1:04:05

9d ago1:04:05

1:04:05

Kitchen Curiosity is a podcast for the foodservice market presented by Radford Chancellor of Macintosh Foodservice Solutions, a management and design consultancy for the hospitality sector. In this episode, Radford is joined by David McKown MBE (Director of University Hospitality Seminars Ltd) and James Benger (Head of Culinary at Welbilt UK) to di…

1
The Principles of Profitability : David Scott Peters on The Art of Delegation 43:30

11d ago43:30

43:30

Most restaurants don’t make money. The ones that do, typically make very little. This is our reality and many of us have embraced it. But what about the group no one talks about: the restaurants that are making a killing, quietly and consistently. They all seem to be following the same formula and today we sit down with restaurant expert, David Sco…

1
439. Maximizing Menu Profit Through Effective Design and Strategy - Roger Beaudoin 32:29

11d ago32:29

32:29

In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most powerful — yet often overlooked — tools in your restaurant’s success: the menu. More than just a list of dishes, your menu is a marketing asset and a key part of your brand identity.Restaurant Profit Maximizer Mini-Masterclass: Learn how just a few tweaks in the way you run your business can hugely…

1
Episode 4: Designing the Future of Restaurants 25:43

11d ago25:43

25:43

With the fires wiping out entire restaurant districts, what does the future of restaurant design in LA look like? Renowned architect John Hamilton shares with Josh Kopel and Michael Benson what restaurant operators should be thinking about when rebuilding—from fire-resistant materials to more flexible layouts, outdoor dining strategies, and cost-ef…

1
Two Brilliant Things My Mentor Taught Me 14:38

11d ago14:38

14:38

#439 - Two Brilliant Things My Mentor Taught Me ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TORK TORK understands that expectations for food service, sustainability, and guest experience are higher than ever. That’s why they provide products and services that help restaurants meet those demands. VISIT: https://www.torkusa.com/your-business/solu…

1
Building Unbreakable Restaurants: Justin Cucci on Culture, Ownership, and the Future of Hospitality 37:23

15d ago37:23

37:23

Most restaurateurs build concepts around a menu or a chef. Justin Cucci built Edible Beats around a philosophy—one that’s challenged conventional wisdom and redefined what restaurant success looks like. From turning historic spaces into thriving concepts to pioneering an employee-owned business model, Justin has proven that restaurants can be both …

1
Office Hours: This is the one hack to scale word of mouth advertising 12:47

16d ago12:47

12:47

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…

1
Adopting the Luxury Mindset (Las Vegas - March, 2025) 55:35

15d ago55:35

55:35

#438 - Adopting the Luxury Mindset (Bar & Brestaurant Expo 2025) ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: CHOWLY The Chowly Platform unites powerful tools to transform your restaurant’s digital presence and grow profits ouside four walls. From Online Ordering and Third-Party Marketplace POS Integration to Smart Pricing and Digital Marketing,…

1
Purpose Over Profit: Kim Malek’s Mission-Driven Path with Salt & Straw 38:45

18d ago38:45

38:45

Kim Malek, founder of Salt and Straw, discussing her journey from working at Starbucks to creating a unique ice cream brand that emphasizes community, culture, and innovative marketing strategies. Kim explores the importance of guest experience, building a strong company culture, navigating challenges during the pandemic, and the significance of pa…

1
Episode 3: Fast-Tracking A Restaurant Opening 22:39

19d ago22:39

22:39

In a crisis, every day your restaurant stays closed means lost revenue. Permitting and governmental expert Eddie Navarette reveals the fastest, most effective ways to cut through LA’s permitting maze, accelerate approvals, and avoid costly mistakes that slow down restaurant openings. This episode provides actionable insights for operators in any ci…

1
Managing Portions, Theft, and Waste 26:06

18d ago26:06

26:06

#437 - Managing Portions, Theft, and Waste ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TIME FORGE TIME FORGE provides labor management for efficient teams. Recruit, retain, and manage your talent with a powerful piece of software. VISIT: timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU If you’re a restaur…

1
438. Brilliant Restaurant Branding Strategies - Elizabeth Brasch 39:06

19d ago39:06

39:06

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, we're diving into the art and science of restaurant branding with Elizabeth Brasch, a marketing and branding powerhouse at Mellow Mushroom. Tune in for a masterclass in restaurant branding from one of the pros behind a truly iconic name in the industry.Restaurant Profit Maximizer Mini-Masterclass…

1
Building a Business to Last : Mark Bitterman 36:32

21d ago36:32

36:32

We often have such a clear vision for what our lives and our businesses will look like before we open. And then the flood comes and we’re so busy trying to survive that we forget to thrive. We forget why we got into this to begin with. And that “why”, for most of us, was love. Love of community, love of food, and love of revelry. Meet Mark Bitterma…

1
Office Hours: This will scale your restaurant's revenue by 30% overnight 12:03

23d ago12:03

12:03

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…

1
Should You Be Working with Restaurant Influencers? 44:43

22d ago44:43

44:43

#436 - Should You Be Working with Restaurant Influencers? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: CHOWLY The Chowly Platform unites powerful tools to transform your restaurant’s digital presence and grow profits ouside four walls. From Online Ordering and Third-Party Marketplace POS Integration to Smart Pricing and Digital Marketing, everyt…

1
S2 Ep7: The HRC Show 2025 at Excel London 59:03

22d ago59:03

59:03

Kitchen Curiosity is a podcast for the foodservice market presented by Radford Chancellor of Macintosh Foodservice Solutions, a management and design consultancy for the hospitality sector. In this episode, Radford is joined by Toby Magness (Sales Director UK at Ambach) and Kate Nutall (Senior Designer, ABDA Design) to discuss the topics emerging f…

1
Building a Strong Restaurant Brand 34:35

24d ago34:35

34:35

In this episode of the Restaurant Talk Podcast, we dive deep into what it really takes to build a powerful restaurant brand that stands out in a saturated market. Whether you're starting from scratch or refreshing your concept, branding is more than just a logo — it's the voice, the vibe, the values, and the experience your guests walk away with. W…

1
Steal These Systems: David Morton’s Proven Formula for Building Profitable Restaurants Anywhere 37:47

25d ago37:47

37:47

It’s one thing to grow a restaurant group. It’s another to grow one that thrives across categories, cities, and economies. David Morton has done exactly that—without taking on debt, overextending his team, or compromising his values. As co-founder of Episcope Restaurants, David has engineered a scalable system that pairs creative vision with financ…

1
Episode 2: The Future of Restaurant Development 25:37

25d ago25:37

25:37

With neighborhoods devastated and operators forced to relocate, how will the fires reshape the restaurant landscape in Los Angeles? Development expert Jerry Prendergast has overseen hundreds of restaurant projects, and today, he unpacks the real estate shifts, leasing opportunities, and market trends emerging in LA’s hospitality scene. He also shar…

1
Finding, Keeping, and Managing Great Employees with TimeForge CEO 48:32

25d ago48:32

48:32

#435 - Finding, Keeping, and Managing Great Employees with TimeForge CEO ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TIME FORGE TIME FORGE provides labor management for efficient teams. Recruit, retain, and manage your talent with a powerful piece of software. VISIT: timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy ***** This week's episode is brought to you b…

1
Living the Dream Now: Elliott Bisnow on Building a Business You Never Want to Exit 37:20

29d ago37:20

37:20

We’ve been sold the lie that freedom comes after the exit. But what if we built businesses we never wanted to leave? That’s exactly what Elliott Bisnow did. As co-founder of Summit and Powder Mountain, he’s created a movement, not just a company—one built on authenticity, community, and the belief that life and work should be equally inspiring. In …

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Improving Restaurant Operations Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen