Skip to Main Content

Josh Kopel | Award Winning Restaurant Consultant

Menu
Free WORKSHOP
Free WORKSHOP

Month: May 2024

Restaurant Ideas: Steven Salm’s Cool Vegan Cuisine

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

What comes to mind when you hear the words “vegan food.” For many of us, it’s burlap clothing and plates made of cardboard, but Steven Salm is out to change that. Steven founded Planta, a vegan restaurant that transcends every boundary placed on that genre of food. The branding, the buildout, and the culinary program all speak to what it is: one of the most compelling restaurant concepts in the last 20 years–even for carnivores. In our conversation today, we unpack the strategy he developed and executed to bring veganism into the mainstream on a national level.

Check Our Restaurant Marketing Strategies to Improve Your Bussinuess Fast.

For more information on Planta, visit https://www.plantarestaurants.com/.

____________________________________________________________

Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:

Restaurant Marketing School

Restaurant expert videos & webinars

Restaurant Consultant: Michael Dorf’s Bulletproof Model

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

People post pandemic want an experience. Have you heard that before? But what kind of experience do they want?

This isn’t an industry where the margins allow for a lot of trial and error so I reached out to Michael Dorf, the founder of City Winery.

Check Our Restaurant Marketing Strategies to Improve Your Bussinuess Fast.

Michael has created the perfect experience for his target market blending an elevated food menu with an in house winery and live entertainment. It’s exactly what his customers want and today he’s going to unpack how you can use the same formula to find out exactly what your customers want.

For more on City Winery visit https://www.citywinery.com/

FULL COMP is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

________________________________

CLICK HERE to Chat with Josh

Free Download: 5 Steps to Achieve a 15% Net Profit

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out the FULL COMP media universe by visiting:

FULL COMP

Restaurant Marketing School

The Playbook

Industry Town Halls

Restaurant Consultant: Jeff Fenster’s Billion-Dollar Brand Creation

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

During our time in this industry we’ve watched countless healthy restaurant concepts go under. But today’s guest, Jeff Fenster, seems to have finally figured it out. His concept, Everbowl, has scaled massively over the last few years despite an economic downturn and a global pandemic. We sit down to discuss the strategy he used to become massively successful in a vertical that seemed destined for failure.

For more information on Everbowl, visit https://www.everbowl.com/.

__________________________________________________________

Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:

Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

Restaurant expert videos & webinars

Restaurant Margins: Top Chef Joe Sasto’s Path Forward

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

We’ve had months to discuss what we miss about the restaurant industry, what about what we don’t miss? What parts of us and this industry should we leave behind? On today’s show, we chat with Chef Joe Sasto, a renaissance man charting a new path in the industry through pop-ups, pasta classes & underground events. Together we’ll ask the tough questions and try and find the path forward.

Click to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Click here to book time on my personal calendar.

Click here to download our Restaurant Recovery Guide.

Want to streamline your front-of-house operations and increase sales? Head over to http://restaurants.yelp.com/fullcomppodcast to claim your free page and learn more about these powerful tools for your business.

SHOW NOTES

  • Working at Quince
  • Working at Lazy Bear
  • Work culture translates to your guest experience
  • You can taste bad energy and stress
  • You can still execute Michelin star quality with a happier work environment
  • Greatest mentor was Jason Berthold
  • Worked at The French Laundry
  • Inspired his team by leading by example
  • Extreme passion for his work
  • Commanded level of respect without asking for it
  • Joe thinks back to him when inspiring his own team
  • Being a chef doesn’t automatically demand respect
  • Respect is earned via good leadership
  • Journey to working in Michelin star restaurants
  • Won Aspen Food & Win 2013
  • Worked in an environment that was pushing for higher covers
  • He didn’t find this fulfilling
  • Took 8 weeks backpacking around Europe with his brother
  • Discovered his goals
  • Decided to refine his technique in Michelin star restaurants
  • Working unconventionally
  • Started creating pop-ups across the country
  • Does online and in-person food experiences and classes
  • Pop-ups and events are not easy
  • Less stability
  • Pushes creativity
  • Pushes the boundaries of dining
  • Goals for the future
  • Settle down and open restaurants
  • Has a few concepts in mind
  • Biggest hurdle: finding the right market
  • Finding the right market
  • Neighborhood determines success
  • Concerns as a business owner when considering a city
  • There has been a mass exodus from large cities
  • Joe is considering Portland – likes the culture, people, and opportunity
  • The hospitality industry has razor-thin margins so the location must be chosen wisely
  • The importance of sharing your story
  • Sharing Joe’s story was influential and inspiring to others
  • This was even more important during the pandemic
  • The more he shared, the more he could connect with others through food
  • We can feel better about what we are going through by sharing experiences
  • Work-life balance – a major issue in the industry
  • Realizes the importance of mental health
  • We have an opportunity to rebuild with work-life balance in mind
  • Rebuilding with employees in mind
  • Creating structures that favor employees
  • Giving them a voice
  • Our employees make everything happen
  • Changes he would make for his own restaurants
  • Culture of putting employees first
  • Being adaptable and quick to pivot
  • Fast-casual dining with traditional dine-in models for stability and longevity

Restaurant Business Plan: Karen Akunowicz’s Success Path

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

What are you chasing? Is it the money, the fame, or maybe the acclaim that comes with being a successful restaurant owner? Deep down, I think we all know that if we follow our passions, we’ll get all three. Few stories illustrate this more beautifully than today’s guest Chef Karen Akunowicz. In our conversation, she shares her evolution from chef to restaurateur and how momentum is as much an asset as it is a liability. 

For more information on the chef and her concepts, visit https://www.karenakunowicz.com.

__________________________________________________________

Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:

Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

Restaurant expert videos & webinars

Restaurant Ideas: Jesse Cole’s Quest for Unique Positioning

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

Jesse Cole is not an restaurateur, but, like so many of us, he is an entertainer at heart. I’ve brought him on the show to discuss his baseball team, the Savannah Bananas, and how they’ve redefined what it means to attend a professional baseball game. This is a masterclass on exceeding customer expectations, building an unforgettable experience, and staying true to the mission of your brand whether in restaurant theme ideas or new ideas for the restaurant business.

For more information on Jesse and his books, visit https://findyouryellowtux.com/.

____________________________________________________________

Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:

Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

Restaurant expert videos & webinars

Restaurant Email Marketing: Becoming a Brand with Celebrity Chef Jet Tila

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

Branding experts like Chef Jet Tila have created an all-weather strategy for ensuring they’re able to provide for their families no matter what happens. The secret is creating multiple revenue streams through diversification. It’s not a easy process but the end result is looking pretty good these days. On this episode Jet Tila takes us on the journey from executive chef to household name.

Click to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Click here to book time on my personal calendar.

Click here to download our Restaurant Recovery Guide.

Want to streamline your front-of-house operations and increase sales? Head over to http://restaurants.yelp.com/fullcomppodcast to claim your free page and learn more about these powerful tools for your business.

SHOW NOTES

  • Starting in entrepreneurship
  • Dropped out of high school
  • Became a chef on a fishing boat
  • Had many skills
  • Commerce
  • Accounting
  • Customer service
  • Culinary skills
  • Career path into hospitality
  • Hosted cooking classes at his mom’s house
  • Written in the Times
  • Went to culinary school
  • Wanted formal education to assimilate into the culinary world
  • Getting credentials
  • Being an executive chef felt isolating
  • Restaurants were a means to an end
  • Didn’t allow for family time
  • The importance of mentorship
  • Studying the brands of chefs Jet idolizes
  • Neil Fraser
  • Bobby Flay
  • Brave entrepreneur
  • Elton Brown
  • Media savvy
  • Guy Fieri
  • Global brand
  • Read business books
  • Ask questions to great people
  • Diversification is key
  • To transcend, a person needs to become an institution
  • You can be in multiple places as once
  • Steps to becoming a brand
  • Put your name where your restaurant is featured
  • Get to know PR people
  • Go the extra mile
  • Getting onto TV
  • Teaching in the School of Cooking in LA
  • Taught working professionals how to cook
  • Students happened to be producers
  • One TV producer worked for the food network
  • Networking is important
  • Doing a good job
  • Introducing yourself politely
  • Lessons learned
  • Blowing off Mark Peel by being too arrogant
  • Find phenomenal mentors
  • Be gracious for the opportunity
  • Rejecting a job at Google
  • What would life have been like?
  • Goals before 2020
  • 2019 busiest year in Team Tila history
  • Looking at TV pilots
  • Consulting with major TV networks and brands
  • Social media growth
  • The effects of the pandemic
  • Lost momentum
  • 60% down on revenue
  • Pivoting into digital
  • Netflix shows and NBC
  • Licensing and marketing opportunities
  • Food Network Live
  • A-ha moments
  • Finding balance between family and business
  • We have an addiction to work
  • Mental health fuels us to be high achievers but also hurts us
  • Finding time for himself
  • Space to reflect
  • The future post-pandemic
  • Many won’t survive
  • The share of the market will increase
  • Learning to work from home more
  • Words to the industry
  • This will pass
  • Find a way to get through this as there is light at the end of the tunnel
  • We can learn the lessons

Restaurant Consulting: Michael Shain’s Global Brand Management

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

Today we’re chatting with Michael Shain who, after long stints as a member of the leadership team at Union Square Hospitality Group and Death and Co., has decided to strike out on his own. In our conversation today we discuss, in a granular way, what makes a restaurant successful and the tools at our disposal to accomplish exactly that.

For more information on Michael, visit https://greathandshospitality.com/.

____________________________________________________________

Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:

Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

Restaurant expert videos & webinars

Restaurant Consultant: Mike Willard’s POS Selection Guidance

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

For many of us, our point of sale system will be one of the largest investments we make when opening our restaurants. It’s also one of the most critical. None of us got into this industry to become technologists and so I thought it wise to discuss the best practices and mistakes to avoid with a POS expert. Mike Willard, owner of Washburn POS, is that expert. Mike has spent decades in the POS industry and today he runs us through how these devices have evolved over the last several years and how to get the most out of our investment.

For more information on Mike and Washburn POS, visit https://www.washburnpos.com/.

____________________________________________________

Full Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:

Yelp for Restaurants Podcasts

Restaurant expert videos & webinars

How to Scale to a 15% Net Profit in 5 Days

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

You probably listen to this show,  hear the success stories, and wonder, “Could that be me?”
Yes, it absolutely can be you.
I'm inviting you to join me for the FREE 5-Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge, beginning April 22nd to unlock the simplest path to scaling your restaurant’s profitability.
This is for every restaurateur who's tired of being overwhelmed and earning less than they deserve.
Here's a breakdown of what each day has in store:

  • DAY 1 we’ll cover the 3 Keys to Scaling Profitability
  • DAY 2 we’re Mastering Margins
  • DAY 3 we Scale Income
  • DAY 4 we Diversify Revenue Streams
  • ⁠DAY 5 we open the floodgates by Scale Awareness & Customer Frequency

Each session is just 40 minutes a day—they’re actionable and will transform your business.
I know the breakthroughs that come when you push past the frustration and overwhelm that's why I'm packing 5 days with training, live coaching, and accountability to guide you from day one to five.
This FREE challenge is your chance to finally create the life and business you've been dreaming about.
Some folks need an incentive to act, so here’s yours…
I’m giving away over $4,000 worth of free software to help you scale your profitability.
Secure your spot by clicking here and let's embark on this transformative journey together.

Restaurant Consultant: Steve Konopelski’s Brand Equity Blueprint

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

Steve Konopelski is a former ballet dancer turned broadway performer turned professional chef turned celebrity chef turned media personality. Steve’s personal and professional evolution speaks to the aspirations we all have and today we chat about the intention and the strategy that took Steve from “doing” to “being”.

For more on the chef check out his youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveKonopelski

____________________________________________________________

Full Comp brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.

We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:

Restaurant Marketing School

Industry Town Halls

Restaurant Advertising: Celebrity Chef Brooke Williamson’s Top View

Posted on by Joshua Kopel

The pandemic didn’t pick favorites. For each small, independent restaurant that has shut down, just as many celebrity chefs have lost everything.

But they’ll be fine. I’m sure they’re sitting on piles of money, right?

Wrong.

When the fundamentals of an entire industry are wrong, every participant at every level suffers.

Chef Brooke Williamson has reached the pinnacle of what our industry has to offer and is successful by every metric. In sharing her story with you today, I’m hoping to show that the view from the top, looks a lot like the view from where you’re sitting today.

Be sure to follow her on Chef Brooke on instagram using the handle chefbrookew.

SignUp for Our Weekly Newsletter: https://pineapplepost.news

Booktime on Josh’s personal calendar: https://bit.ly/3otQm8z

Wantto streamline your front-of-house operations and increase sales? Head over to http://restaurants.yelp.com toclaim your free page and learn more about these powerful tools for your business.

FREE DOWNLOAD

Leverage Digital Media to Drive Traffic to Your Restaurant

This free (and highly detailed) guide will outline how to tell your story in the most compelling way possible and how to share that story with the masses.

(Yep, even if you’re not a “tech” person!)

FREE DOWNLOAD

Lead Your Team Instead of Managing Them

This free (and highly detailed) guide will give you everything you need to know to build and lead a world class team from scratch, ensuring you work less and earn more. (Yep, even if you know nothing about leadership.)

FREE DOWNLOAD

Ready to Optimize, Manage and Grow Your Restaurant’s Profit Margin But Not Sure Where to Start?

This free (and highly detailed) cheat sheet will give you everything you need to know to set up your restaurant to maximize profitability. (Yep, even if you’re not a “business” person!)

Free 5-Day Marketing Masterclass

Join Now

5 Day Restaurant
Marketing Masterclass

100% Free

Get the tactics, tools, and strategies you need to scale your restaurant’s profits by 15% — in just five days.

See What You'll Learn