Extra Serving: A restaurant industry podcast

Nation's Restaurant News
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Extra Serving is a series of weekly podcasts hosted by the editorial team at Nation’s Restaurant News, the leading source for information and insights on the American restaurant industry. Covering the latest and most relevant topics in foodservice — including emerging chains, food trends, technology, and more — Extra Serving features a recap of the week’s biggest headlines, plus guests ranging from restaurant owners and operators to CEOs, founders, chefs, and other experts.

  1. 1D AGO

    Domino’s revs up Pizza Tracker, McDonald’s sees modest bump from Big Arch, and Noodles & Co. explores ramen

    On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Domino’s updates to its Pizza Tracker app, McDonald’s modest traffic bump from the Big Arch, and Noodles & Co.’s terrific Q4 performance. First up is Domino’s, which updated its Pizza Tracker app, which allows customers to see the progress of their pizza order. The updates allow customers to get much more granular on the process, including the ability to see when the pizza goes into the oven and when the driver is out for delivery. Sam and Alicia discuss the update and how Domino’s is pushing the envelope on tech innovation even when it’s in a position of strength as the No. 1 pizza chain by far. Next they discuss traffic numbers for McDonald’s, which show only a modest bump following the release of the Big Arch burger. Alicia makes the case that a slight bump in traffic is still great news for the Golden Arches, and she and Sam discuss how the premium burger is really a margin play for McDonald’s. They then tackle Noodles & Company, which has been on a sales roller coaster the past few years and recently was threatened with being de-listed from Nasdaq. The fast casual impressed with 6.6% comp sales growth in Q4, and Sam and Alicia discuss what that could mean for the brand, which also announced that it would explore adding ramen to the menu. Finally, it’s the Quick Fire segment, where Sam and Alicia swiftly tackle additional headlines from the week. This week, that included Wendy’s chicken sandwich upgrades, Chipotle’s popular tattoo promo, DoorDash’s fuel incentives for drivers, and Sweetgreen’s flurry of menu updates. For more on these stories: Domino’s updates its pizza tracker to provide more order details McDonald’s Big Arch provides a modest traffic bump Noodles & Company considers ramen menu

    44 min

  2. MAR 23

    Burger King takes a page from Domino’s, Darden keeps defying odds, and Fat Brands gets a lifeline

    On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Burger King’s new ad campaign, Darden’s impressive sales performance, and Fat Brands’ lifeline in the midst of its bankruptcy proceedings. First up is Burger King, which introduced a new advertisement during the Oscars ceremony that crowned its customers as the new “king." The ad, narrated by president Tom Curtis, acknowledges that Burger King had lost its way over the years and lost sight of what its guests really wanted from the brand. The campaign harkens back to Domino’s 2010 campaign in which it claimed that its pizza “sucked.” Curtis and Restaurant Brands International executive chairman J. Patrick Doyle were each with Domino’s at that time and seem to be ripping a page right from its playbook in an attempt to jump start Burger King’s performance. Sam and Alicia discuss the new campaign and whether they think it could help the chain capture market share from McDonald’s and Wendy’s. Next up is Darden, which reported consolidated same-store sales growth of 4.2% in its most recent quarter. Most impressive was the company’s LongHorn Steakhouse brand, which registered 7.2% same-store sales growth. What seems to be going right for Darden — and does it suggest anything more broadly about the full-service sector? Sam and Alicia discuss. Then they tackle the Fat Brands saga, the latest episode of which includes CEO Andy Wiederhorn stepping aside as the portfolio company navigates through Ch. 11 bankruptcy proceedings. What should the restaurant industry learn from this mess? Finally, Sam and Alicia introduce a new segment, Quick Fire, where they swiftly tackle additional headlines from the week, which this week included Maggiano’s turnaround strategy, CAVA’s first Ohio location, Chipotle’s cilantro lime sauce, and Raising Cane’s 1,000th location. For more on these stories: Burger King crowns its guests as the ‘New King’ Darden Restaurants' sales continue to growFAT Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn steps down during remainder of bankruptcy process

    41 min

  3. MAR 16

    Taco Bell’s new menu reveal, gas prices’ threat to restaurants, and Starbucks’ loyalty update

    On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Taco Bell’s big menu announcement, the impact that surging gas prices could have on restaurants’ recovery, and Starbucks’ overhaul of its massively popular loyalty program. First up is Taco Bell, which hosted its annual Live Mas Live event in Hollywood earlier this month, introducing at least 14 new menu items that will debut this year. Alicia attended the event and can finally share details, including the scope of the new menu introductions, which lean especially into snacks, desserts, and beverages. Next they talk about Wendy’s and Pizza Hut both announcing that they would hire customers who can provide feedback on their menus — following in the footsteps of Taco Bell and Burger King, which similarly embraced customer feedback for the sake of improving product offerings. Sam and Alicia discuss the novel strategy, which brings a lot of risk along with potential reward. Could this be the first step for Wendy’s and Pizza Hut in jumpstarting their floundering businesses? Gas prices are up next; Sam and Alicia discuss the fact that war in Iran is driving up the cost of gasoline, and they explore what kind of effect that could have on a restaurant industry that has already been struggling against a difficult economy. What can operators do to protect against customers potentially pulling back on restaurant spend? Finally, Sam and Alicia tackle Starbucks’ controversial new loyalty update, which angered customers when it shifted to a new tiered model. Why might this backfire on the coffee giant? For more on these stories: Taco Bell’s Live Más Live goes Hollywood Wendy’s and Pizza Hut look for momentum from consumer input Rising gas prices could disrupt restaurant sales recovery

    44 min

  4. MAR 9

    McDonald’s Big Arch controversy, Cracker Barrel’s sales woes, and alarming data about closures

    On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including that McDonald’s CEO video, Cracker Barrel’s ongoing sales woes, and new data that shows red flags for full-service restaurants. First up is the Big Arch video controversy, in which McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski was skewered for posting a video of himself eating the brand’s new burger that came across as inauthentic to many. Sam and Alicia discuss the response from consumers and competitors alike, noting how many brands — Burger King specifically — raced to capitalize on the faux pas. Was this a mistake from McDonald’s, or could it be that no news is bad news? Next up is Cracker Barrel, which reported that same store sales in its most recent quarter fell 7.1% as the brand continues to fight its way back from its own controversy last summer, when it reversed a controversial rebrand. Cracker Barrel claims there are reasons to be optimistic; do Sam and Alicia agree? Then they tackle a new report from Black Box Intelligence, which noted that 9% of full-service restaurants are at risk of closing in 2026. Sam and Alicia break down the numbers and why they think restaurateurs could indeed be at risk of failing this year. Finally, we share a conversation between managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister and Darren Spicer, who just sold his Clutch Coffee brand to Dutch Bros. For more on these stories: Big Arch, big buzz: McDonald’s turns viral moment into marketing opportunity Cracker Barrel sees slow improvement despite continued traffic slump in Q2 9% of full-service restaurants are at risk for closure in 2026

    54 min

  5. MAR 2

    McDonald’s ‘Big’ new menu item, Domino’s pizza dominance, and a fast casual’s no-good-very-bad quarter

    On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including McDonald’s Big Arch Burger coming to the U.S., Domino’s incredible dominance over its pizza competitors, and Sweetgreen’s disastrous fourth quarter. First up is McDonald’s, which announced that its Big Arch Burger — which has tested internationally since 2024 — would come to the U.S. starting March 3. Sam and Alicia discuss the premium burger, with Alicia explaining how the new item fulfills a barbell strategy for the brand, and Sam wondering how it differs from past McDonald’s failures like the Arch Deluxe and Angus burgers. Next they dive into last week’s earnings, starting with the pizza category. Domino’s reported another strong quarter, reassuring anyone who thought the pizza category as a whole might be faltering. Sam and Alicia talk about Domino’s market share gains in pizza and how it’s doing so well while competitors Pizza Hut and Papa Johns are floundering; in fact, Papa Johns reported this week that sales were down 5% in the latest quarter, and that it would close 300 underperforming locations. What’s going on in pizza? They then move their attention to the full-service side of the industry, where casual dining stalwarts like Applebee’s, BJ’s, Red Robin, and Outback mostly had good news report, while family dining brands like First Watch and IHOP dispelled notions that the category was suffering from customers cutting back on their breakfast and brunch spend. Could there be sustained momentum in full-service dining? Sam and Alicia break it down. Finally, in this week’s “extra serving” portion of the episode, managing editor Leigh Anne Zinsmeister joins to talk about results from leading fast-casual brands, including CAVA and Shake Shack, which enjoyed positive results, and Sweetgreen, which had a disastrous quarter with sales down 11.5%. For more on these stories: McDonald’s is bringing its Big Arch Burger to the U.S. Domino’s defies industry-wide consumer spending slowdown with 3.7% Q4 same-store sales growth Sweetgreen moves with ‘urgency’ as same-store sales plummet 11.5%

    45 min

  6. FEB 27

    Moving to the 'burbs: Why BondSt chef Marc Spitzer opened a new spot in Roslyn, NY

    After commuting from Long Island for decades as a partner and longtime chef at BondSt in New York City, Marc Spitzer was considering opening a restaurant in Long Island near where he grew up and lived. He teamed up with Noam Shemel, a real estate investor and Long Island native who had a deep understanding of the area, particularly the affluent North Shore. Their first venture is Okaru, a sophisticated Japanese spot housed in a large historic home in Roslyn, which aims to meet the expectations of a new generation of suburban diners. While the pandemic pushed many city dwellers and chefs across the country to decamp for the suburbs, they brought their dining expectations with them, Spitzer and Shemel said. Through Okaru and their hospitality firm, Northern & Main, Spitzer and Shemel aim to meet and exceed those expectations. Okaru and Spitzer discuss the changing Long Island dining scene and why chefs are planting a flag in the suburbs, with guest host Gloria Dawson, another Long Island native.

    25 min

  7. FEB 23

    Burger King’s president on speed dial, Wingstop’s sales hit a wall, and LTOs aren’t working like they used to

    On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Burger King’s president’s invitation to guests to give him a call, Wingstop’s first negative sales year in two decades, and why limited-time offers don’t seem to work quite as well as they used to. First up is Burger King, which is enjoying some sales momentum as it doubles down on its Whopper platform. President Tom Curtis announced that he would spend four hours a day responding to texts and calls from customers on a dedicated line, demonstrating the chain’s commitment to improving around guest feedback. Sam and Alicia discuss the ambitious plan, which has earned positive feedback from around the industry and could further fuel Burger King’s momentum. Next up is burger competitor Jack in the Box, which had yet another bad quarter, with same-store sales declining 6.7%. Why is this value chain struggling so mightily even when consumers are looking for budget-conscious offerings? Sam and Alicia dig into the chain’s woes, which could include its limited-time offer strategy. In fact, according to Alicia’s recent reporting, LTOs may not be working like they used to for restaurant chains. She and Sam unpack why that could be. Next they talk about Wingstop, which saw its same-store sales decline 3.3% in 2025 — its first such decline in 20 years. Alicia explains the steps the company plans to take to reverse fortunes in 2026, including roll out of its Smart Kitchen operation, which helps cut service times. Finally, they talk about two casual-dining heavyweights that are slogging through a softer consumer environment: Texas Roadhouse and The Cheesecake Factory. While Texas Roadhouse’s sales were up last quarter, its profitability was down as the company contends with historic beef prices. Meanwhile, The Cheesecake Factory saw its sales comps decline by 2.2%. Is there anything to learn about the full-service category in this news? Sam and Alicia break it down. For more on these stories: Burger King president Tom Curtis to take calls from customers Wingstop eyes growth despite another quarter of same-store sales decline Texas Roadhouse continues to navigate high beef costs

    45 min

  8. FEB 17

    Wendy’s brutal sales, McDonald’s big momentum, and Dutch Bros' infinite runway

    On this week’s Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Wendy’s huge sales plunge, McDonald’s impressive momentum, and Dutch Bros’ ongoing surge in sales and unit growth. First up is Wendy’s, which reported that its Q4 same-store sales dropped a whopping 11%, while 2025 sales were down 8%. While Wendy’s expected sales to be negative, this result was worse than anyone could have predicted, and Sam and Alicia discuss why the chain seems to be floundering so badly. Could McDonald’s be to blame? They discuss the Golden Arches next, as the No. 1 restaurant chain impressed in its own fourth quarter with same-store sales growth approaching 7%. That included its highest sales day on record with its popular Grinch Meal roll out. Why is McDonald’s doing so well where Wendy’s is not? Speaking of major fast-food burger chains, Sam and Alicia tackle Restaurant Brands International next, as the conglomerate reported positive sales for Burger King in the most recent quarter. BK seems to be gaining momentum particularly by doubling down on its flagship Whopper product while also marketing more toward families. What lessons could there be for Wendy’s in that direction? In the “extra serving” portion of the episode, senior editor Joanna Fantozzi joins to talk about Dutch Bros, which reported another eye-popping quarter and which is well on its way to having 2,029 locations by 2029 (it has just under 1,000 units to go). Finally, we share a conversation between senior food and beverage editor Bret Thorn and Omar Arambula, culinary director of Bravo Italian Kitchen and Brio Italian Grille. For more on these stories: Wendy’s takes sharp U-turn back to its core business Marketing and value fuel McDonald’s strong Q4 Dutch Bros drives Q4 momentum with 7.7% same-store sales growth and rising brand penetration

    56 min
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4.1
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

Extra Serving is a series of weekly podcasts hosted by the editorial team at Nation’s Restaurant News, the leading source for information and insights on the American restaurant industry. Covering the latest and most relevant topics in foodservice — including emerging chains, food trends, technology, and more — Extra Serving features a recap of the week’s biggest headlines, plus guests ranging from restaurant owners and operators to CEOs, founders, chefs, and other experts.

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