About Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies
Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies is a podcast dedicated to helping restaurant owners navigate the complex world of marketing.
Join us as we explore the latest trends, best practices, and innovative strategies to attract new customers, build brand loyalty, and drive revenue.
Our expert guests share their insights, experiences, and practical advice on topics like:
-social advertising,
-food photography,
-local SEO, and more.
Whether you're a seasoned restaurateur or just starting, we'll help you elevate your restaurant's marketing game and achieve sustainable growth.
Stop Guest Complaints: Building a 5-Star Service Culture with Jess Rowland
Great food isn’t enough anymore; elite restaurant service training is what separates struggling businesses from high-performing ones. If you’re tired of inconsistent service and negative reviews, this episode is your roadmap to a better guest experience.
In this episode of Setting the Table, host Robin B talks with Jess Rowland, co-founder of The Restaurant Launch, about building elite front-of-house teams through daily coaching, clear expectations, and repeatable systems.
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Video Chapters
00:20 – The Front-of-House Challenge Every Restaurant Faces
00:47 – Meet Jess Rowland, The Restaurant Launch
02:06 – How Jess Fell in Love with Service & Hospitality
03:14 – From Server to Trainer: 26 Years in Restaurants
05:01 – Why Serving Is a Performance, Not Just Order Taking
05:40 – What Acting & Improv Taught Jess About Service
06:51 – How Fast You Can Spot a Great (or Bad) Server
07:28 – Jess’s Biggest Restaurant Service Pet Peeve
08:55 – The #1 Habit Exceptional Front-of-House Teams Share
10:45 – Is Food or Service More Important to the Guest Experience?
11:52 – Why Service Still Matters in Online Ordering & Delivery
12:18 – The 5 Pillars of Great Service (Speed, Accuracy & More)
13:47 – Why Most Service Problems Are Technical, Not Personal
14:39 – What Restaurant Owners Are Shocked to Learn
16:45 – The Culture Problem No One Wants to Admit
18:01 – The Power of Interactive Pre-Shift Meetings
19:02 – The “Silent Killer” That Stops Guests from Returning
19:20 – Should Restaurants Ask for Guest Feedback?
21:56 – Difficult vs. High-Maintenance Guests (There’s a Difference)
23:22 – Customers vs. Guests: Why It Matters
24:04 – Real Results from Elevating Service Culture
25:31 – Why Hiring Is the Most Important System in Restaurants
27:56 – Consistency Beats Perfection in Service Training
28:46 – Overcoming Staff Resistance to Change
30:29 – The Future of Front-of-House Service & AI
32:01 – Why Core Values Matter More Than Ever
32:59 – What Gives Jess the Most Fulfillment Today
35:57 – How to Connect with Jess & The Restaurant Launch
37:00 – Final Thoughts & Subscribe
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SCALE YOUR RESTAURANT’S SUCCESS - Is your marketing working as hard as you are? If you're ready to grow your brand and fill more seats, book a free strategy session with us here (https://app.squeakywheelrestaurantmarketing.com/schedule-page ).
CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST Follow Jess Rowland & The Restaurant Launch
Official Website (https://therestaurantlaunch.com/)
The Restaurant Launch Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/therestaurantlaunch/)
Jess Rowland Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jessrowland31/)
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🎥 Recommended Resources:
Watch Next: Are Your Kitchen Vents a Fire Hazard? https://youtu.be/azOD7d5lYP4 (https://youtu.be/azOD7d5lYP4)
Deep Dive: Restaurant Pest Control 101 – https://youtu.be/5ehBbAfAdL4 (https://youtu.be/5ehBbAfAdL4)
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🔗 Relevant Links & Resources
Follow us on:
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/squeakywheelrestaurantmarketing/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/squeakywheelrestaurantmktg/ )
TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@squeakywheel_rm - )
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/squeaky-wheel-restaurant-marketing/ )
Need marketing help for your restaurant? Book a free strategy session here (https://app.squeakywheelrestaurantmarketing.com/schedule-page)
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📌 About Setting the Table | Restaurant Growth Strategies
Welcome to Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies — a podcast dedicated to helping restaurant owners navigate the complexities of running a successful restaurant.
Join host Robin B as we explore the latest trends, best practices, and innovative strategies for attracting new customers, improving operations, building an effective brand, and more all focused on driving revenue growth. Each episode features expert guests who share practical advice on everything from social advertising and food photography to local SEO and smart business protections like insurance.
Whether you're a seasoned restaurateur or just opening your doors, we're here to help you elevate your marketing game and achieve sustainable, long-term growth.
12 Nov 2025
Exploring Ways To Reduce Restaurant Food Cost
Host Robin B interviews Neil Chand and Mike Wiedower of FoodServiceIQ about practical strategies to reduce restaurant food costs and protect profits.
13 Oct 2025
Restaurant POS Power Moves
Host Robin B interviews Todd Sagisor of Payments Gallery about how modern POS systems boost restaurant profits and streamline operations.
26 Aug 2025
Behind The Kitchen Door: Restaurant Pest Control 101
Host Robin B interviews Alan Clark and Will Forest of Modern Pest Control about essential pest prevention strategies for restaurants to ensure compliance and protect their business.
16 Jul 2025
Don’t Get Burned: Restaurant Cleaning Mistakes That Could Shut You Down
Host Robin B interviews Ann Tran from Albedo’s Return Power Washing about critical restaurant cleaning mistakes that impact safety and operations.
25 Jun 2025
What Insurance Do Restaurants Really Need? Insider Info About Business Interruption, Liability & More
Insurance expert Lisa Stephens explains essential insurance coverage for restaurants, including business interruption and liability, in this interview episode, offering strategies to reduce costs and protect against fraud.
8 May 2025
A Restaurant Success Story: Grupo Herrera’s Journey
Host Robin B interviews Dario Herrera of Grupo Herrera Restaurants about building a thriving restaurant group through family values, innovation, and community connection.
27 Mar 2025
Serving Success: Using Restaurant Data to Drive Sales
Host Robin B interviews Rebeccah Rybalski, founder of Springboard Management, Inc., as they reveal how restaurant analytics and AI personalize marketing and optimize operations to drive sales.
20 Feb 2025
Showcasing Your Restaurant’s Unique Story With The Power Of Video
Robin B interviews Crusader Media President Mike Wilson on leveraging video to tell a restaurant's unique story and attract more customers.
23 Jan 2025
Unleashing The Power of Storytelling in Branding and PR
Host Robin interviews Rachel Austin, founder and CEO of Rachel Austin PR, revealing how powerful storytelling and strategic PR elevate restaurant brands and attract loyal customers.
18 Oct 2024
Unleash The Power Of Restaurant Photography
Erica Hernandez, a seasoned photographer, interviews host [Host Name] about leveraging restaurant photography to tell compelling visual stories and attract customers.
Who has been a guest on Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Neil Chand
Mike Wiedower
Todd Sagisor
Alan Clark
Will Forest
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
12
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies
Who hosts Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies?
Robin B host the show. Published by Robin B.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Setting the Table: Restaurant Growth Strategies take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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