FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution

Josh Kopel
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What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away? I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP. Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game: restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unpack their biggest wins, hardest lessons, and the strategies that changed everything. No fluff, no filler—just actionable insights to help you boost profits, build your brand, and create the kind of restaurant you’ve always dreamed of. So, if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, hit subscribe.

  1. Stop Guessing: Vince Wang on Turning Influencer Content into a Measurable Growth Engine

    1D AGO

    Stop Guessing: Vince Wang on Turning Influencer Content into a Measurable Growth Engine

    What if the most powerful marketing channel in restaurants isn’t ads, email, or social media, but the people already influencing where your guests eat? Vince Wang believes that’s exactly the case. As the force behind Mustard, Vince is applying the discipline of performance marketing to one of the most chaotic channels in hospitality: influencer marketing. In this conversation, we get into why influencer marketing may be the most underpriced performance channel in the industry, why micro-creators often outperform celebrity influencers, and how data—real data—can turn content into predictable growth. If you’re tired of marketing that feels like guesswork, this conversation shows what happens when you start measuring what actually works. To learn more about Mustard and how they’re turning influencer marketing into a measurable performance channel for restaurants, visit mustard.love. _________________________________________________________ Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    39 min
  2. Restaurants Are the Launchpad: Anthony Mangieri on Bridging Hospitality and Grocery

    5D AGO

    Restaurants Are the Launchpad: Anthony Mangieri on Bridging Hospitality and Grocery

    It feels like it would be glamorous to be a pioneer of a new cuisine in a new city but rarely does that translate into success.  It’s hard enough to sell something someone has heard of before. Today we sit down with the exception to the rule. Chef Anthony Mangieri is almost singularly responsible for the introduction of neapolitan pizza to New York.  He’s built a reputation for himself while building awareness for his greatest passion. We discuss, what it took to inform the market, the evolution from chef to restaurateur, and the path from that restaurant to the local grocer’s freezer section.  For more information on the chef and his concepts, visit https://unapizza.com/. _________________________________________________________ Today’s episode was brought to you by Loop AI. If you want better visibility and control over your delivery business while protecting your margins, find out how Loop AI can help at loopai.com. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    40 min
  3. The Experience Economy Is Back: John Tilley on Betting Big on Dining Rooms in a Delivery-First World

    MAR 24

    The Experience Economy Is Back: John Tilley on Betting Big on Dining Rooms in a Delivery-First World

    What if the future of restaurants isn’t smaller, faster, and cheaper—but louder, warmer, and more human? While everyone else is shrinking footprints and racing to the bottom on price, John Tilley is rebuilding the pizza parlor. In this conversation, we unpack why he believes the future of restaurants isn’t frictionless, it’s emotional. He shares how nostalgia became strategy, why discounting is a death spiral, and what it really means to act like an owner instead of a manager with equity. If you’re wondering how to compete in a louder, leaner market, this episode is a masterclass in zigging while everyone else zags. To learn more about Shakey’s and see how they’re reimagining the classic pizza parlor experience, visit shakeys.com. _________________________________________________________ Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    34 min
  4. Experience Is the Product: Scott Lawton on Creating Lifestyle Through Hospitality

    MAR 20

    Experience Is the Product: Scott Lawton on Creating Lifestyle Through Hospitality

    You walk into a restaurant and it just makes sense. It all feels right…the decor, the menus, the music and you know that they’re selling more than a meal, it’s a lifestyle.  Today we sit down with Scott Lawton, the co-founder of bartaco, to discuss the foundational elements of the bartaco brand and how those elements come together to make the guest feel like they’re a part of something special. For more information on Scott and bartaco, visit ⁠https://bartaco.com/⁠. _________________________________________________________ Today’s episode was brought to you by Loop AI. If you want better visibility and control over your delivery business while protecting your margins, find out how Loop AI can help at loopai.com. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    36 min
  5. Rethinking the Restaurant Model: Angell Tsang’s First-Principles Playbook for Profitable Delivery

    MAR 17

    Rethinking the Restaurant Model: Angell Tsang’s First-Principles Playbook for Profitable Delivery

    What if the reason your restaurant feels complicated… is because you never questioned the system you inherited? Angell Tsang didn’t come up in restaurants, he came up in tech. So when he got pulled into launching a Chinese takeout concept in Austin, he didn’t start with a POS, a lobby, or third-party apps. He started with a browser and a blank page. In this conversation, we get into how Angell built a cloud-based restaurant before “ghost kitchens” were a trend, why rejecting cash and eliminating legacy hardware gave him control, and how borrowing D2C marketing strategies from e-commerce unlocked predictable, data-driven growth. This is a masterclass in first principles; proof that when you stop copying the industry and start interrogating it, you can build something simpler, smarter, and far more profitable. To see how Tso Chinese Takeout built a browser-first, delivery-driven restaurant model, visit tsochinese.com_________________________________________________________ Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    38 min
  6. Loyalty Is a Growth Weapon: David Zhao on Scaling Restaurants Through Fan Ownership

    MAR 13

    Loyalty Is a Growth Weapon: David Zhao on Scaling Restaurants Through Fan Ownership

    It’s my pleasure to interview the industry leaders of today and ask the questions we’re all thinking of. But it’s my privilege to present to you the industry thought leaders of tomorrow. Today we sit down with David Zhao, co-founder of the Chubby Group, to discuss how they’re rapidly scaling their restaurant concepts globally through innovative joint ventures and growing their fanbase by the tens of thousands using an innovative approach to loyalty programs. Buckle up because this conversation is going to leave you questioning everything you believed about how to grow a successful restaurant group.  For more information on his restaurant group, visit https://chubbygroup.com/. _________________________________________________________ Today’s episode was brought to you by Loop AI. If you want better visibility and control over your delivery business while protecting your margins, find out how Loop AI can help at loopai.com. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    39 min
  7. Dashboards Don’t Fix Restaurants: Saleem Khatri on Turning AI Into Daily Profit

    MAR 10

    Dashboards Don’t Fix Restaurants: Saleem Khatri on Turning AI Into Daily Profit

    What if the reason you’re not more profitable isn’t effort, but clarity on what to fix next? As CEO of Lavu and the force behind Marty, an AI layer built for operators, Saleem isn’t interested in prettier dashboards or yesterday’s reports. He’s focused on something far more dangerous—and far more valuable: telling you exactly what to fix today to put more cash in your bank account tomorrow. In this conversation, we get into why POS is already commoditized, why most data tools create the illusion of control, and how AI can surface the three decisions that actually move the needle.  If you’re tired of tracking problems instead of solving them, this conversation is your wake-up call. To learn more about Lavu, visit lavu.com. _________________________________________________________ Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    41 min
  8. Scale Without Standardizing Everything: Barry McGowan on Protecting Culture During Global Expansion

    MAR 6

    Scale Without Standardizing Everything: Barry McGowan on Protecting Culture During Global Expansion

    Running a successful restaurant is one thing; scaling that success globally while maintaining exceptional quality and culture is another. Today, I’m sitting down with Barry McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chão, to discuss how this iconic brand continues to redefine the dining experience. From bringing a centuries-old culinary art to the forefront, to innovating service models that delight guests and empower employees, Barry shares the blueprint for building a thriving restaurant group. If you’re ready to rethink how to grow your business without losing its soul, this conversation is a must. For more information on Fogo de Chão and their unique dining experiences, visit https://fogodechao.com. _________________________________________________________ Today’s episode was brought to you by Loop AI. If you want better visibility and control over your delivery business while protecting your margins, find out how Loop AI can help at loopai.com. Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

    39 min
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About

What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away? I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP. Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game: restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unpack their biggest wins, hardest lessons, and the strategies that changed everything. No fluff, no filler—just actionable insights to help you boost profits, build your brand, and create the kind of restaurant you’ve always dreamed of. So, if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, hit subscribe.

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