The Restaurant Success Podcast

Matthew Mabel
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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. -4 ДН.

    Three Ways Fantastic Bosses Make Restaurant GMs Great

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, Matthew Mabel tackles one of the most overlooked opportunities in multi-unit restaurant business growth: developing the bosses of your general managers. While most restaurant entrepreneurship focuses on training GMs, the real breakthroughs in guest count, profit, and culture happen when owners invest in their operations directors, area managers, and district managers. Matthew shares the three pillars that separate exceptional multi-unit leaders from the rest — a steadfast commitment to growing GMs, a simple sequential operations plan, and a genuine focus on personal improvement. Whether you're an independent restaurant owner preparing to hire your first operations director or a multi-unit leader looking to elevate your own performance, this episode offers practical strategy and coaching insight to help you drive sustainable restaurant business success. Note: The Restaurant Success Podcast is pausing for the foreseeable future after this episode. The weekly newsletter will continue, and Matthew welcomes listener feedback on how to make the podcast more valuable when it returns. Email your thoughts to matthew@surrender.biz. Key Topics Covered Why developing the person above your general manager is the biggest blind spot in multi-unit restaurant leadershipThe three pillars that separate great multi-unit leaders from the restHow a sequential, quarter-by-quarter operations plan creates unprecedented progress across restaurantsWhy personal improvement and 360-degree feedback belong alongside business objectives in executive coachingWhat to look for when hiring your first operations director, including the "No Bulldozers" ruleWhy coaching is for high performers, not just people who are strugglingLinks Mentioned Smart Restaurateurs' Guide to Hiring Your First Operations Director: https://surrender.biz/smart-restaurateurs-guide-to-hiring-your-first-operations-director/How the Great Become Even Better Through Coaching: https://surrender.biz/how-the-great-become-even-better-through-coaching/Resources Mentioned Website: www.surrender.bizRestaurant Success Newsletter: https://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

    8 мин.

  2. 30 МАР.

    The Key to Fantastic Growth? Knowing What You Don't Know

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, Matthew Mabel explores why even the most successful multi-unit restaurant entrepreneurs can hit a growth ceiling — and how to break through it. Matthew reveals that the key to fantastic business growth lies in identifying and addressing what you don't know. Drawing on decades of experience advising independent restaurant companies generating tens of millions in sales, he explains how first-time multi-unit owners often develop blind spots that hold back their restaurant operations, profitability, and long-term expansion. From unrealistic confidence to learning by costly trial and error, Matthew walks through the common traits he sees in successful restaurateurs and shares how the best operators seek out the missing pieces to catapult their businesses forward in sales, profits, and net worth. Key Topics Covered Why success can create blind spots for first-time multi-unit restaurant ownersThe common traits Matthew sees after decades of advising restaurant entrepreneursHow "unrealistic confidence" can plateau a growing restaurant businessWhy learning by trial and error is the most expensive path to growthHow the best restaurant operators identify and install the missing pieces for successThe role of peers, restaurant associations, and expert advisors in accelerating business growthLinks Mentioned How Restaurateurs Avoid the Perils of Owning the Only Company They've Ever KnownHow to Discover the Missing Pieces to Increase Your Restaurant's SuccessResources 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 мин.

  3. 23 МАР.

    How to Actually Increase Guest Count and Lead the Industry

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, restaurant business consultant and advisor Matthew Mabel breaks down exactly what it takes to grow guest count and lead the restaurant industry. Drawing on real-world observations from top-performing restaurant groups, Matthew reveals the specific behaviors that are quietly holding restaurants back from reaching their full revenue and profit potential. From front-of-house accountability to employee training and steps of service, this episode delivers actionable strategies for independent and multi-unit restaurant owners ready to drive measurable business growth. If you're focused on restaurant entrepreneurship, operational excellence, and building a guest experience that converts visits into loyalty, this episode is essential listening. Key Topics Covered Why increasing guest count in today's restaurant business requires mastering the "domino effect" of small operational detailsHow top-performing restaurant groups are achieving annual revenue increases of six to eight percentSix common front-of-house behaviors that are silently damaging guest experience and Google ratingsWhy stretching your capability to educate and hold your team accountable is the engine behind guest count growthHow one six-unit restaurant group transformed performance by adding a full-time in-store trainer to their multi-unit management teamWhy your steps of service are one of the clearest expressions of your restaurant's culture — and how to make them work harder for your businessLinks Mentioned Reinvigorate Restaurant Training and Education to Create Amazing Success in 2023Alert! Restaurateurs You're Missing a Step in Your Steps of ServiceResources 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 мин.

  4. 16 МАР.

    Six Beautiful Improvements Can Happen When You Take a Break

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, veteran restaurant business advisor Matthew Mabel makes the case for why every restaurant entrepreneur needs to step away from their operation. Rather than focusing on revenue growth or management strategy, Matthew shares six powerful improvements that happen when independent restaurant owners take a real vacation. From stress-testing your business systems and discovering hidden operational gaps, to breaking old habits and returning with fresh entrepreneurial energy, this episode is a must-listen for any multi-unit restaurant owner who struggles to unplug. Whether you're planning a spring getaway or need a push to finally book one, Matthew explains why taking a break is one of the smartest business decisions you can make. Key Topics Covered Why stepping away lets your restaurant team grow and strengthen independentlyHow vacations stress-test your business and expose hidden operational gapsThe power of returning refreshed with new ideas to implementBreaking invisible habits by stepping outside your daily routineOvercoming "store blindness" — noticing what's been right in front of youThe personal value of making memories with family and friendsWhy some restaurant owners choose to retire in place rather than sellLinks Mentioned The Greatest Alternative to Selling Your RestaurantsRestaurateurs: Why Your First Day Back From Vacation is the Most Important Day of the YearResources 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 мин.

  5. 9 МАР.

    Remembering Ed Murph, America’s Only Cafetuer

    In this special episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, veteran restaurant consultant Matthew Mabel pays tribute to Ed Murph, the owner and driving force behind Norma's Café in Dallas. Rather than the usual business strategies, Matthew reflects on thirty years of friendship and collaboration with a man whose restaurant career spanned from the legendary Beggar and Bell Ringer clubs in the seventies, through the groundbreaking Café Cancun in the eighties, to building Norma's Café into a true multi-unit Dallas institution. Matthew shares four powerful lessons Ed taught him and everyone around him — about attitude in the face of adversity, deep community engagement, genuine friendship, and the importance of knowing your business details down to the last dollar. Whether you're a seasoned restaurant entrepreneur or just starting your journey in the food and hospitality industry, Ed's story is a masterclass in building a lasting independent restaurant brand with heart, purpose, and operational excellence. Key Topics Covered Ed Murph's three-chapter restaurant career in DallasFacing a serious health diagnosis with grace and determinationBuilding meaningful community impact through your restaurant businessThe famous Norma's Café annual Thanksgiving meal traditionThe importance of detail-oriented restaurant management and profitabilitySuccession planning and preparing your business for long-term sustainabilityLinks Mentioned Norma's Cafe34 years and counting, Norma's Cafe gives out Thanksgiving mealsResources 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:

    7 мин.

  6. 2 МАР.

    Why Avoiding Risk Isn’t Actually a Great Strategy

    In this episode of the Restaurant Success Podcast, Matthew Mabel tackles a critical question facing many restaurant entrepreneurs today: is playing it safe actually the riskiest business strategy of all? For multi-unit independent restaurant owners navigating a flat market, the comfort of stability can mask the slow deterioration of brand strength, business performance, and net worth. Matthew provides the context restaurant operators need to calm their nerves, explains why the downside risk of doing nothing outweighs the fear of taking action, and lays out the specific steps owners can take right now—from setting attainable growth goals to honestly evaluating their management teams and operations—to get their restaurants back on a forward trajectory and achieve six to eight percent annual growth. Key Topics Covered Why playing it safe is the riskiest move for restaurant owners in today's marketThe downside risk of doing nothing: brand deterioration, declining performance, and shrinking net worthContext for the current restaurant industry landscape and why your staying power is an accomplishmentSetting reasonable, attainable goals for guest count, revenue, and profit growthEvaluating whether your multi-unit management team has the talent to drive resultsFour existential questions every restaurant entrepreneur should ask about their operations, concept, marketing, and learning and developmentHow the best independent restaurant groups are growing six to eight percent annuallyLinks Mentioned Restaurateur's Essential Guide to Developing Powerful General ManagersHow to Clarify the Best Way Forward for Your RestaurantsResources 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 мин.

  7. 23 ФЕВР.

    Increase Guest Count Now by Doing These Five Things

    In today's challenging restaurant industry, many operators are watching revenue hold steady while their guest count quietly erodes. In this episode, restaurant business advisor Matthew Mabel breaks down why guest count is the most critical metric for independent restaurant entrepreneurs—and why menu price increases have been masking a deeper problem. Drawing from his recent presentation at the DFW Restaurant-and-Bar Conference, Matthew shares five actionable strategies restaurant owners can implement right now to reverse guest count decline, win back lapsed customers, attract new diners, and drive sustainable business growth. Whether you run a single location or a multi-unit restaurant operation, this episode delivers the entrepreneurship mindset and tactical playbook you need to thrive in a flat market. Key Topics Covered Why revenue comparisons alone are misleading and how inflation has disguised guest count erosionThe critical difference between encouraging repeat visits and winning back lapsed guests and non-usersFive steps to make guest count the priority across your restaurant businessHow to build guest count tracking systems and lead weekly operations meetings around themWhy hiring conversations should include guest count from day oneThe value of investing in learning and development to compete with chain restaurantsMaking guest experience a daily conversation through shift meetings, coaching, and anecdotesLinks Mentioned Breaking Out of the Funk of this Unusually Flat MarketHow to Take Action and Power to Boost Guest Count — link coming soonResources 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 мин.

  8. 16 ФЕВР.

    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 мин.
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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.

Информация

  • Автор
    Matthew Mabel
  • Годы выхода
    2024 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    67
  • Ограничения
    Без ненормативной лексики
  • Авторские права
    © 2026 The Restaurant Success Podcast
  • Сайт подкаста
    The Restaurant Success Podcast