Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

Hosted by Roger Beaudoin

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500

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Tips, tools & resources to help restaurant owners and managers Rock Their Restaurant! Engaging conversations with industry leaders and fellow restaurateurs.

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60 recent

November 8, 202634 min

511. Restaurant SOPs Independents Can Steal From a Chain With 96% Retention - Lance Trenary

This episode is for independent restaurant owners and operators who want to learn restaurant SOPs (standard operating procedures) from a national chain: Lance Trenary, President and CEO of Golden Corral, explains how the buffet brand plans prep, schedules labor, cross-trains teams, retains people and keeps delivering value when guest counts are unpredictable. Roger Beaudoin and Lance cover how Golden Corral forecasts guest counts in 15-minute increments across about 150 buffet items, why the company focuses on retaining people more than recruiting them, and how it stays relevant after 53 years. Lance also shares how he stays close to the front line, how the brand markets to different guests, and the smaller building formats the company is testing. In this episode: • How to define value for guests: Lance says value is more than price and includes hospitality, a clean environment, and variety so everyone at the table finds something they enjoy. • How to match labor to production: Golden Corral measured the production time for every item it makes, then matched those times to its prep schedule so it does not waste labor. • How to use cross-training as a backup plan: cross-trained team members can help a coworker who is behind or move to another station when a teammate is ahead. • How to build retention through culture: Lance says pay is usually third or fourth on the list of what people want, after whether their manager cares about them, listens to them and asks for their ideas. • How to get front-line feedback: when visiting restaurants, Lance asks team members what the dumbest thing he has asked them to do lately is, and which menu items guests do not eat or get thrown away. • How to stay relevant over decades: stay close to the guest, listen for signs they are changing habits, and follow a fail fast, fail forward approach to testing new ideas. Thank you to our sponsors: Roger Beaudoin Personal Coaching Winning sports teams have a Coach that inspires and optimizes performance. If your restaurant is challenged with labor & team accountability, staff training, maximizing profit or other pain point, set a free 30 minute call with me. https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/consulting Connect with Lance Trenary: https://www.goldencorral.com/ https://www.instagram.com/goldencorral/ https://www.facebook.com/goldencorral https://x.com/goldencorral Watch the episode and read the show notes: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/audio/511-golden-corral-ceo-restaurant-sops-labor-retention

November 1, 202635 min

510. What Makes a Great Restaurant GM | Will Dasco

A great restaurant general manager (GM) isn't just the boss. They're the person a team wants to follow into battle every night. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars podcast, host Roger talks with Will Dasco of Hospitality By Will, who was promoted to general manager at Hillstone Restaurant Group just after his 24th birthday and most recently led food and beverage at a hotel with a members club. Will explains why emotional intelligence and an appreciation for every role come first, and why culture is the values you live every day, not the mission statement on the wall. He shares how he hires and onboards new team members, how he holds people accountable fairly with progressive discipline, his three-I framework for pre-shift meetings (inspect, inform, inspire), how to recognize great work, and how to suggestively sell without sounding like a car salesman. In this episode: • What separates a true leader from a boss: emotional intelligence, empathy and understanding every role • Why culture is the values you live every day, not your mission statement • How to hire and onboard so new team members feel welcome, including hiring in groups of at least two • How to train your trainers and keep one or two people in the hiring pipeline • How to hold everyone accountable fairly with clear standards and progressive discipline • Will's three-I pre-shift framework: inspect, inform, inspire Roger Profit Analysis Is your menu costing you thousands in lost profit? I've uncovered as much as $345,000 in lost profit at individual restaurant locations, and his Menu Profit Accelerator can reveal hidden opportunities to boost your bottom line. Schedule a free, 30-minute, no-obligation call at RestaurantRockstars.com. https://www.restaurantrockstars.com Thank you to our sponsors: Forward Financing Restaurants always need Capital when THEY need it! Problem is you don't have time to wait, you need the cash now! Forward Financing has funded more than $5.4 billion to over 100,000 small businesses, and 10,000 restaurants just like yours. Forward funds anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, often with same-day FUNDING. https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants?utm_campaign=53259160-Restaurant%20Rockstars&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Audio Yelp Host In a busy restaurant missed calls mean missed sales opportunities. Yelp Host is an AI phone answering service that handles reservations, waitlists, and takeout orders 24/7. Yelp Host Speaks 17 languages, handles multiple simultaneous calls, answers questions, books tables and sends everything right to your kitchen. https://business.yelp.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary Smithfield knows that to meat lovers, a great serving of their favorite cut is so much more than just food. It's an experience. That's why they're committed to offering your restaurant the perfect protein for every dish at every daypart. When you partner with Smithfield, you will serve what you love…and your hungry, carnivorous patrons will love what you serve. http://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield Connect with Will Dasco: Instagram: @hospitalitybywill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willdasco/ Watch the episode and read the show notes: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/audio/510-what-makes-a-great-restaurant-gm

October 25, 202636 min

509. What's Your Restaurant Really Worth: How to Build Value Before You Sell - Robin Gagnon

What's your restaurant really worth, and are you making costly mistakes that could lower its selling price? In this episode of Restaurant Rockstars, Roger sits down with Robin Gagnon, Co-Founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants, to uncover what buyers actually look for, how restaurants are valued, and what owners can do NOW to maximize their business's worth. You'll discover: - How buyers and lenders determine your restaurant's value - The financial mistakes that can cost you thousands when selling - Why your lease, financial records, and operating systems matter - How to make your restaurant more attractive to potential buyers - What to expect during the restaurant sales process Whether you're planning to sell soon or intend to operate for years to come, building a more valuable restaurant starts today. About Robin Gagnon Robin Gagnon is the co-founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants, a restaurant brokerage founded in 2004 that represents restaurant sellers across the United States, with franchise offices in markets around the country. The company has about 1,750 restaurant listings, which Robin describes as the largest restaurant listing website in the nation. She is the co-author of "Appetite for Acquisition" (2012) and publishes a restaurant market report on the We Sell Restaurants website. Connect with Robin Gagnon and We Sell Restaurants Website: https://www.wesellrestaurants.com Robin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robingagnonrestaurantbroker We Sell Restaurants on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wesellrestaurants/ We Sell Restaurants on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesellrestaurants/ We Sell Restaurants on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/wesellrestaurants We Sell Restaurants on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeSellRestaurants Resources Mentioned - Free restaurant valuation from We Sell Restaurants: https://www.wesellrestaurants.com - We Sell Restaurants restaurant market report, at the top of wesellrestaurants.com - "Appetite for Acquisition" by Robin Gagnon, including the chapter "The Landlord Is Not Your Friend" - BizBuySell, the business-for-sale database used for comparable sales This episode is brought to you by our sponsors: Yelp - Tools to help restaurants attract guests, manage reservations, and grow their business. https://business.yelp.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary - Quality pork products and culinary solutions for restaurant operators. http://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield Forward Financing - Flexible business financing solutions to help restaurant owners access capital. https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants Discover more restaurant profit strategies, expert interviews, and training at https://www.restaurantrockstars.com. Listen now and find out what your restaurant could really be worth!

October 18, 202641 min

508 . Restaurant SOPs That Stop Profit Leaks | Roger Beaudoin

Your restaurant is busy. Your team is working hard. So why isn’t your bank account growing? In Episode 508 of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger shares practical standard operating procedures that help restaurant owners uncover profit leaks, control costs, and keep more of what they earn. Drawing on 23 years of restaurant ownership, Roger breaks down: • Inventory routines that reveal what you’re actually using • Labor tracking and scheduling that follow the flow of business • Menu costing that uncovers gaps in contribution dollars • Portion standards that protect consistency and margins • Promotions that give guests a reason to visit on slower nights • Additional revenue opportunities, including merchandise and mug clubs • Staff training that turns order takers into knowledgeable Sales Stars You’ll hear real examples from Roger’s restaurants, including how a few extra pizza toppings revealed a costly inconsistency and how a slow Tuesday became one of the strongest nights of the week. Clear procedures. Consistent follow-through. A stronger restaurant business. The Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy Explore restaurant training, templates, and operating tools: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Free Prime Cost Score Card Find this free resource and more: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com Forward Financing Restaurants always need Capital when THEY need it! Problem is you don’t have time to wait, you need the cash now! Forward Financing has funded more than $5.4 billion to over 100,000 small businesses, and 10,000 restaurants just like yours. Forward funds anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, often with same-day FUNDING. Head to https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants?utm_campaign=53259160-Restaurant%20Rockstars&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Audio Smithfield Culinary Smithfield knows that to meat lovers, a great serving of their favorite cut is so much more than just food. It’s an experience. That’s why they’re committed to offering your restaurant the perfect protein for every dish at every daypart. When you partner with Smithfield, you will serve what you love…and your hungry, carnivorous patrons will love what you serve. For more information or to order products, visit http://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield Yelp Host In a busy restaurant missed calls mean missed sales opportunities. Yelp Host is an AI phone answering service that handles reservations, waitlists, and takeout orders 24/7. Yelp Host Speaks 17 languages, handles multiple simultaneous calls, answers questions, books tables and sends everything right to your kitchen. GO TO business.yelp.com/rockstars

October 11, 202642 min

507 Stop Restaurant Staff Turnover: Hire Better, Lead Better | Dana DeVito

Constantly hiring, covering shifts, and losing good employees? In Episode 507, Roger talks with Dana DeVito, Co-Founder & COO of Elite Performance Associates and author of Now Hiring: Recruit Right, Grow Your Culture, Build Teams That Stay. Dana has hired and managed more than 6,000 people and faced 300% employee turnover in his own businesses. He shares how he changed his approach to hiring and leadership, with practical lessons from operating restaurants and coffee shops. In this conversation: • Hiring for drive, mindfulness, humility, and role-specific traits. • Interview questions that reveal character and relationship skills. • Preparing managers to coach and hold people accountable. • Five questions for employee-led one-on-one meetings. • Welcoming new hires and supporting them through learning mistakes. • Giving employees opportunities to contribute ideas. • Protecting your team when staffing falls short. Listen for practical ways to strengthen your restaurant’s culture and build a team you can count on. Connect with Dana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-devito/ https://www.instagram.com/dana_devito/ FREE RESOURCES FOR RESTAURANT OWNERS Get your FREE Prime Cost Score on our home page, join the FREE 5 Day Menu Margin Makeover, or request a FREE 30-minute Profit Strategy Call with Roger. Visit our website to access these resources and request your call: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com CONNECT WITH RESTAURANT ROCKSTARS Instagram: @restaurantrockstars https://www.instagram.com/restaurantrockstars/ Facebook: @restaurantrockstars https://www.facebook.com/restaurantrockstars/ YouTube: @RestaurantRockstars https://www.youtube.com/@RestaurantRockstars LinkedIn: Restaurant Rockstars https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant-rockstars/ X: @RestaurantRock1 https://x.com/RestaurantRock1 TikTok: @restaurantrockstars https://www.tiktok.com/@restaurantrockstars THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Yelp Host In a busy restaurant, missed calls mean missed sales opportunities. Yelp Host is an AI phone answering service that handles reservations, waitlists, and takeout orders 24/7. Yelp Host speaks 17 languages, handles multiple simultaneous calls, answers questions, books tables, and sends everything right to your kitchen. http://business.yelp.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary Smithfield knows that to meat lovers, a great serving of their favorite cut is so much more than just food. It’s an experience. That’s why they’re committed to offering your restaurant the perfect protein for every dish at every daypart. When you partner with Smithfield, you will serve what you love, and your hungry, carnivorous patrons will love what you serve. For more information or to order products, visit: http://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield Forward Financing Restaurants always need capital when they need it! The problem is you don’t have time to wait. You need the cash now! Forward Financing has funded more than $5.4 billion to over 100,000 small businesses, including 10,000 restaurants just like yours. Forward funds anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, often with same-day funding. Learn more: https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants?utm_campaign=53259160-Restaurant%20Rockstars&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Audio

October 4, 202640 min

506. Why Your Restaurant Is Busy but Not Profitable | Ami Alexander

Your restaurant is busy, but where’s the profit? In Episode 506 of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger Beaudoin welcomes Ami Alexander of Barrel Aged Management to discuss restaurant profitability, rising labor costs, employee retention, menu pricing, and genuine hospitality. Drawing on her restaurant and hotel operating experience, Ami shares how thoughtful staffing, structured training, and ongoing employee development can help operators build stronger teams while maintaining service standards. You’ll hear: • How to align labor costs with guest volume and service expectations • Why hiring for attitude requires a commitment to training • How independent restaurants can give great employees reasons to stay • Why menu costing and product mix should guide pricing decisions • How cross-training and a welcoming arrival improve the guest experience • How to keep your restaurant concept relevant • Where AI could reduce administrative work and create more time for hospitality A full dining room doesn’t automatically mean a healthy bottom line. Listen for practical perspectives on protecting restaurant margins while delivering the quality and service guests expect. How is your restaurant doing? Get the FREE Prime Cost Score Card to calculate your prime cost and see how your restaurant measures up: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com Explore the Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Sponsors: Forward Financing Restaurants always need Capital when THEY need it! Problem is you don’t have time to wait, you need the cash now! Forward Financing has funded more than $5.4 billion to over 100,000 small businesses, and 10,000 restaurants just like yours. Forward funds anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, often with same-day FUNDING. Head to https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants?utm_campaign=53259160-Restaurant%20Rockstars&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Audio Yelp Host In a busy restaurant missed calls mean missed sales opportunities. Yelp Host is an AI phone answering service that handles reservations, waitlists, and takeout orders 24/7. Yelp Host Speaks 17 languages, handles multiple simultaneous calls, answers questions, books tables and sends everything right to your kitchen. GO TO business.yelp.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary Smithfield knows that to meat lovers, a great serving of their favorite cut is so much more than just food. It’s an experience. That’s why they’re committed to offering your restaurant the perfect protein for every dish at every daypart. When you partner with Smithfield, you will serve what you love…and your hungry, carnivorous patrons will love what you serve. For more information or to order products, visit http://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield

September 27, 202642 min

505. Restaurant Operating Systems That Protect Profit | Matt Walls

Restaurant profits don't disappear in one place. They leak through labor, food cost, poor systems, weak training, and missed opportunities. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger Beaudoin sits down with restaurant industry veteran Matt “Walls” Walls, whose career has included Domino’s, CKE Restaurants, Caribou Coffee, Roti, and Edible Brands. Matt breaks down the operating systems he uses to build stronger restaurant teams, control labor and food costs, protect margins, and create a better guest experience. You'll discover how to: • Control restaurant labor hour by hour • Find hidden labor waste between peak shifts • Improve food cost through portion control and smarter SKUs • Create value without constantly discounting • Build a deeper bench of restaurant leaders • Recruit people for careers instead of simply filling jobs • Turn frontline employees into a source of new ideas • Improve onboarding and employee retention • Use AI to uncover trends and opportunities faster • Use technology without replacing human hospitality Matt also shares how a frontline employee's idea became a successful Roti menu item and why some of the best innovations in a restaurant can come directly from the people working in the stores. And when it comes to AI, Matt has a clear philosophy: use technology behind the scenes to make the business smarter while keeping the guest experience authentic and human. If you're a restaurant owner, operator, general manager, or hospitality leader looking for practical ways to run a more profitable restaurant, this episode is packed with ideas you can put to work. Subscribe to Restaurant Rockstars for more restaurant business, leadership, marketing and profitability strategies. Thank you to our sponsors: Smithfield Culinary: Smithfield knows that to meat lovers, a great serving of their favorite cut is so much more than just food. It’s an experience. That’s why they’re committed to offering your restaurant the perfect protein for every dish at every daypart. When you partner with Smithfield, you will serve what you love…and your hungry, carnivorous patrons will love what you serve. For more information or to order products, visit http://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield Yelp Host: In a busy restaurant missed calls mean missed sales opportunities. Yelp Host is an AI phone answering service that handles reservations, waitlists, and takeout orders 24/7. Yelp Host Speaks 17 languages, handles multiple simultaneous calls, answers questions, books tables and sends everything right to your kitchen. GO TO business.yelp.com/rockstars Forward Financing: Restaurants always need Capital when THEY need it! Problem is you don’t have time to wait, you need the cash now! Forward Financing has funded more than $5.4 billion to over 100,000 small businesses, and 10,000 restaurants just like yours. Forward funds anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, often with same-day FUNDING. Head to https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants?utm_campaign=53259160-Restaurant%20Rockstars&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Audio

September 19, 202642 min

504. How Restaurant AI Captures Missed Sales - Cliff Cate

What if your restaurant is losing revenue every time the phone rings? During a busy shift, an unanswered call could mean a missed reservation, takeout order, catering inquiry, or private event opportunity. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger Beaudoin speaks with Cliff Cate, Yelp for Restaurants, about how AI-powered restaurant tools can capture more sales while freeing employees to focus on the guests directly in front of them. Cliff explains how Yelp Host can answer multiple calls simultaneously, provide restaurant information, manage reservations and wait-list questions, and take commission-free food orders through POS integrations. It can also support conversations in 17 languages while maintaining the voice, tone, and personality of the restaurant. You’ll discover: Why unanswered calls represent missed revenue How AI is changing restaurant discovery Why your Yelp profile, hours, menu, and restaurant details must remain current How voice AI can manage reservations, wait lists, and takeout orders How restaurants can customize the AI host to reflect their brand How call transcripts, summaries, and analytics reveal what guests want Why restaurant AI can strengthen hospitality instead of replacing it How Yelp Guest Manager and Yelp Host work together What operators can expect during the onboarding process According to Cliff, approximately 70% of the restaurant calls analyzed by Yelp are connected to revenue-generating activities. Yelp has also seen some customers increase their takeout volume by more than 20%. Learn more about Yelp Host: https://business.yelp.com/rockstars Learn more about The Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy This episode is sponsored by: Forward Financing Restaurants need capital when they need it, and operators do not always have time to wait. Forward Financing has funded more than $5.4 billion to over 100,000 small businesses, including 10,000 restaurants. Forward provides funding from $5,000 to $500,000, often with same-day funding. Learn more: https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants?utm_campaign=53259160-Restaurant%20Rockstars&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Audio Yelp Host In a busy restaurant, missed calls mean missed sales opportunities. Yelp Host is an AI phone-answering service that handles reservations, wait lists, and takeout orders 24/7. It speaks 17 languages, handles multiple simultaneous calls, answers questions, books tables, and sends orders directly to your kitchen. Learn more: https://business.yelp.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary Smithfield knows that, to meat lovers, a great serving of their favorite cut is more than food. It is an experience. That is why Smithfield Culinary is committed to offering restaurants the perfect protein for every dish and every daypart. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love, and your guests will love what you serve. For more information or to order products, visit: https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield

September 13, 202647 min

503. Restaurant Leadership: Build Stronger Teams and Consistent Performance with Dre Baldwin

Why do great employees quit, average employees stay, and high performers suddenly stop performing? In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger Beaudoin speaks with leadership and performance expert Dre Baldwin about building stronger restaurant teams, creating accountability, and inspiring consistent performance. Dre explains why discipline is more dependable than motivation and how structure helps employees consistently meet your restaurant’s standards. You’ll learn how to “trust but verify” without micromanaging, motivate and retain Gen Z employees, and create a workplace where people feel recognized and valued. Roger and Dre also discuss: How to create accountability without micromanaging Why leaders need to understand what motivates each employee The difference between delegation and empowerment Why talented employees reach performance plateaus How recognition can improve performance and retention Why restaurant systems should not depend on one key person How stronger systems protect the guest experience How Dre’s Work On Your Game® philosophy applies to restaurant leadership Dre Baldwin is the founder of Work On Your Game®, a system used by executives and organizations to install discipline, decision-making structure, and execution reliability. A 4x TEDx speaker and 43-time author, he helps leaders operate with clarity, authority, and measurable results. Build a stronger and more profitable restaurant with The Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Thank you to our episode sponsors: Yelp Host helps busy restaurants answer calls, manage reservations and waitlists, answer customer questions, and take commission-free takeout orders using AI. https://business.yelp.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary offers proteins for every dish and daypart, including bacon, ham, sausage, chorizo, and more. https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield Forward Financing provides eligible restaurant operators with access to business funding ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. https://go.forwardfinancing.com/restaurants

September 4, 202636 min

502. How to Build a Restaurant Team That Stays | Tom Kilby, Vanteo

Finding good restaurant employees is hard. Keeping them can be even harder. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger sits down with Tom Kilby of Vanteo to talk about what it really takes to build a restaurant team that stays. They dig into smarter recruiting strategies, better onboarding, creating a culture people want to be part of, developing employees from within, and why restaurant operators need to think beyond simply filling the next open position. You’ll discover practical ideas for: • Recruiting restaurant employees beyond traditional job boards • Creating a stronger onboarding experience • Setting expectations from day one • Improving employee retention and workplace culture • Developing and promoting your best people • Building a longer-term staffing strategy If staffing challenges are costing your restaurant time, money and momentum, this episode will give you a different way to think about building your team. A special thank you to our sponsor, Smithfield Culinary. Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish, every daypart, like Smithfield’s new Ready to Eat Select Bacon, new Ground Chorizo, or the broadest portfolio of pork. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or learn more: https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield 🎓 Ready to build a stronger, more profitable restaurant? Join The Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy for proven systems, tools and training to help you improve your team, operations and bottom line: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Subscribe to the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast for more restaurant management, leadership, operations and profitability strategies.