Restaurant AI

Matt Wampler

Restaurant AI with Matt Wampler is your weekly deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry. Hosted by tech entrepreneur and industry insider Matt Wampler, this podcast explores how AI is reshaping everything from kitchen operations and customer service to marketing, labor management, and the guest experience. Whether you’re a restaurant operator, tech innovator, or hospitality enthusiast, each episode delivers insights, expert interviews, and real-world use cases that help you stay ahead in a competitive and tech-driven landscape.

  1. 11/25/2025

    The Operator Who Made AI His First Employee

    In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with Tim Martin, Co-Founder and Owner of BoxBox, a new Denver restaurant concept built around sharing food and connecting people. Tim isn’t just launching a brand, he’s building one of the most technologically advanced single-unit restaurants in the country. He explains how AI became his “first employee,” helping him document hundreds of hours of recipe R&D, organize his menu and brand vision, and even guide him through vibe-coding a completely custom, headless tech stack with no traditional POS. Together, Matt and Tim unpack how he mirrored kiosk orders to his team in real time, created a fully modifier-based menu architecture, built forecasting and prep systems in Google Cloud, and used AI to accelerate every part of operations without sacrificing hospitality. Tim also shares the emotional side of opening BoxBox, the cultural importance of designing a brand around shared meals, and why he believes AI creates an unprecedented competitive advantage for independent operators. This deep, inspiring conversation reveals what’s possible when a single-unit entrepreneur embraces AI as a true collaborator—and what the future of restaurant operations might look like because of it. Episode Links Visit ClearCOGS Online: https://clearcogs.com Connect with ClearCOGS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearcogs Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit BoxBox Online: https://orderboxbox.com Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-martin-90567735 00:00 Intro02:49 Tim Martin / BoxBox05:01 20 Years in Restaurants & the ChatGPT Switch06:29 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Opening07:40 What a Headless Tech Stack Means08:14 Modifier-Only Menu Architecture09:38 Ordering Without a Traditional POS11:04 Real-Time Kiosk Mirroring12:20 Homegrown Hardware Solutions14:06 Struggling With APIs (Until AI)15:21 Letting AI Teach You16:25 Building BigQuery and Dashboards17:14 Recording All R&D for AI18:53 Training AI on Brand and Voice19:50 Custom Forecasting Tools21:04 AI as a Collaborator22:22 Onboarding AI as an Employee24:29 Building Their Own Tech Stack25:52 Competitive Advantage for Independents30:01 AI Food Photography30:24 What AI Can’t Replace32:35 Practical Culinary Uses for AI34:01 BoxBox Mission & Concept35:47 Shared Meals vs. Individual Meals39:02 Chipotle’s Shareables Enter the Chat42:25 The Gap in 4–8 Person Meals43:02 Has His Life Gotten Worse?45:27 Building Boundaries as a Founder47:09 100 Days of Iteration49:09 Tech, Culture, and Human Connection52:19 AI, Labor, and the Future of Work53:20 Tim’s AI Playbook for Operators57:05 “Threaten Your AI”58:54 Where to Find BoxBox59:25 Outro

    59 min

  2. 11/18/2025

    How Zhong Xu Built a $1.4 Billion Restaurant Tech Powerhouse

    On this episode of The Restaurant AI Podcast, ClearCOGS co-founder and CEO Matt Wampler sits down with Zhong Xu, the visionary founder behind Deliverect, now valued at over $1.4 billion. Zhong opens up about the relentless execution and radical simplicity that powered Deliverect’s rise from a scrappy MVP to a global restaurant infrastructure platform used by thousands of brands. Zhong shares the unbelievable early story: validating the business before writing real code, onboarding 300 restaurants across multiple countries within months, and using this traction to fuel what would become one of the biggest success stories in restaurant technology. From there, he and Matt dive into the complexity of the modern digital restaurant stack and why Zhong believes AI agents and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) will change everything. They break down how MCP gives AI the context it needs to reason like a true operator, how agents will place orders, test systems, optimize menus, and even catch fraud in real time. Zhong also details the next wave coming to restaurants: drone delivery, autonomous logistics, AI-generated menus, refund-fraud prevention using camera intelligence, and operational automations that happen long before a human ever touches the POS. Packed with insights on execution, growth, AI strategy, and the future of restaurant tech, this is the definitive episode for operators, founders, and anyone watching the rapid acceleration of restaurant AI. Zhong’s billion-dollar journey is a masterclass — and his vision for what’s coming next is even bigger. Episode Links - Visit Deliverect: https://www.deliverect.com/en-us Connect with Zhong Xu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhongyuanxu Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt Wampler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 01:36 Zhong’s entrepreneurial background 11:10 The catalyst for starting Deliverect 17:00 Why traditional Point of Sale (POS) systems couldn't solve the digital ordering problem  20:53 Fragmented POS market 28:55 The "Wizard of Oz" Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for Deliverect 31:55 Defining a working technology MVP in the restaurant industry  38:15 State of the relationship between third-party delivery and restaurants 41:21 The MCP is the "smart layer on top of the plumbing"  47:10 The challenge of large language models (LLMs) and the need for a protocol like MCP to prevent "hallucinations"  57:26 Building a 'firewall' to manage which AI agents can access a restaurant's private data. 1:01:00 The specifics of what Deliverect is currently building 1:07:15 Drone delivery isn’t far away 1:12:35 How technology can improve the poor economics of the restaurant industry  1:14:55 Final discussion on data visibility and how information should be shared across the different levels of restaurant management  1:18:56 Outro

    1h 20m

  3. 11/11/2025

    From Layoff to Legacy: How Charlie Eblen Built a BBQ Empire | 2025 Create Conference

    In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Charlie Eblen — founder of Single Tree BBQ and host of Single Tree Nation on ESPN Radio — to share one of the most inspiring stories in hospitality. When the pandemic hit, Charlie lost his corporate job overnight. Instead of playing it safe, he followed his wife’s advice: “Go do what you love.” Out of a 26-foot food trailer and a few thousand dollars in savings, Single Tree BBQ was born. What started as a way to feed his community became something much bigger — a movement built on authenticity, storytelling, and service. With zero media experience, Charlie picked up a phone, went live on Instagram, and started sharing his journey. Three years later, he’s running a thriving restaurant, hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, and partnering with Toast to grow his brand’s impact. Charlie shares how vulnerability and community connection fueled his success, the moment that changed his life forever, and why he believes “it takes a community to build a business.” From sending a child with cancer to Disney World to designing the next flagship BBQ restaurant, this is the story of what happens when you stop waiting for permission — and start betting on yourself. Episode Links: Visit Single Tree BBQ Online: https://www.singletreebbq.com/ Listen to Single Tree Nation: https://www.singletreebbq.com/podcast Connect with Charlie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlieeblen Visit ClearCOGS Online: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 00:45 Welcome, Charlie Eblen! 01:22 Restaurateurs becoming media companies 02:26 Charlie's story 04:40 Growing the Single Tree brand 06:40 Becoming the "Nike of BBQ" 07:50 Starting from a single food truck 08:20 Getting laid off was the "best worst day of my life" 10:30 The next Single Tree BBQ 11:45 The legacy of Single Tree BBQ 12:35 Outro

    13 min

  4. 11/04/2025

    Maria Zhang: Building Empathetic AI for the Hospitality Industry | 2025 Create Conference

    In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Maria Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of Polona, live from the 2025 CREATE Conference in Nashville. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence can enhance—not replace—the human touch that defines great hospitality. Maria shares her journey from leading engineering teams at Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo to launching an AI company purpose-built for restaurants. She discusses how her team is building “full-modality” AI—technology that can see, hear, and understand context—to bring efficiency, accuracy, and empathy to restaurant operations. The conversation dives into the complexity of restaurant challenges, from order accuracy to guest experience, and how AI can serve as an empowering teammate rather than a cold automation tool. Throughout, Maria emphasizes that the future of restaurant technology lies in connection—between humans and machines, data and hospitality, and innovation and care. Episode links: Subscribe to Palona on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknBp0bKdgw4P9SmrxfdrWQ Visit Palona Oline: https://palona.ai/ Connect with Maria Zhang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariarenhuizhang Visit ClearCOGS Online: https://clearcogs.com Connect with Matt Wampler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 00:51 Welcome, Maria Zhang! 01:41 Maria's tech background 04:51 Technology company processes 06:39 Transition to restaurant technology 07:47 Palona AI 10:17 Maria's go-to dish to cook 11:12 Tech-driven vs problem-driven 16:35 Dominating Voice AI 19:11 The common language that ties their tech together 22:05 Understanding LLM's 24:33 The pace of AI acceleration 26:25 Humans training AI vs AI training humans 27:02 Building a product with changing infrastructure 28:58 Evolution of edge computing 29:56 Experimenting on the restaurant technology industry 31:52 Outro

    32 min

  5. 10/28/2025

    Avi Goren: AI, Authenticity and How Restaurants Get Found Online

    In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Avi Goren, Co-Founder and CEO of Marqii — a leading platform helping restaurants manage their digital presence and reputation. Together, they unpack how AI and automation are reshaping discoverability in hospitality, from SEO and generative search to the role of accurate listings, reviews, and menus across every online channel. Avi shares insights from Marqii’s latest research showing where AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity pull restaurant data, why consistency across listings still drives local SEO, and how AI-powered review responses can enhance guest engagement without losing the human touch. The conversation explores open vs. closed systems, the future of restaurant tech consolidation, and why true digital hospitality means blending technology with authenticity. Throughout, Avi emphasizes that while AI can streamline and scale a brand’s online presence, great restaurants — and great technology partners — always lead with hospitality. Episode Links: Visit Marqii online: https://www.marqii.com/ Connect with Avi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avigoren Visit ClearCOGS online: https://www.clearcogs.com/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler 00:00 Intro 01:18 Welcome, Avi Goren! 02:10 The Foundations of Being Found Online 05:15 The Problem with Inconsistent Menus Across Platforms 07:10 Marqii’s Role in Unifying Digital Presence 08:18 “Best” Searches and Review Scores in Google 09:55 Using Reviews to Improve Search Visibility 10:55 How Generative AI Search (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) Works 10:31 What AI Chatbots Pull From: Listings vs. Websites vs. Reviews 12:15 Why Listings and Websites Still Matter Most 14:51 Inputs and Outputs: Social Media vs. Foundational SEO 17:45 What AI Weighs More Than Traditional SEO 20:02 Open vs. Closed Search Systems Explained 20:36 Social Media Strategy: The Lottery Ticket Analogy 22:09 Authenticity, Reviews, and Real Restaurant Success 23:11 Can AI Help Us Find Hidden Gems Like Small BBQ Spots? 26:16 How to Influence Reviews Without “Faking” It 27:44 Why You Should Mention LTOs in Review Replies 29:14 How Marqii Uses Claude AI to Automate Review Responses 33:24 Writing Prompts and Maintaining Brand Voice 34:48 How Marqii Scales Customization for 20,000+ Restaurants 38:09 Will Real Human Touch Still Matter in a Digital World? 42:52 How COVID Changed Restaurant Tech Priorities 46:33 Why Open APIs and Integrations Are the Future 48:20 Collaboration Over Competition in Restaurant Tech 49:27 What Drove Marqii’s Growth to 20,000 Restaurants 53:25 The Turning Point: From Three Employees to 55+ 54:53 Rebuilding Marqii’s Product for Customization 55:55 Staying Focused on Hospitality, Not Just Tech 57:52 What Keeps Avi Up at Night: Staying Ahead of the Industry 58:56 Where the Puck Is Going: Marqii’s Roadmap 59:30 AI Analytics, Data Insights & the Future of Discoverability 1:00:45 Closing Thoughts: Human Hospitality in a Digital Age

    1h 3m

  6. 10/21/2025

    Jacob Williamson: Racing, Data and the Human Edge in the Age of AI

    In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with professional racing driver and entrepreneur Jacob “Jake” Williamson, Co-Founder of GP Lab Motorsport and owner of multiple businesses spanning motorsports, catering, and more. Together, they explore the fascinating overlap between data-driven decision-making and instinct — from how predictive analytics shape Formula racing to how gut feel still defines performance behind the wheel. Jake shares how simulators, telemetry, and AI eye-tracking are transforming driver training and how lessons from the racetrack apply to running small businesses. The conversation dives into the evolution of motorsport accessibility, the power of content and storytelling in modern team building, and what AI-driven coaching could look like in the near future. Throughout, Jake emphasizes that while technology can predict, measure, and refine performance, true excellence still comes from human intuition, preparation, and the relentless drive to push beyond what the data says is possible. Episode Links: Connect with Jacob Williamson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-williamson-a6012782 Visit GP Lab online: https://gplab.us/ Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS online: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:41 Welcome, Jacob Williamson! 02:00 F1 as predictive analytics 04:38 Talent vs training 07:22 Risk taking, simulators and AI vision training 13:00 How data prepares drivers 16:52 Driver skill vs car quality 20:30 Analyzing data in real-time 22:33 Transition from race car driver to business owner 25:57 GP Lab Motorsports 30:34 Sponsorships, media and the Drive to Survive effect 34:05 From flying to racing 36:38 Social media strategy for racing teams 39:07 Making motorsports accessible 43:54 AI and the future of food service 48:00 Mental capacity training and proactive thinking 50:34 Analytics vs instinct on the track 53:28 AI's influence on workflows 56:13 AI's impact on the future of racing 57:55 Democratizing talent discovery 59:51 The draw of racing 1:08:03 What to know about sponsoring a race car 1:11:32 Outro

    1h 12m

  7. 10/15/2025

    Erin Levzow: Navigating the Future of Marketing with AI

    In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, and Erin Levzow, an award-winning marketing innovator whose career spans brands like Wingstop, Del Taco, and the Museum of Ice Cream, dive deep into how AI and data are redefining restaurant marketing. From her start in Las Vegas casinos to leading marketing for national restaurant brands, Erin shares how hospitality’s most competitive environments taught her to think like a technologist. She explains how restaurants can move beyond segmentation to true one-to-one marketing, where every guest interaction is informed by behavior, timing, and intent. The discussion unpacks the rise of AI-powered multivariable testing, the importance of storytelling and emotional intelligence in modern marketing, and how women in leadership bring fresh perspective to brand strategy. Erin and Matt also explore the ethics of automation, the future of voice AI in drive-thrus, and why every modern CMO must be part data scientist, part storyteller. Throughout, Erin emphasizes one key message: technology will keep changing but continuous learning, authenticity, and empathy will always drive the most meaningful connections between brands and guests. Episode Links: Listen to Bite-Sized & Bossy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bite-sized-bossy/id1780866645 Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:30 Welcome, Erin Levzow! 02:00 Marketing - Then and now 07:55 The future of marketing 09:50 Marketing as a franchisee 12:17 Maximizing the capabilities of restaurant marketing 14:20 Personalization 15:39 AI in restaurant marketing 17:32 AI for multivariable testing 20:26 Know the story you’re telling 23:35 Women in marketing 24:55 The new generation of marketers 26:22 The Mecca of marketing 29:38 “The jam study” 32:00 The danger of turning AI loose 37:40 AI's impact on the restaurant industry 42:00 AI's Role in Marketing and Customer Interaction 47:20 Tech consolidation 50:55 Data-focused approach and future-thinking 52:20 Byte-Sized & Bossy podcast 1:01:00 Advice for aspiring female executives 1:03:35 Authenticity in the workplace 1:08:34 Why aren't there more women founders? 1:10:30 Manifesting confidence 1:12:50 Take the risk 1:16:14 Outro

    1h 17m

  8. 10/07/2025

    Phil Crawford on Why Small Brands are Beating Big Brands with AI

    In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Phil Crawford, Global Head of Food and Beverage at Adyen. Known for his leadership at Shake Shack and CKE before moving into fintech, Phil shares why he made the jump from running restaurant tech to rethinking payments on a global scale. They dive into how AI is already reshaping payment optimization, fraud prevention, and customer insights, and why the “absence of problems” may be the truest measure of success. Phil also breaks down the reality behind loyalty programs, how smaller brands often outpace legacy chains in adopting AI, and why CTOs should stop chasing shiny AI solutions and instead focus on building open, flexible systems that can adapt as the technology evolves. From blockchain buzz to drive-thru automation, this wide-ranging conversation offers a candid look at the future of restaurant payments, the challenges of ROI, and what it really takes to make AI practical in hospitality. Episode Links: Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crawfordphil Learn more about Adyen: https://www.adyen.com Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com 00:00 Intro 01:55 Welcome, Phil Crawford 04:42 How payments have changed 09:41 How data affects customer retention 13:36 Aligning digital, marketing and IT teams 18:47 Viewing AI as a large organization vs an emerging brand 23:40 AI can write code more efficiently than humans 24:45 Planning your tech stack for an uncertain future 28:55 Maturity of the concept is more important than the size 32:13 Outcomes-based pricing 39:22 The third & fourth waves of AI 49:20 Restaurant brands entering technology space 53:20 Biggest strategic technology mistake 56:25 Utilizing Ai as opportunistic vs strategic 1:02:11 Advice AI strategy 1:03:53 Personal AI tips 1:05:15 Outro

    1h 5m
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Restaurant AI with Matt Wampler is your weekly deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry. Hosted by tech entrepreneur and industry insider Matt Wampler, this podcast explores how AI is reshaping everything from kitchen operations and customer service to marketing, labor management, and the guest experience. Whether you’re a restaurant operator, tech innovator, or hospitality enthusiast, each episode delivers insights, expert interviews, and real-world use cases that help you stay ahead in a competitive and tech-driven landscape.

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  • Creator
    Matt Wampler
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 50ea2b40-7e07-11f0-8ada-cb39d436df27
  • Show Website
    Restaurant AI