The Restaurant Success Podcast

Matthew Mabel
  • 5.0 (4)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Restaurant Success Podcast is a weekly podcast for Restaurant owners full of information about how to run and improve your business. What's the point of growing a restaurant company if it doesn’t maximize relationships and profits? What's the point of being successful if you can’t maximize your net worth while enjoying every minute? Matthew Mabel encourages successful independent multi-unit restaurateurs to "be as good to yourself as you are to your guests" in everything they do. “Owning an independent multi-unit restaurant company ought to be a joy. Let’s make it that way," he says.Based out of Dallas, Matthew’s devoted to improving the lives and businesses of successful independent restaurateurs.

  1. 1D AGO

    How To Wake Up Your Brand and Increase Guest Count

    Is your restaurant brand showing signs of fatigue? In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, veteran restaurant advisor Matthew Mabel tackles what he calls "Sleepy Restaurant Syndrome" — the slow decline that happens when independent restaurant groups defer updates to their branding, marketing, menu design, culture, and physical spaces. Matthew walks through the warning signs that your restaurant business may be falling behind the competition, from outdated logos and stale menu formats to marketing strategies that target yesterday's guests instead of today's. Drawing on real-world examples from his entrepreneurship and consulting work with multi-unit restaurant owners, Matthew shares a practical roadmap for waking up your brand, increasing guest count, and optimizing revenue and profit in 2026. Whether you operate in casual dining or any other restaurant segment, this episode delivers actionable business strategy to help you stop coasting and start growing. Key Topics Covered What "Sleepy Restaurant Syndrome" looks like in independent restaurant groupsWarning signs that your restaurant brand needs a refreshWhy insiders often miss what an outside advisor can seeHow deferred maintenance of your brand hurts revenue and guest countPractical steps to update your offerings, marketing, branding, messaging, technology, and cultureWhy 2026 is the right time to take action on restaurant innovation and growthLinks Mentioned To Stay Relevant, You Must Update Your Restaurants NowRestaurateurs Make Sure Marketing Leads to Exceeding Forecast RevenueResources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resources

    7 min

  2. FEB 9

    The Best Ways Restaurants Activate and Retain Excellent Management

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, Matthew Mabel tackles one of the most pressing challenges in the restaurant industry today: how to activate and retain excellent management talent. With restaurant owners and entrepreneurs across the business struggling to find and keep great managers, Matthew breaks down what managers truly want from their organizations, including professional development, inspiration, and pride. He explores two competing approaches to building strong restaurant leadership teams—recruiting experienced talent versus hiring and developing from within—and explains why upgrading your management development strategy is no longer optional for any serious restaurant business. Whether you run a single location or a growing multi-unit operation, this episode delivers actionable entrepreneurship insights to help you build the team your restaurant needs to thrive. Key Topics Covered What restaurant managers really want: development, inspiration, and prideHow to document and track management growth year over yearRecruiting experienced managers versus hiring and developing talent internallyWhy your management development approach may be outdatedFundamentals for building today's restaurant management teamsFive key leadership development concepts for restaurant successLinks Mentioned Overcome the Shallow Talent Pool by Taking This Action NowHow Amazing Restaurant Leadership Development Creates Success Stories in 2023Resources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resources

    7 min

  3. FEB 2

    Why You Miss the Biggest Hidden Opportunities in Your Restaurants

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, Matthew Mabel reveals why successful restaurant entrepreneurs often overlook their greatest business opportunities. Drawing from his extensive consulting experience with multi-unit restaurant owners, Matthew explains how focusing solely on problems can blind operators to the untapped potential hiding in the parts of their business that already seem to be working. Through two compelling client examples, he demonstrates how a production-focused culture shift and a food cost correction each led to dramatic profit increases—including one case where profits rose by fifty percent and another where millions of dollars were recovered. This episode challenges restaurant business owners to examine what they take for granted and discover where their greatest returns may be waiting. Key Topics Covered Why restaurant owners instinctively focus on problems instead of opportunitiesHow long-term success can become invisible to operatorsReal-world example: Shifting from production-focused to guest-focused culture for a fifty percent profit increaseReal-world example: Correcting food cost handling and menu pricing to recover millions in lost profitWhy making strong aspects of your business stronger yields the greatest returnQuestions to ask yourself about untapped upside in your restaurant operationLinks Mentioned Restaurateur's Investment that Consistently Out Performs New Units Every TimeResources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resources

    7 min

  4. JAN 26

    Only 3 Worthwhile Places to Look When Developing a Healthy Restaurant Business

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, Matthew Mabel cuts through the noise of restaurant entrepreneurship to reveal the three essential areas every restaurant business owner must examine when developing a healthy, profitable operation. Whether you're running a single location or scaling a multi-unit restaurant group, Matthew shares the critical questions that should occupy your attention as a restaurant entrepreneur—from guest satisfaction and financial health to company culture and employee development. Discover why leadership, people, and systems form the foundation of restaurant business success, and learn what happens when any one of these elements is missing. This episode delivers practical business strategy for independent restaurant owners ready to build sustainable growth and operational excellence. Key Topics Covered The four critical questions every restaurant entrepreneur should focus onWhy your restaurant business reflects its owner's strengths and weaknessesThe three places to look for improvement: leadership, people, and systemsWhat happens when you only have two out of three elements workingHow to evaluate your organizational capability across all three areasThe importance of developing people versus moving on from those who can't growLinks Mentioned The Simple Way to Make Successful Restaurant Companies Much BetterResources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resources

    6 min

  5. JAN 20

    Improve Your Restaurants Big Time by Taking a Buyer's Perspective

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, Matthew Mabel shares one of the most powerful mindset shifts a restaurant owner can make: viewing your business as if you just bought it. This entrepreneurial approach helps restaurant operators identify hidden opportunities for profit growth, improved guest experience, and operational efficiency. Matthew explains the difference between "store blindness" and "owner blindness," and offers practical questions to help multi-unit restaurant owners evaluate their menu, branding, food costs, labor costs, and employee training with fresh eyes. Whether you're looking to optimize your restaurant business strategy or reignite your team's passion for thrilling guests, this episode provides actionable insights for independent restaurant entrepreneurs. Key Topics Covered The power of adopting a buyer's perspective in your restaurant businessUnderstanding "owner blindness" and how it impacts profitabilityQuestions to ask yourself about menu length, guest experience, and brandingIdentifying overlooked food and labor cost inefficienciesThe importance of reinforcing culture and reeducating staffLinks Mentioned Make Sure Restaurant Employees and Guests Love Your Culture in 2023The Great Differentiator: How to Train and Educate Today's Restaurant WorkerResources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resources

    6 min

  6. JAN 12

    How to Conquer My 3 Stages of Restaurant Business Growth

    Every successful restaurant entrepreneur must understand where they stand in their business journey. In this episode, Matthew Mabel breaks down the three critical stages of restaurant business growth that every independent restaurant owner experiences. Whether you're in the high-energy startup phase proving your concept, the strategic refinement period perfecting your operations, or facing the pivotal decision of whether to sell or continue expanding, knowing your stage brings clarity to every business decision. Matthew shares insights from his work with multi-unit restaurant owners who have scaled from five to twenty-one locations, revitalized stagnant brands, and achieved true entrepreneurial freedom. Discover how to identify your current growth stage and learn which strategic moves in operations, branding, culture, and leadership will set your restaurant business up for optimal success in the year ahead. Key Topics Covered The three stages of restaurant business growth: Adrenaline Years, Chill Out and Reflect, and Should I Stay or Should I GoHow to identify which growth stage your restaurant business is currently inWhy understanding your stage eliminates confusion and clarifies strategic decisionsReal examples of restaurant entrepreneurs achieving unit expansion and revenue growthHow to prepare your brand and organization for long-term successLinks Mentioned Guide to Pushing Through Expansion BarriersResources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resources

    5 min

  7. 12/29/2025

    The Five Best Things I Told You This Year…and Why

    In this special year-end episode, restaurant business advisor Matthew Mabel shares the five most impactful articles and episodes from 2025 that helped independent restaurant entrepreneurs achieve success in a challenging flat market. Matthew reflects on how multi-unit restaurant owners can navigate unprecedented business conditions by identifying whether their company falls into the Winners, Stable, or Floundering category—and taking strategic action accordingly. From avoiding the "Superhero Trap" that keeps restaurant operators overworked and stuck, to proven profit growth strategies and the importance of hiring experienced leadership, this episode delivers actionable entrepreneurship insights to help you prepare your restaurant business for breakthrough results in 2026. Key Topics Covered Understanding the three tiers of restaurant performance: Winners, Stable Companies, and Floundering CompaniesHow to identify which category your restaurant business falls into and what actions to takeAvoiding the "Superhero Trap" and empowering your team to create solutionsStrategies for increasing restaurant profit during a flat marketThe value of adding experienced leadership to accelerate business growthPreparing your restaurant operation for success in 2026Links Mentioned Know Yourself and Create Restaurant Success In Any MarketHow to Clarify the Best Way Forward for Your RestaurantsHow To Avoid the Deceiving Restaurant "Superhero Trap"How To Increase Your Restaurant Profit with No Excuses During This Flat MarketRestaurateurs: When You Lack Experience, Add Someone Who Has ItResources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resourcesTags:

    8 min

  8. 12/22/2025

    How To Take The Right Steps Toward Mastering Your Restaurant Financials

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, veteran restaurant advisor Matthew Mabel tackles the critical yet often overlooked topic of mastering restaurant financials for entrepreneurship success. Whether you're running a single-unit business or managing a multi-unit restaurant group, understanding your financial statements is essential to sustainable growth and profitability. Matthew explores how proper financial tracking impacts restaurant business performance, reveals four common challenges that even successful restaurant entrepreneurs face with their financials, and demonstrates how addressing these issues can add two percentage points to your bottom line. From improving P&L literacy among your management team to modernizing your accounting cycles and embracing financial transparency, this episode provides actionable strategies that help restaurant owners operate like true modern professional restaurant businesses. Learn how better financial management transforms your restaurant entrepreneurship journey, increases your business valuation, and creates the freedom and flexibility you've earned as a restaurant owner. Key Topics Covered Setting up proper financial tracking systems to measure management development, guest experience, and cost management initiativesThe importance of P&L literacy for restaurant managers and leadership teamsFour common financial challenges in restaurant groups: format issues, lack of financial literacy, outdated monthly accounting cycles, and insufficient transparencyConverting to 13-period accounting cycles (28 days each) for more accurate financial visibilityBuilding an open-book company culture and sharing financial information with your teamHow fixing financial systems can add two points to your bottom line and significantly increase business valuationCreating a culture of trust that enables transparent financial managementArticles Mentioned For Breakthrough Restaurant Performance in 2023, Share Information Your People Crave, https://surrender.biz/for-breakthrough-restaurant-performance-in-2023-share-information-your-people-crave/How Creating a Culture of Trust Benefits Top Restaurateurs, https://surrender.biz/how-creating-a-culture-of-trust-benefits-top-restaurateurs/Resources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizFree initial consultation availableConnect with Matthew Mabel Matthew works with owners of successful, independent, multi-unit restaurants to improve: Profit growthSales optimizationGuest count increaseUnit expansionEmployee engagementBrand loyaltyHow to Support the Show Subscribe to the Restaurant Success Podcast and NewsletterRate and review the showVisit www.surrender.biz for additional resources

    7 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Restaurant Success Podcast is a weekly podcast for Restaurant owners full of information about how to run and improve your business. What's the point of growing a restaurant company if it doesn’t maximize relationships and profits? What's the point of being successful if you can’t maximize your net worth while enjoying every minute? Matthew Mabel encourages successful independent multi-unit restaurateurs to "be as good to yourself as you are to your guests" in everything they do. “Owning an independent multi-unit restaurant company ought to be a joy. Let’s make it that way," he says.Based out of Dallas, Matthew’s devoted to improving the lives and businesses of successful independent restaurateurs.

Information

  • Creator
    Matthew Mabel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Restaurant Success Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Restaurant Success Podcast