Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

A product of Chicago, IL, Joe Fontana gave up his cush office lifestyle to pursue his passion for hospitality and food. At the time, this specific passion was meatballs. So he started where he could, selling meatballs at a farmers market, which lead to a Kickstarter campaign to support his brick and mortar. The meatball thing didn't work out, but it created opportunities, specifically, an opportunity for Fry The Coop. Check out previous episode 425 with Joe Fontana as mentioned in today's episode! He was also the guest for episode 715! Check that out too! Check out Zap Props in Chicago as mentioned in today's episode. Check out Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz as mentioned in today's episode and suggested by both Eric and Joe. Also, check out Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler as recommended, quite highly, by Eric in today's episode. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "If you want to prosper for a year, grow a plant. If you want to prosper for ten years, grow a tree. If you want to prosper for one hundred years, grow people." In today's episode with Joe Fontana we will discuss: Growth Growing PEOPLE Restaurant design Publicists? Creating opportunities FOR OTHERS Inward growth Promote within Visioning Communicating your vision The importance of vocabulary and language for culture in your business Use language to reinforce vision Profit First Money Management The Pivot Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more. Ecolab: Streamline your clean with Ecolab's new EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer. It will help reduce risk, simplify your procedures and help ensure compliance. This solution cleans and sanitizes hard non-porous surfaces with a single product, eliminates the rinse step and equips your staff to clean more efficiently. Clean simplified, confidence delivered. Contact info: Email: joe@frythecoop.com Instagram: @frythecoop www.frythecoop.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Joe Fontana for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

With excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, CO-CEO and CO-Founder of BOKA Restaurant GroupKevin Boehm. After opening 30 restaurants over the last 27 years, James Beard-winning restaurateur Kevin Boehm has become one of the nations foremost visionaries in the field of hospitality. Kevin, along with his partner Rob Katz have built BOKA Restaurant Group on great chefs, inspired design, and enlightened hospitality.Kevin grew up in Springfield, Illinois, and knew at a young age that he wanted to be in the restaurant business. After working in the industry for just a few years, he saved enough money to open a 6 table restaurant in 1993 called the Lazy Daze Café in Seaside, Florida. Restaurants in Blue Mountain Beach, Florida, Springfield, Illinois, and Nashville, Tennessee would follow, and Boehm got his education opening and selling 4 restaurants all before the age of 30. In 2002, Boehm would partner with Rob Katz, and the two would open 26 places together in less than 16 years. We reference Kevin's first episode often, so check it out here. Check out Restaurant That Work: Case Studies Of The Best In The Industry by Martin E. Dorf as suggested in today's episode! https://youtu.be/mA20fwXcISo Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Continue to be a student of the game." Last time Kevin was on the show, he said: "The key is not the will to win, it's the will to prepare to win." In today's episode with Kevin Boehm we will discuss: Mentors Communication Major business advice for a FIRST restaurant Track EVERYTHING Early mistakes Choosing the right city to start your career as a restaurateur Learning from failure Navigating partnerships Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. Bbot is the leading contactless order and pay solution for the hospitality industry. With Bbot, guests can use their smartphones to order what they want, when they want at bars, restaurants, hotels, food halls, and more. They can also order from home with extensive takeout, delivery, and catering services, commission-free. Bbot also creates branded interactive menus and table signage, ensuring the best customer experience. By increasing check size and turn times, Bbot can boost revenues over 30%, while enabling your staff to cover twice as many tables. Ecolab: Streamline your clean with Ecolab's new EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer. It will help reduce risk, simplify your procedures and help ensure compliance. This solution cleans and sanitizes hard non-porous surfaces with a single product, eliminates the rinse step and equips your staff to clean more efficiently. Clean simplified, confidence delivered. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Doer What is your biggest weakness? Say Yes too much What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Emotion What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Finding staff Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. People here like taking care of people What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Black card system What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? What The Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM Name one service you've hired. People Matters for HR What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Craftable If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Kindness reciprocates Nothing is more important than true relationships Your own mental health is the true definition of success Contact info: Instagram: @kevinboehmboka Email: jobs@bokagrp.com Email: kevin@bokagrp.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Kevin Boehm for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

With excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, Founder and CEO of The Melt Shop, Spencer Rubin. Check out Blanket Inc. as mentioned ion today's episode! Check out episode 789 AND episode 802 with Ken Schwartz as mentioned in today's episode! Check out episode 786 with Becky Mulligan as mentioned in today's episode. Check out episode 780 with Josh Sharkey as mentioned in today's episode! We talked about Meez, our sponsor for today's episode. Check out our Meez demo below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aECzOsFsE9s Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: Love the hustle In today's episode with Spencer Rubin we will discuss: FOH v. BOH Knowing you wanted to be a chef/restaurateur at age 4 Get a mentor Be humble Building a menu Building a menu around one item Finding the right partners Fast casual Scaling Starting a virtual concept Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. Meez One platform to organize, cost, scale, and share your recipes. With a built in database of thousands of ingredient yields and unit conversions for laser accurate costs. Train your teams with step by step video and image slideshows that live right alongside the recipe. Build ops guides and SOPs, create and upload content in seconds. Never let anyone make the wrong outdated recipe again, all the while keeping your IP safe and secure. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Grit What is your biggest weakness? Patients What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? What do you want to see out of us as an employer? What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? making sure our people are safe and happy Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Love the hustle. Work hard. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Empower our team to make decisions What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Take days off Name one service you've hired. Accounting - Paperchase What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Meez - recipe management software If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Find something you can love and have joy in Don't take yourself too seriously Find work-life balance Contact info: Email: Holler@meltshop.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Spencer Rubin for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

With Excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest, President & CEO SSA Foodservice Design + Consulting, Ken Schwartz. SSA Foodservice Design + Consulting is a global hospitality design and consulting firm established in Tampa by Ken Schwartz in 1987. SSA specializes in food and beverage service design and is known for their Bespoke design solutions. Schwartz has been selected as one of the top 12 design consultants in the world and the SSA team has grown from a single office to multiple locations in the US and Europe. SSA project engagements range from small boutique coffee establishments to $2.6 billion resorts. Brands, architects, and interior designers within all sectors of foodservice design (ie restaurants, casino, hotels, resorts, healthcare, workplace dining, sports venues, airports and college/universities) engage SSA for its extensive knowledge, creativity, and collaborative approach. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "There is no substitute for great planning." In today's workshop with Ken Schwartz we will discuss: Startup capital needed Design team Consulting fees Water, sewer, transportation fees Closing costs Insurance deposits Tech: POS/software Interest on money borrowed Opening labor Change-of-use costs Insurance Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. Meez One platform to organize, cost, scale, and share your recipes. With a built in database of thousands of ingredient yields and unit conversions for laser accurate costs. Train your teams with step by step video and image slideshows that live right alongside the recipe. Build ops guides and SOPs, create and upload content in seconds. Never let anyone make the wrong outdated recipe again, all the while keeping your IP safe and secure. Contact info: Email: ken@studiofs.com Website Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Ken Schwartz for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

With Excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest Executive Chef/Owner of The Whelk, Kawa Ni and Don Memo, Chef Bill Taibe. Today's guest Chef Bill Taibe began early on while working after school at the local butcher shop. As a young chef, both at Two Moons in Port Chester, NY and Wildfire in Greenwich, CT, he quickly advanced from Sous Chef to Executive Chef. In the years to follow he would help to develop, design and run many successful restaurants in Fairfield County, including G/R/A/N/D, Napa & Co., and his own, Relish in Norwalk before settling in Westport and opening LeFarm in 2009. In 2012, he partnered with Massimo Tullio to open The Whelk and Kawa Ni in 2014, both located in Saugatuck, CT. The newest addition to the group, Jesup Hall, opened in the early spring of 2017. However it rebranded in 2020 to Dom Memo All restaurants are guided by Bill's belief in sourcing the best possible ingredients and supporting our local farms and community. Since 2009, his restaurant group has evolved from staff of 6 to over 80 employees. He has created employment opportunities and programs, such as "Kitchen Share", to increase the quality of life for his employees. The "Kitchen Share", a 3% surcharge on all food sales, is directly dispersed to all kitchen employees on a weekly basis. Since it's implementation in early 2017, numerous other restaurant groups are adopting his program across the tri-state area. His success has led to appearances on The Martha Stewart Show, the Today Show and Moveable Feast. He is featured in Harvest to Heat Cookbook, which highlights the relationship between the top chefs of our country and the farmers with which they work. Bill was named a James Beard-Best Chefs in America: Northeast Semi-finalist in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. He is heavily involved in the Westport/Weston community and supports many local charities and organizations through his own personal networking and restaurant resources. He currently sits on the board of Food Rescue US and is the President of the Westport Farmer's Market. Over the past 10 years, Bill has mentored dozens of Weston youth through his involvement with the Weston Little League. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Strive For Perfection." In today's episode with Bill Taibe we will discuss: Creativity Recognize talent and hard work around you Mentors Rude awakenings Get a good attorney Business partners How do you cement culture? Pivot Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. At Popmenu, we know that in today's world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn't have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu! P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Fear of failure What is your biggest weakness? Communication What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Is this the business you want to be in? Short and long-term goals? What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Accepting a change of life/balance Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. How do you treat eachother? Respect in the kitchen What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Being aware What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Setting the Table by Danny Meyer GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Take care of themselves What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations? Toast POS Breadcrumb If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Work hard Help others Eat well and live it Contact info: Instagram: @billtaibe @kawaniwestport @thewhelkwestport @donmemowestport Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Bill Taibe for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

With excitement, allow me to introduce to you today's guest, President of Rapoport Restaruant Group, Inc, Burt Rapoport. A visionary, third-generation restaurant aficionado, award-winning restaurateur Burt Rapoport has led an impressive legacy in the South Florida restaurant scene for over three decades. Rapoport started his career in New York City, where his family owned and operated a successful kosher dairy restaurant for fifty years. President of Rapoport's Restaurant Group in Boca Raton, Florida, he is recognized for his dedication to providing high-quality cuisine for a good value, a warm and welcoming ambiance, and truly attentive service at all of his restaurants. An industry leader revered for his progressive vision, management style, and hospitality expertise, he was on the board of the South Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) and he served on the advisory board for Johnson & Wales, the largest culinary university in the United States, for over ten years. He is also a Trustee for the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. A Boca Raton, Florida, resident, Burt enjoys traveling, swimming, and surfing. He holds the title of 2017 Power Leader in Hospitality and 2016 South Florida Ultimate CEO by the South Florida Business Journal, 2008 "Business Leader of the Year" by Boca Raton's Chamber of Commerce, 2007 "Restaurateur of the Year" by Gold Life Boca, Gold Coast and Palm Beacher Magazines, and has won numerous Readers' Choice Awards from Boca Raton Magazine for each of his restaurant concepts including Favorite Restaurant, Best Service, Best Business Lunch, Best Dining Entertainment, Best Fine Dining and Best Outdoor Dining. Not only recognized locally but on a national level, Rapoport's Restaurant Group won the 2013 Southeast DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year Award and the national Community Excellence Award, recognizing a small business' community commitment, presented by the United States Chamber of Commerce. He was also honored by his alma mater, Arizona State University, when he was inducted in their Sun Devil 100 program in 2016, which honors university alumni business leaders and entrepreneurs. Rapoport's Restaurant Group was also recognized by Restaurant Hospitality magazine in 2018 as one of the RH 25: Coolest Multi Concept Companies. Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: The answer is yes. Now, what's the question? In today's episode with Burt Rapaport we will discuss: Third generation restaurateur Standards Discipline Scaling Don't grow too fast Advice about HR Educational speakers for your staff Dissolving a partnership Today's sponsor: At Popmenu, we know that in today's world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn't have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu! 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Self-discipline What is your biggest weakness? Too optimistic What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Do I like them? What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Finding enough good team members to staff our restaurants Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. If I have to do your job, what do I need you for? What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? "Drink through it." If the power goes out at 8pm, have a party. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Setting the Table by Danny Meyer 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Give back to the community Name one service you've hired. Scott Berger - Food Safety and Sanitation Inspections What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Spot On-POS If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Life is short so enjoy it Treat people how you want to be treated Be honest Contact info: Rapaport's Restaurant Group website Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Burt Rapaport for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

In today's episode we're covering 5 Ways to Turn Instagram Followers into Orders with Rory Balkin and Rev Ciancio Rory is a donut blogger turned restaurant marketing coach and event organizer. She helps busy donut shops and bakery owners create compelling marketing so that they can turn followers into customers. Rory also connects donut lovers with the best artisan donuts across the country. In Texas, she co-hosts the annual Dallas Donut Fest, transforming the 2020 festival into a drive-thru version with a Halloween theme. Rev is a former New York City bar owner and knows exactly how hard it is to operate and brand a hospitality business. He is now a hospitality marketing consultant, customer, and technology evangelist with more than 20 years of experience in B2B digital marketing and business development, specializing in hospitality marketing, content, local SEO, reputation management and influencer marketing. He helps technology companies, brands, and restaurants to acquire and retain customers. Check out episode 793 with Rory Balkin as mentioned in today's episode! Show notes Calls to ACTION!!! Get the E-book The Expert's Guide to Converting Followers Into Orders Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Be awesome at 2 things and outsource everything else." 5 Ways to Turn Instagram Followers Into Orders- Get the E-Book Optimize Your Profile Use Order Now Buttons/stickers Make Instagram Shoppable Create a Guide of Products Use Strong Calls To Action Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. Meez One platform to organize, cost, scale, and share your recipes. With a built in database of thousands of ingredient yields and unit conversions for laser accurate costs. Train your teams with step by step video and image slideshows that live right alongside the recipe. Build ops guides and SOPs, create and upload content in seconds. Never let anyone make the wrong outdated recipe again, all the while keeping your IP safe and secure. At Popmenu, we know that in today's world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn't have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu! Contact info: Rory Bulkin @donutdigest Donutdigest.com Rev Ciancio @revciancio @funwithfries Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Rory & Rev for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

With Excitement allow me to introduce to you today's guest Owner of Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar, Rocco Mangel. Born and raised in New York, Rocco grew up in the restaurant business. First, studying his grandfather's prowess as general manager of New York City's famed Copacabana Nightclub. Rocco continued to develop in the business, opening his first Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar in 2007 on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, Florida. Nine years and countless trips to Mexico later, the well-researched visionary sits atop the Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar empire, as co-owner and managing partner of locations including Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and Orlando, Florida along with a 2014 New York homecoming in Brooklyn. Rocco's commitment to success extends beyond his restaurants and into the communities they serve. Over the last four years, he has raised more than $100,000 for breast cancer research with his annual "Taco, Tequila & Tatas Tuesdays." He has also contributed time and energy to various philanthropic causes including ALS Association, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society; JustWorld International; YMCA's Polo for Pedro fundraiser; Vanilla Ice's Toys for Tots fundraiser; Habitat for Humanity; Genesis Work Dogs; Tri-County Humane Society; March of Dimes; Palm Beach Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to name a few. When Rocco is not at one of his restaurants or planning the next phase of Rocco's Tacos expansion, he loves to travel and spend time with his family, especially his baby girl Charley. Check out episode 719 with Vaughan Dugan as mentioned in today's episode. Check out Eat The Frog! by Brian Tracy as mentioned in today's episode! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only option." In today's episode with Rocco Mangel we will discuss: Failure and learning from it The nightclub business The taco business Sobriety in this industry Fundraising Take a bad situation and make it better Mentors and what they teach you Accountants Restaurant groups Consulting companies Time management Today's sponsor: getmeez.com/unstoppable One platform to organize, cost, scale, and share your recipes. With a built-in database of thousands of ingredient yields and unit conversions for laser-accurate costs. Train your teams with step-by-step video and image slideshows that live right alongside the recipe. Build ops guides and SOPs, create and upload content in seconds. Never let anyone make the wrong outdated recipe again, all the while keeping your IP safe and secure. 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Generosity What is your biggest weakness? Failure What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? Honesty What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Fatigue Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Compassion What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? No smoking/no cellphone What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Give thanks Name one service you've hired Inventory - BevIntel What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Pulse by NCR If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? To love To share To be kind Contact info: Email: rocco@roccostacos.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Rocco Mangel for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Clyde Tiger, founder of Fit Fixins, believes that no reward can be achieved without first taking a risk and in 2011, after losing over 50 lbs through proper diet and exercise, he made a decision to leave a 15 year career in the construction industry to pursue his new found passion of helping people achieve their ideal fitness levels. Working as a personal trainer, Tiger was finally pursuing his dreams, however he was faced with the challenge that no matter how hard his clients trained, if they didn't eat properly in between training sessions the results just would not be there. Soon after, he agreed to began preparing healthy meals for two of his clients. Word spread quickly and within a few weeks he was preparing meals for 10 clients in the evenings while continuing to work as a personal trainer during the day. The days began to run together with the increasing number of people requesting meals and Tiger was faced with another tough decision. It was time to take another risk and in early 2014 Tiger opened his own meal prep business, Fit Fixins, and the results have been overwhelming. In just a matter of months Tiger went from less than 10 clients to preparing and delivering close to 1,000 meals a week. Today, Fit Fixins has served thousands of customers from Sebastian to Broward County and serves an average of 3,000 meals a week. Check out Sprwt Meal Prep Software as recommended in today's episode! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Do not stop when you are tired; stop when you are done." In today's episode with Clyde Tiger we will discuss: Travel Live intentionally Growing up in a small community Physical health and improving your life Spiritual guidence Pivot What is your why? Believing what people say about you Logistics of the meal prep industry Social media is your greatest friend Show up! Worry about your network, not your net worth Today's sponsor: 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. P&G ProfessionalTM offers innovative total foodservice solutions featuring trusted brands such as Dawn® Professional, Cascade® Professional, Spic and Span® and Comet®. We are unique in that our total solutions are founded in customer and patron understanding, superior products that help save time and cut overall costs, and a five-star service group that is compensated based on customer satisfaction, not commissions. Visit www.pgpro.com for the latest information about P&G Professional's solutions and services. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Always show up, never give up. What is your biggest weakness? I give to a fault What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? What's your dream? What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Cultivating a brand that will leave a legacy Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. I am responsible and quality matters over all What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? We go to any length to fix mistakes What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough? Don't engage their customers enough Name one service you've hired. Videography/photography: Second Mile Digital Media What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Slack RouteSavvy - routing software If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be? Be there with your kids Take time to build relationships with people Tell people you love them because you don't know when you will see them next Contact info: Website: fitfixins.net Instagram: @fitfixins Facebook: @fitfixins Call: 772-519-1270 between 9am and 3pm Email: info@fitfixins.net Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Clyde Tiger for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

With Excitement Allow me to introduce to you today's guest, Founder and CEO of Ovation, Zack Oates. Zack Oates is an author, husband, father, entrepreneur, and hot tub aficionado (but not in that order, necessarily). He was voted Top 100 Entrepreneurs, rang the NASDAQ bell, won the world's biggest business competition, and started 3 companies. He went on over 1,000 dates before he got married and wrote a book, Dating Never Works...Until it Does. He currently is Founder and CEO of Ovation, an actionable guest feedback platform for restaurants that specializes in text communication. Check out episode 774 with Bruce Irving as mentioned in today's workshop. Check out episode 793 with Rory Balkin as mentioned in today's workshop. Check out episode 763 with David Scott Peters as mentioned in today's workshop. Check out Bbot as mentioned in today's episode. "Don't find out about [guest complaints] on yelp or google, resolve it in real time with that text conversation." Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Choose to live an extraordinary life because an ordinary life is always waiting for you." In today's workshop with Zack Oates we will discuss: Why texting? How to stay compliant What should the text say? When to send it? How to track ROI? How to build a database? What are other ways to use texting? what services do you recommend if they are quite ready for ovatoin What systems for consistency Sponsors At Popmenu, we know that in today's world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn't have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu! 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. Contact info: Email: zack@ovationup.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Zack Oates for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!