Episodes

  • 494. Restaurant Growth Strategies: How to Grow Sales Without Lowering Prices - Mike Montagano,

    494. Restaurant Growth Strategies: How to Grow Sales Without Lowering Prices - Mike Montagano,
    Jun 27 2026
    If you're looking for restaurant growth strategies that increase sales without relying on constant discounts, this episode is for you. Roger sits down with Dog Haus CEO Mike Montagano to discuss how one of the industry's fastest-growing brands is building customer loyalty, protecting margins, and growing sales through memorable guest experiences, smart marketing, AI, menu innovation, and operational excellence. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why competing on price is a losing strategy • How loyalty programs drive repeat business • Restaurant marketing ideas that keep your brand relevant • How AI is improving restaurant operations • Why a strong bar program can become a major profit center • Menu engineering strategies that improve profitability • The KPIs every restaurant owner should monitor • How to create an experience that keeps guests coming back Whether you operate a single independent restaurant or a growing restaurant group, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can implement immediately to grow sales and protect your profits. 👇 Take the FREE Restaurant Menu Makeover Challenge! https://restaurantrockstars.com/the-5-day-menu-margin-makeover-challenge/ Thanks to our Sponsors ⭐️ Owner.com: Owner.com runs automated marketing campaigns for your restaurant that send personalized offers, order reminders, promotions, and new menu announcements automatically to your guests. So your marketing works for you every single day.And here’s the real power move: Owner.com gives your restaurant your own branded app. Go to https://www.owner.com/rockstars ⭐️ Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, Its premium, ready to cook bacon that will elevate your menu and your bottom line. Smithfield Select saves you time, labor and back of house costs all while satisfying your guests. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information. Go to: https://www.smithfieldselect.com 🎙️ Subscribe for new Restaurant Rockstars episodes every week featuring proven strategies to increase restaurant sales, improve profitability, build stronger teams, and create exceptional guest experiences.
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    34 mins
  • 493. Avoid Costly Restaurant Labor Violations, Lawsuits & Compliance Mistakes - Doug Plass

    493. Avoid Costly Restaurant Labor Violations, Lawsuits & Compliance Mistakes - Doug Plass
    Jun 21 2026
    What if one employee mistake could cost your restaurant $100,000...or more? In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger sits down with employment attorney and former chef Doug Plass to discuss the restaurant labor law mistakes that create the biggest risks for owners and operators. From wage and hour violations, overtime rules, and tip pooling compliance to discrimination claims, workplace investigations, wrongful termination concerns, and child labor laws, Doug shares practical guidance every restaurant leader should understand. Drawing from both his hospitality background and legal expertise, Doug explains where restaurants commonly get into trouble, how costly violations can become, and the policies, documentation, and procedures that can help protect your people, profits, and business. If you employ people, manage labor, or oversee restaurant operations, this episode is packed with actionable advice that could save you from expensive mistakes and legal headaches down the road. In this episode you'll learn: ⚡️ Common restaurant labor law violations ⚡️ Wage and hour compliance essentials ⚡️ Overtime and employee classification rules ⚡️ Tip pooling and tip-sharing best practices ⚡️ Hiring and interviewing do's and don'ts ⚡️ Employee complaint investigation procedures ⚡️ Wrongful termination risk reduction ⚡️ Child labor laws and compliance requirements ⚡️ How to build stronger workplace policies and documentation Whether you're an independent operator, multi-unit owner, general manager, or hospitality leader, this episode will help you better understand the legal responsibilities that come with managing employees in today's restaurant industry. Thanks to our Sponsors ⭐️ Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, Its premium, ready to cook bacon that will elevate your menu and your bottom line. Smithfield Select saves you time, labor and back of house costs all while satisfying your guests. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information go to: https://www.smithfieldselect.com ⭐️ ZivZo Marketing, Advertising & Video Production: ZivZo is not only a full service marketing agency, but restaurant industry pros specializing in animation and video production that brings your restaurant to life. Go to https://www.zivzo.com ⭐️ Owner.com: Owner.com runs automated marketing campaigns for your restaurant that send personalized offers, order reminders, promotions, and new menu announcements automatically to your guests. So your marketing works for you every single day.And here’s the real power move: Owner.com gives your restaurant your own branded app. Go to https://www.owner.com/rockstars
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    35 mins
  • 492. If I Owned Your Restaurant Part 3: Hidden Profit Leaks Costing You Money

    492. If I Owned Your Restaurant Part 3: Hidden Profit Leaks Costing You Money
    Jun 14 2026
    The response to the first two episodes in this series was incredible, so we're back with Part 3. In this episode, Roger shares exactly what he'd focus on if he owned your restaurant today. From labor controls and inventory systems to menu profitability, recruiting, marketing, catering, mug clubs, and daily break-even analysis, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help operators protect margins and increase profits. You'll learn: • Why busy restaurants still struggle with profitability • How to identify hidden profit leaks • Labor management strategies that control costs • Inventory systems that keep food costs in line • The menu engineering mistakes that cost operators thousands • Why recruiting beats hiring • Marketing tactics that deliver measurable ROI • How catering, events, and strategic partnerships can drive revenue If you're working hard but not seeing the profits you deserve, this episode is for you. Thanks to Our Sponsors Owner.com Owner.com runs automated marketing campaigns for your restaurant that send personalized offers, order reminders, promotions, and new menu announcements automatically to your guests—so your marketing works for you every single day. Even better, Owner.com gives your restaurant its own branded app, helping you increase repeat business, loyalty, and direct online orders. Learn more at owner.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart, including Smithfield's new Ready-to-Eat Select Bacon. It's premium, ready-to-cook bacon that saves labor, reduces back-of-house costs, and delivers the quality your guests expect. Learn more at smithfieldselect.com ZivZo Marketing, Advertising & Video Production ZivZo is a full-service marketing agency specializing in restaurants. From advertising and digital marketing to animation and video production, ZivZo helps bring restaurant brands to life and drive measurable results. Learn more at zivzo.com Restaurant Rockstars Podcast RestaurantRockstars.com
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    42 mins
  • How an 8-Unit Pizzeria Chain Uses Restaurant KPIs, Leadership & Systems to Drive Growth - Enga Stanfield

    How an 8-Unit Pizzeria Chain Uses Restaurant KPIs, Leadership & Systems to Drive Growth - Enga Stanfield
    Jun 6 2026
    What does it take to grow a restaurant from a single location to an 8-unit operation while maintaining profitability, culture, and consistency? In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, we sit down with Enga Stanfield, owner of Mattenga's Pizzeria in San Antonio, Texas. Enga shares the restaurant KPIs her team tracks daily, including labor per hour, sales per hour, inventory, and prime cost, and explains how systems, leadership development, accountability, and cross-training have helped fuel sustainable growth. We also discuss recruiting and retaining great employees, creating advancement paths for team members, controlling costs in an inflationary environment, leveraging technology, and using email, SMS, SEO, loyalty programs, and customer reviews to drive repeat business. If you're looking to improve restaurant profitability, build stronger teams, and scale your operation with confidence, this episode is packed with practical, real-world strategies you can put to work immediately. In This Episode: • Restaurant KPIs every operator should track • Labor cost and prime cost management • Daily inventory systems • Leadership and employee retention • Cross-training and accountability • Restaurant recruiting strategies • Email and SMS marketing • Customer loyalty and online reviews • SEO and direct online ordering • Scaling restaurant operations Episode Sponsors ⭐️ Owner.com: Owner.com runs automated marketing campaigns for your restaurant that send personalized offers, order reminders, promotions, and new menu announcements automatically to your guests. So your marketing works for you every single day.And here’s the real power move: Owner.com gives your restaurant your own branded app. Go to https://www.owner.com/rockstars ⭐️ Smithfield Culinary: serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, Its premium, ready to cook bacon that will elevate your menu and your bottom line. Smithfield Select saves you time, labor and back of house costs all while satisfying your guests. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information go to: https://www.smithfieldselect.com ⭐️ ZivZo Marketing, Advertising & Video Production: ZivZo is not only a full service marketing agency, but restaurant industry pros specializing in animation and video production that brings your restaurant to life. Go to https://www.zivzo.com #RestaurantKPIs #RestaurantManagement #RestaurantLeadership #RestaurantProfitability #RestaurantMarketing #RestaurantOperations #RestaurantOwner #RestaurantGrowth #PrimeCost #LaborCostManagement
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    35 mins
  • 490. A New Idea for Kids Menus That Drives Revenue & Loyalty - Mick Carr

    490. A New Idea for Kids Menus That Drives Revenue & Loyalty - Mick Carr
    May 30 2026
    Are your kids menus helping drive family revenue…or just checking a box? In this episode of Restaurant Rockstars, Roger sits down with Mick Carr, founder of GrubLab, to explore a new approach to family dining that turns the traditional kids menu into an interactive experience. Using augmented reality, licensed sports and entertainment brands, and rotating collectible content, GrubLab helps restaurants engage kids, improve the guest experience, and create stronger loyalty with families. Roger and Mick discuss why kids often influence where families dine, how experience impacts repeat business and online reviews, and why restaurants that create memorable family moments have a competitive advantage. They also tackle hospitality, service culture, and the balance between table turns and guest experience. If you operate a family-friendly restaurant and want fresh ideas to increase revenue, loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing, this episode is packed with practical insight and inspiration. Our audience Now gets 1st Month Free membership and 100 Free Kids Menus. https://www.grublab.co/rockstars ⭐️ Run a Smarter, More Profitable Restaurant. Discover the proven systems & solutions that drive sales, train staff, and maximize your margins. Join The Restaurant Academy now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Thank you to our sponsors: 🔥 Grub Lab: Grub Lab completely reinvented the kids' menu. Imagine NBA, NFL, and Hollywood brands in augmented reality that brings characters to life right at the table, and collectible menus with your look and logo that rotate every couple of months, so there's always something new. Our audience Now gets 1st Month Free membership and 100 Free Kids Menus. Turn your kids' menu into a real loyalty driver at https://www.grublab.co/rockstars to get started. 🔥 Smithfield Culinary: serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, Its premium, ready to cook bacon that will elevate your menu and your bottom line. Smithfield Select saves you time, labor and back of house costs all while satisfying your guests. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information go to: https://www.smithfieldselect.com 🔥 Owner.com: Owner.com runs automated marketing campaigns for your restaurant that send personalized offers, order reminders, promotions, and new menu announcements automatically to your guests. So your marketing works for you every single day.And here’s the real power move: Owner.com gives your restaurant your own branded app. Go to https://www.owner.com/rockstars 🔥 ZivZo Marketing, Advertising & Video Production: ZivZo is not only a full service marketing agency, but restaurant industry pros specializing in animation and video production that brings your restaurant to life. Go to https://www.zivzo.com
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    34 mins
  • 489. The Systems Behind Talkin' Tacos Success: Food Truck to Over 30 Locations - Omar Al-Massalkhi

    489. The Systems Behind Talkin' Tacos Success: Food Truck to Over 30 Locations - Omar Al-Massalkhi
    May 22 2026
    Roger sits down with Omar from Talkin' Tacos to unpack the systems, leadership, and operational discipline that fueled their growth. This is not a story about luck. It's about building repeatable systems, protecting culture, developing teams, and creating an operation that can scale without sacrificing quality or guest experience. Show Notes: https://restaurantrockstars.com/audio/488-restaurant-operations/ Do the 5-Day Menu Margin Makeover Challenge and turn one item into a repeatable profit driver. 👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com/the-5-day-menu-margin-makeover-challenge/ The Profitable Operator Academy: Run a Smarter, More Profitable Restaurant. Discover the proven systems & solutions that drive sales, train staff, and maximize your margins. 1:1 Coaching Option Now Available. Join The Restaurant Academy now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Thank you to our sponsors: Owner.com Owner.com runs automated marketing campaigns for your restaurant that send personalized offers, order reminders, promotions and new menu announcements automatically to your guests. So your marketing works for you every single day. And here's the real power move: Owner.com gives your restaurant your own branded app. Go to https://www.owner.com/rockstars Grub Lab Grub Lab completely reinvented the kids' menu. Imagine NBA, NFL and Hollywood brands in augmented reality that bring characters to life right at the table, plus collectible menus with your look and logo that rotate every couple of months so there's always something new. Families stay longer, spend more and come back more often. Turn your kids' menu into a real loyalty driver at https://www.grublab.co Smithfield Culinary Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart like Smithfield's new ready-to-eat select bacon. It's premium, ready-to-cook bacon that saves time, labor and back-of-house costs while helping elevate your menu and bottom line. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. Learn more at https://www.smithfieldselect.com ZivZo Marketing, Advertising & Video Production ZivZo is not only a full-service marketing agency but restaurant industry pros specializing in animation and video production that brings your restaurant to life. Learn more at https://www.zivzo.com
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    33 mins
  • 488. The Truth About Profit, Labor & Marketing - Ben Fischer

    488. The Truth About Profit, Labor & Marketing - Ben Fischer
    May 17 2026
    Restaurant veteran Ben Fischer joins Roger to share 45+ years of hard-earned restaurant operations lessons on leadership, staffing, labor management, pricing, systems, marketing and what actually makes restaurants successful long term. From opening and selling restaurants to building a restaurant-focused marketing agency, Ben has seen every side of the business. This episode is packed with practical advice independent restaurant operators can apply immediately. In this episode: • Restaurant operations systems • Leadership & staffing strategies • Labor cost control • Restaurant marketing insights • Pricing & guest perception • Loyalty programs & discounts • Building operational freedom Connect with Ben Fischer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bensonfischer/ https://www.facebook.com/ZivZoVideos/ https://www.instagram.com/zivzovideos/ https://zivzo.com/ https://bensonfischerrestaurantmarketing.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: Grub Lab Grub Lab reinvented the kids’ menu with licensed NBA, NFL and Hollywood brands in augmented reality that bring characters to life right at the table. Families stay longer, spend more and come back more often. https://www.grublab.co Smithfield Culinary Smithfield Culinary serves up premium ready-to-cook bacon that saves labor, improves consistency and elevates guest experience. https://www.smithfieldselect.com ZivZo Marketing ZivZo is a full-service marketing, advertising and video production agency specializing in restaurants and hospitality brands. https://www.zivzo.com Rally Catering Simplify catering orders, reduce chaos and grow your catering profit center with Rally Catering. https://rallycatering.com/rockstars
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    37 mins
  • 487. Restaurant Leadership, Accountability & Profit Systems with Big Biscuit CEO Chad Offerdahl

    487. Restaurant Leadership, Accountability & Profit Systems with Big Biscuit CEO Chad Offerdahl
    May 9 2026
    Independent restaurant operators are facing rising labor costs, shrinking margins, inconsistent team performance, and growing pressure to deliver value while maintaining hospitality. In this episode, Roger sits down with Chad Offerdahl, CEO of Big Biscuit, to break down the operational systems helping their rapidly growing restaurant brand scale successfully across 30+ locations. Chad shares practical strategies around: • Restaurant leadership and accountability • Team training and onboarding systems • Labor management and retention • KPIs and operational transparency • Building strong restaurant culture • Menu simplicity and operational efficiency • Community-driven marketing • Increasing guest loyalty and repeat business • Using AI to improve restaurant operations without losing hospitality This episode is packed with actionable ideas independent restaurant owners and small restaurant groups can apply immediately to improve team performance, consistency, and profitability. Thank you to our sponsors: Grub Lab Grub Lab completely reinvented the kids’ menu with licensed NBA, NFL, and Hollywood brands in augmented reality that bring characters to life right at the table. Their collectible menus rotate regularly, helping families stay longer, spend more, and come back more often. http://grublab.co Rally Catering Rally Catering helps restaurants streamline catering orders with online ordering, kitchen-ready production sheets, packing forms, and organized workflows that eliminate chaos and help grow catering sales. https://rallycatering.com/rockstars The Operator Inner Circle Mastermind Join a curated group of restaurant operators focused on labor, leadership, marketing, margins, accountability, and operational excellence. Meet twice monthly to share best practices and solve real restaurant challenges together. https://restaurantrockstars.com/mastermind
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    42 mins