

RESTAURANT STRATEGY
Chip Klose
The Restaurant Strategy podcast is dedicated helping independent restaurant owners increase the profitability of their restaurants and grow. The show is hosted by industry expert Chip Klose, who asks the question: What would your life look like if your restaurant could deliver consistent, predictable 20% returns?
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 4, 2025 • 44min
Dialing In the Guest Experience with Coach Sal Rotolo
#504 - Dialing In the Guest Experience with Coach Sal Rotolo
*****
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
*****
Restaurant Coach Sal Rotolo is back, and this time we're taking a deep dive into GUEST EXPERIENCE. What is it? Why does it matter? How do you get your team to care as much as you do? How do we make it obvious and intuitive to take care of people? How do we make serving cool?
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If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Dec 1, 2025 • 36min
Simple Tricks for Growing Revenue with CEO of Frontline Performance Group
#503 - Simple Tricks for Growing Revenue with CEO of Frontline Performance Group
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN
Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin.
VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/
*****
Your servers are your frontline workers... your infantry... the first line of attack. They are responsible for the hospitality in your restaurant, yes. But they are also your salespeople. And if revenue is so important, the natural question is: What are you doing to level up your team?
Frontline Performance Group is dedicated to that specific problem, and today's conversation with CEO Geoffrey Toffetti provides an answer to that question.
Frontline Performance Group: https://frontlinepg.com/
Geoffrey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gtoffetti/
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Nov 27, 2025 • 32min
Understanding Personas and Pain Points (ENCORE)
#502 - Understanding Personas and Pain Points (ENCORE)
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII
MARQII is your one-stop-shop for listings management and reputation management. Collect reviews in one place to make responding easy and effortless and win the SEO game to land at the top of more search results. Win back guests and put more butts in the seats with Marqii.
VISIT: https://marqii.com/
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES
Simplify and automate your back of house operations with RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES and their cooking oil management program. These guys take the dirtiest job out of your kitchen!
VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/
*****
Sharing a case study from a restaurant I worked at from 2012 to 2020 to illustrate an important point about marketing restaurants. Do not miss this one!
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Nov 24, 2025 • 19min
We Suck at Training, But This is How to Do It Better (ENCORE)
#501 - We Suck at Training, But This is How to Do It Better (ENCORE)
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO
Automate your sales taxes using DAVO BY AVALARA. The software integrates with most POS systems. It sets aside your sales taxes, files on time, and submits payments before the deadline.
VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy
*****
We suck at training, but we don't have to!
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Nov 20, 2025 • 25min
Celebrating Episode 500 with Six Pieces of Wisdom
#500 - Celebrating Episode 500 with Six Pieces of Wisdom
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII
MARQII is your one-stop-shop for listings management and reputation management. Collect reviews in one place to make responding easy and effortless and win the SEO game to land at the top of more search results. Win back guests and put more butts in the seats with Marqii.
VISIT: https://marqii.com/
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES
Simplify and automate your back of house operations with RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES and their cooking oil management program. These guys take the dirtiest job out of your kitchen!
VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/
*****
Celebrating our 500th Episode of the Restaurant Strategy Podcast!
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Nov 17, 2025 • 14min
How to Increase Check Average with Dessert Sales
#499 - How to Increase Check Average with Dessert Sales
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO
Automate your sales taxes using DAVO BY AVALARA. The software integrates with most POS systems. It sets aside your sales taxes, files on time, and submits payments before the deadline.
VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy
*****
If anyone tells you NOT to sell desserts, they are flat out wrong. They haven't learned how to sell desserts the right way and you should run far, far away. I could care less about the dessert itself, but I care deeply about the cappuccinos and after-dinner drinks we can get onto the check if we succeed in selling that dessert.
On today's episode I show you how to do it right.
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Nov 13, 2025 • 18min
Four-Walls Marketing Tactics That Actually Work (and Are Absolutely Free!!)
#498 - Four-Walls Marketing Tactics That Actually Work (and Are Absolutely Free!!)
*****
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
*****
Better Hellos
Bouncebacks for First-Timers
More Google Reviews
Stronger Engagement
Better Goodbyes
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Nov 10, 2025 • 27min
Takeaways from the P3 Profitability Summit in Fort Worth, TX
#497 - Takeaways from the P3 Profitability Summit in Fort Worth, TX
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN
Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin.
VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/
*****
Restaurant Strategy is a podcast, yes. But we're also an organization that does so much more to help independent restaurant owners who struggle. Our Founder, Chip Klose, wrote a book (link below)... we run a membership site called Restaurant Foundations (link below)... we host a group coaching program called the P3 Mastermind (link below)... and we throw two live in-person events every year...
Last week we hosted the P3 Profitability Summit in Fort Worth, TX, gathering together hundreds of restaurant owners from all over the world... we had folks fly in from Hawaii and Norway!!!
This episode we're sharing our biggest takeaways from that event.
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809

Nov 6, 2025 • 19min
Building a Strategy to Spark Word-of-Mouth (ENCORE)
Discover the secrets to sparking word-of-mouth marketing for restaurants. Explore why mere good food isn't enough anymore. Chip emphasizes creating remarkable experiences that diners will rave about. Hear about unique offerings like theatrical bacon presentations and oversized milkshakes that drive social media attention. Learn how signature touches and memorable desserts can elevate dining experiences to share-worthy status. Transform your restaurant into a conversation starter and captivate customers in a crowded market!

Nov 3, 2025 • 42min
How Smarter Tip Distribution is Changing Restaurants
#495 - How Smarter Tip Distribution is Changing Restaurants
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN
Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin.
VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/
*****
The world is changing. Are you changing with it?
*****
If you want to snag a copy of Chip's book, The Restaurant Marketing Mindset... CLICK HERE: https://www.therestaurantmarketingmindset.com/
If you're ready to learn more about the P3 Mastermind... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/p3-mastermind-program
If you want a free 30-day trial of our Restaurant Foundations Membership Site... CLICK HERE: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/Foundations-b
If you want to leave a 5-star rating/review on Apple Podcasts... CLICK HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-strategy/id1457379809


