Restaurant Operator

About Restaurant Operator

This podcast series from the publishers of FastCasual.com, PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com provides restaurant owners and executives with the insights and inspiration they need to grow their brands. Each episode features interviews with experienced restauranteurs, industry experts, and thought leaders, who share practical tips and advice for running a successful restaurant business.

Publisher

Connect Group Media

Category

arts · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Mar 2021

Latest episode

23 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

172 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Why Dillas Quesadillas simplified its menu to prepare for growth

   Sometimes growing a restaurant brand means adding more, but for Dillas Quesadillas, the path forward meant taking things away. The Texas-based concept recently overhauled its menu, cutting the number of signature quesadillas from 10 to six and simplifying its meal structure. The changes weren't driven by a lack of ideas but by something much more fundamental: learning from how the customers ordered. Co-founders Kyle and Maggie Gordon discussed the strategy during a recent Restaurant Operato...

2. 

   25 Aug 2026

   From the boardroom to the prep line: How Stonefire Grill's CEO is fueling legacy growth

   When David Youngberg stepped into the CEO role at Stonefire Grill in 2023, his first 90 days weren't spent analyzing spreadsheets in a boardroom — they were spent baking the brand's signature carrot cake and prepping food alongside front-line workers. In an industry increasingly pivoting toward automation and individualized grab-and-go efficiency, the leader of the 12-unit Southern California fast-casual concept is proving that a relentless focus on human connection and from-scratch operation...

3. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Why Taco Cabana is expanding its franchise beyond the Lone Star State

   After nearly five decades as a beloved Texas icon, Taco Cabana is officially taking its signature breakfast tacos and Mexican-inspired menu across state lines. Spurred by a recent acquisition and a newly designed, smaller-footprint prototype optimized for modern off-premise dining and delivery, the 140-unit chain is launching its first major out-of-state franchise expansion. By strategically targeting contiguous states like Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, the brand aims to leverage built-in...

Who has been a guest on Restaurant Operator

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Amanda Potts
• Heather Neary
• Jeff Perera
• Blas Escarcega
• Jason Sobocinski

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

5,188,140

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

53

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

32

Contact Restaurant Operator

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Restaurant Operator