Mastering the Vibe: Lee Maen on Creating Iconic Restaurants That Endure and Scale

Some restaurants chase trends. Lee Maen builds brands that shape them. As co-founder of Innovative Dining Group, Lee has redefined what it means to create restaurants that are as memorable for their vibe as they are for their food. From Sushi Roku to BOA Steakhouse, he’s turned hospitality into a high-performance art form—blending ambiance, precision, and consistency across markets and decades. In this episode, we dive into how IDG builds loyalty without relying on celebrity chefs, maintains profit without sacrificing soul, and scales without losing what made it special in the first place. To learn more about Innovative Dining Group and their iconic concepts, visit https://innovativedining.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 PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I dig into one of the biggest blind spots in our industry: the real reason guests walk through our doors. Most restaurant owners think we’re selling food or service — but that’s not it. What we’re actually selling is transformation. People come to us because they want to feel something — connection, escape, celebration, comfort. When you start to understand the emotional and experiential shifts you’re providing, your entire approach to marketing changes. I lay out how to identify the transformation your restaurant offers and how to communicate that clearly to your guests. When you stop selling tasks and start selling outcomes, revenue follows. This one’s about shifting your mindset so you can grow smarter, not just harder.Takeaways:Most restaurant owners are selling food, but successful ones sell transformation.The clarity of the promise is crucial for growth.People buy experiences, not just products.Identify the memorable moments in your dining experience.Transformational marketing can lead to higher prices and customer loyalty.Define the transformation your restaurant provides.Map out your unique process for delivering that transformation.Price based on outcomes, not inputs.Marketing should reflect the emotional resonance of your brand.Engage your team in understanding the transformation you offer.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Profitability01:12 Understanding Revenue Ceilings and Transformation02:39 The Shift from Selling Products to Selling Experiences04:06 Defining and Delivering Transformation05:32 Marketing the Transformation EffectivelyIf you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at [email protected] and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

Chef John Currence did not set out to build an empire when he opened his first restaurant in Oxford, Mississippi but that’s what happened. John is a guy a lot like us. He built one concept, then two, then three in a very linear way over time. Then can Big Bad Breakfast. This is a restaurant that John launched for $65,000 and it became a national brand in a matter of years. Today we discuss how his brands have evolved to reach a national stage and how he’s had to evolve as an entrepreneur and chef in response. For more information on the chef and his brands, visit https://citygroceryonline.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 PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Burnout isn’t about working too much—it’s about what drains you. Anese Cavanaugh has spent the last two decades helping leaders master their Intentional Energetic Presence (IEP) to create thriving, engaged teams without running themselves into the ground. Her work with Zingerman’s and top companies worldwide has proven that energy, not time, is our most valuable resource. In this episode, we dive into the real cause of burnout, how leaders unknowingly drain their own teams, and the small shifts that create massive impact. If you want to lead with more energy, influence, and authenticity, this episode is a game-changer. To learn more about Intentional Energetic Presence (IEP) and how to lead without burnout, visit https://activechoices.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 PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I get into something most restaurant owners overlook — branding. Look, great food is the baseline. It gets you in the game, but it’s not what keeps the dining room full. What really moves the needle is a compelling brand story — something that makes people feel seen, understood, and part of something bigger than just a meal. I walk through how to build that kind of connection with your guests. From shaping your brand identity to refining your marketing efforts, I lay out the strategies that drive traffic and build loyalty. If you’re ready to stop being “just another restaurant” and start standing out in a crowded market, this one’s for you.TakeawaysMoney is the primary problem for restaurants.Great food is expected; branding is essential.Diners need a reason to care beyond the plate.A restaurant's brand should evoke feelings of belonging.Compliments do not equate to customer conversions.Stories about the restaurant are crucial for marketing.Reframe your restaurant's concept to attract the right audience.Audit your brand from a stranger's perspective.Identify ways your brand can stand out beyond food.Building a memorable experience is key to success.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Profitability02:06 The Importance of Branding in Restaurants06:00 Building a Memorable Restaurant ExperienceIf you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at [email protected] and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

Great food gets guests in the door, but a great team keeps them coming back. Shawn Gawle, the awarded chef behind Camaraderie, has mastered the art of creating exceptional dining experiences by prioritizing mentorship, culture, and intentional leadership. In this episode, we explore Shawn’s journey from celebrated chef to chef-owner, how his philosophy of shared success shapes his restaurant, and the innovative ways he’s redefining hospitality. If you’re looking for practical insights on building a thriving team and unforgettable guest experiences, this episode is for you. Be sure to check out Camaraderie.____________________________________________________________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 PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

The fires have dramatically altered LA’s real estate market, creating both challenges and opportunities for restaurant owners. Real estate expert Dan Fagan shares insider knowledge on where the best opportunities are now, how to negotiate stronger lease terms, and how consumer behavior is reshaping restaurant site selection. Whether you're looking to relocate, expand, or secure better lease terms, this episode provides the playbook for making smarter real estate moves.This series was created in collaboration with Michael Benson of Southern California Restaurant Design Group. When the fires devastated LA’s restaurant community, Michael saw an opportunity to bring together experts who could provide real strategies and solutions for operators facing the challenge of rebuilding. Each conversation in this series is designed to deliver practical insights, industry trends, and actionable steps to help restaurant owners in LA—and beyond—come back stronger. ____________________________________________________________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 PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

Most restaurants accept drama and dysfunction as part of the business—but what if eliminating them was the key to higher profits and better retention? Lisa Schultz, Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Roadhouse, has spent the last 20 years proving that culture is the real secret to success. By implementing no-drama leadership, open-book finance, and employee empowerment, she’s built a restaurant where people don’t just show up for a paycheck—they show up to be part of something bigger. In this episode, we explore how to build a drama-free workplace, get employees to think like owners, and create a sustainable, profitable restaurant culture. If you’ve ever struggled with turnover, toxic teams, or disengaged staff, this conversation is for you. To learn more about Zingerman’s Roadhouse and their culture-first approach to hospitality, visit https://www.zingermansroadhouse.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 PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.In this episode, I dig into the importance of identifying and solving the recurring problems we face in restaurant operations. I talk about the need to move away from constant firefighting and start getting to the root causes of our issues. I also share how we can leverage AI to document our processes and build systems that prevent these problems from popping up again. This conversation is packed with actionable strategies to help restaurateurs boost efficiency, drive profitability, and ultimately create a more sustainable business model. Takeaways:Money makes every other problem a minor inconvenience.If your to-do list looks the same week after week, you have a pattern.Most restaurants fail due to a thousand tiny cuts, not one big issue.Track the top five recurring frustrations weekly to identify patterns.Use AI to catalog breakdowns and cluster them into themes.Document solutions to problems to create self-correcting systems.Leadership involves delegating playbooks, not problems.Regularly review and improve your systems to avoid being trapped in them.Solving patterns leads to freedom in restaurant management.Engage in a weekly sync to log recurring issues and solutions.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Profitability02:06 Identifying and Solving Recurring Problems06:02 Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency07:01 Building Sustainable Systems for GrowthIf you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at [email protected] and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

Most restaurants don’t make money. The ones that do, typically make very little. This is our reality and many of us have embraced it. But what about the group no one talks about: the restaurants that are making a killing, quietly and consistently. They all seem to be following the same formula and today we sit down with restaurant expert, David Scott Peters, to distill out the essential elements of that formula. Believe it or not, it has as much to do with people as it does process. To learn more about David and his programs, visit https://www.davidscottpeters.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 PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars