Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

Roger Beaudoin
  • 4.3 (50)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

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

  1. 2d ago

    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

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

  2. Sep 4

    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.

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

  3. Aug 26

    501. The Restaurant Profit Strategy Most Operators Overlook | Greg Vojnovic

    What if one of your greatest opportunities to improve restaurant profit has nothing to do with raising prices or cutting costs? Greg Vojnovic of The Melt joins Roger to reveal the restaurant profit strategy many operators overlook: building a culture and operation their people can execute successfully. In this episode, discover: • Why financial metrics are often lagging indicators • How operational complexity hurts execution • Why The Melt avoids constantly adding limited-time offers • How cross-training improves labor efficiency • Why strong restaurant cultures retain better employees • How The Melt develops leaders from within • How one location grew from $1.5 million to $6.1 million in annual sales Profitability is not created only in a spreadsheet. It begins with your people, leadership, culture and consistent daily execution. Learn more and join the Restaurant Academy: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMelt/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelt/ Website: https://www.themelt.com

    501. The Restaurant Profit Strategy Most Operators Overlook | Greg Vojnovic

  4. Aug 17

    500. 10 Restaurant Profit Strategies Every Operator Should Know - Roger Beaudoin

    It’s our 500th episode, and I’m sharing 10 proven ways to make your restaurant more profitable. These aren’t theories. They’re strategies I used in my own restaurants to increase sales, control costs, build stronger teams and create extraordinary guest experiences. In this episode, I cover menu costing and profit contribution, prime cost, inventory, portion control, training your team to serve and sell, creating high-profit “cash cows,” generating additional revenue, recruiting A-players and recognizing and rewarding your best people. I’ll also share some of my favorite real-world strategies, including the mug club that grew to 1,200 members and generated $75,000 a year, plus the recognition program that helped us achieve a 96% employee retention rate. The big takeaway? Being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're profitable. Know your numbers, train your people and give your guests an experience that keeps them coming back. Ready to put these strategies to work in your restaurant? 👉 Join the Profitable Restaurant Operator Academy: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Here’s to 500 episodes...and to your restaurant’s success! Roger

    500. 10 Restaurant Profit Strategies Every Operator Should Know - Roger Beaudoin

  5. Aug 9

    499. Smarter Restaurant Operations: More Revenue, Better Culture, Happier Guests - Joe Mikulich

    Smarter operations can mean more revenue, a stronger team, and happier guests. Joe Mikulich of EDO Hospitality shares practical ideas independent restaurant operators can put to work right now. What if running a more profitable restaurant isn’t about working harder, but operating smarter? Roger sits down with Joe Mikulich, co-founder of EDO Hospitality, to talk about the practical moves helping his growing restaurant group drive revenue, build a stronger culture, and create happier guests. From smarter SOPs and staff accountability to beverage profits, hiring, retention, marketing, memorable guest experiences, and AI, this episode is packed with ideas independent restaurant owners and operators can put to work right away. Want to build a restaurant that's more profitable, runs smoother, and doesn't depend on you every minute of the day? Join the Restaurant Rockstars Academy and learn proven systems for leadership, menu profitability, labor control, marketing, and operational excellence. 👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Want to find more profit hiding in your menu? Take Roger’s FREE 5-Day Menu Margin Makeover Challenge and learn how to identify your most profitable items, uncover missed opportunities, and make simple changes that can put more money on your bottom line. https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/the-5-day-menu-margin-makeover-challenge

    499. Smarter Restaurant Operations: More Revenue, Better Culture, Happier Guests - Joe Mikulich

  6. Aug 2

    498. Restaurant Systems That Build Profitable Teams (Without Constant Turnover) - Kyle Peters

    In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger sits down with Kyle Peters, co-owner of Sexy Pizza, to discuss the operational systems that help independent restaurants reduce turnover, improve profitability and build stronger teams. From employee retention and leadership to KPIs, inventory, labor management, marketing and community engagement, Kyle shares practical strategies that operators can implement immediately. Learn why checklists create accountability, how tracking the right numbers protects margins, and why investing in your people often delivers a bigger return than constantly hiring new ones. In this episode you'll discover: • Why retention beats constant hiring • The restaurant KPIs every operator should track • How checklists improve accountability and consistency • Ways to reduce labor leakage and protect profits • Community marketing that builds loyal guests • Loyalty ideas that keep customers coming back • Why strong vendor relationships improve your bottom line Whether you operate one restaurant or multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help you build a stronger team, improve operations and increase profitability. 🎙 Restaurant Rockstars Podcast: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/podcasts Helping independent restaurant owners build more profitable restaurants through better leadership, systems and operations. ⭐️ The Profitable Operator Restaurant Academy: Practical systems and operational strategies designed to help independent restaurant operators improve profitability, performance, and control. https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy 🔥 FREE 5 DAY RESTAURANT MENU MARGIN MAKEOVER CHALLENGE: https://www.restaurantrockstars.com/the-5-day-menu-margin-makeover-challenge Connect with our guest 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sexypizza Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexypizza/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sexypizzaco?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sexypizza/ https://sexy.pizza

    498. Restaurant Systems That Build Profitable Teams (Without Constant Turnover) - Kyle Peters

  7. Jul 24

    497. Restaurant Leadership Secrets That Build Better Teams & Bigger Profits | Steve Kislow, CEO of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

    What separates great restaurant operators from everyone else? According to Firebirds Wood Fired Grill CEO Steve Kislow, it starts with leadership. In this episode of Restaurant Rockstars, Steve shares the leadership principles, accountability systems, and operational disciplines that helped grow Firebirds from just three restaurants to 70 locations across 23 states. Roger and Steve discuss hiring great leaders, creating a culture of meaningful feedback, improving employee retention, tracking the KPIs that matter most, protecting restaurant profits, using technology wisely, and delivering memorable guest experiences without losing the human side of hospitality. Whether you own a single independent restaurant or manage multiple locations, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can implement immediately. ▶️ Watch the Episode: https://restaurantrockstars.com/audio/497-restaurant-leadership-profits/ In this episode: • Hiring leaders who build winning teams • Creating accountability through feedback • Why employee retention is a critical KPI • Protecting profits without sacrificing hospitality • Restaurant systems that drive consistency • Using AI and technology the right way • Creating value that keeps guests coming back Connect with our guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-kislow/ https://firebirdsrestaurants.com 🔥 If you're serious about building a more profitable restaurant, the Restaurant Rockstars Academy is for you. Inside, you'll learn Roger's proven systems for leadership, profitability, menu engineering, marketing, labor control, and building a restaurant that runs smoothly, even when you're not there. Learn more at restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy. ⭐️ Thanks to our podcast sponsor – PosterMyWall PosterMyWall is the AI-powered marketing platform built for restaurants. Create social media posts, email campaigns, event promotions, automatic reminders, and event calendars, all from one easy-to-use platform. With millions of professionally designed templates and built-in AI, you can create high-quality marketing in minutes, no design skills or agency required. Visit postermywall.com and use promo code RESTAURANT30 to save 30% on a Premium subscription.

    497. Restaurant Leadership Secrets That Build Better Teams & Bigger Profits | Steve Kislow, CEO of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

  8. Jul 9

    496. The Restaurant Hospitality Formula That Keeps Guests Coming Back - Brian Toll

    What keeps guests coming back again and again? In this episode, Roger sits down with Brian Toll, co-founder of h.wood Group, to discuss the leadership, culture, and hospitality strategies behind one of the industry's fastest-growing restaurant groups. You'll learn: Why "wow" experiences create loyal guests How to hire and retain exceptional employees The leadership habits that build winning restaurant cultures The KPIs every operator should monitor Creative ways to increase traffic on slower nights Lessons learned from growing multiple successful restaurant concepts Learn more about h.wood Group: https://www.hwoodgroup.com Thanks to Our Sponsors Owner.com helps restaurants increase direct online orders with automated marketing campaigns and a branded mobile app. 👉 https://www.owner.com/rockstars Smithfield Culinary helps restaurants save time and labor while serving premium-quality proteins guests love. 👉 https://www.smithfieldselect.com Join the Restaurant Rockstars Academy Ready to build a more profitable restaurant? 👉 https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy

    496. The Restaurant Hospitality Formula That Keeps Guests Coming Back - Brian Toll
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4.3
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Roger Beaudoin
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    500
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Restaurant Rockstars Podcast

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