FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution
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What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away?
I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP.
Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game: restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unpack their biggest wins, hardest lessons, and the strategies that changed everything.
No fluff, no filler—just actionable insights to help you boost profits, build your brand, and create the kind of restaurant you’ve always dreamed of.
So, if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, hit subscribe.
I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP.
Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game: restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unpack their biggest wins, hardest lessons, and the strategies that changed everything.
No fluff, no filler—just actionable insights to help you boost profits, build your brand, and create the kind of restaurant you’ve always dreamed of.
So, if you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results, hit subscribe.
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It’s my pleasure to interview the industry leaders of today and ask the questions we’re all thinking of. But it’s my privilege to present to you the industry thought leaders of tomorrow. Today we sit down with David Zhao, co-founder of the Chubby Group, to discuss how they’re rapidly scaling their restaurant concepts globally through innovative joint ventures and growing their fanbase by the tens of thousands using an innovative approach to loyalty programs. Buckle up because this conversation is going to leave you questioning everything you believed about how to grow a successful restaurant group. For more information on his restaurant group, visit https://chubbygroup.com/._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if the reason you’re not more profitable isn’t effort, but clarity on what to fix next?As CEO of Lavu and the force behind Marty, an AI layer built for operators, Saleem isn’t interested in prettier dashboards or yesterday’s reports. He’s focused on something far more dangerous—and far more valuable: telling you exactly what to fix today to put more cash in your bank account tomorrow.In this conversation, we get into why POS is already commoditized, why most data tools create the illusion of control, and how AI can surface the three decisions that actually move the needle. If you’re tired of tracking problems instead of solving them, this conversation is your wake-up call.To learn more about Lavu, visit lavu.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
Running a successful restaurant is one thing; scaling that success globally while maintaining exceptional quality and culture is another. Today, I’m sitting down with Barry McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chão, to discuss how this iconic brand continues to redefine the dining experience. From bringing a centuries-old culinary art to the forefront, to innovating service models that delight guests and empower employees, Barry shares the blueprint for building a thriving restaurant group. If you’re ready to rethink how to grow your business without losing its soul, this conversation is a must. For more information on Fogo de Chão and their unique dining experiences, visit https://fogodechao.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if your restaurant wasn’t just a place to eat, but a world people stepped into to feel something?Brandon Hoy didn’t set out to build a pizza place, he set out to create a party, a refuge, a piece of living art in a neighborhood hungry for connection. As co-founder of Roberta’s, he tapped into timing, tribe, and a radical commitment to craft to turn a scrappy Bushwick pizzeria into a cultural institution.In this conversation, we get into why community beats marketing, how mythology makes brands magnetic, and why defining what your restaurant means matters more than what it serves. Brandon breaks down the tension between consistency and evolution, and why the brands that survive are the ones willing to move with the wind.If you’re building more than a menu—if you’re building a movement—this conversation is for you.To learn more about Roberta’s and explore what they’re building next, visit robertaspizza.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
Most restaurateurs build concepts around a menu or a chef. Justin Cucci built Edible Beats around a philosophy—one that’s challenged conventional wisdom and redefined what restaurant success looks like. From turning historic spaces into thriving concepts to pioneering an employee-owned business model, Justin has proven that restaurants can be both financially sustainable and deeply meaningful. In this episode, we dig into why he bet on an ESOP model, how he scaled without losing soul, and what the next decade of restaurant leadership should look like. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow without compromising your values, this conversation is for you.To learn more about Edible Beats and how they’re reshaping restaurant culture, visit https://www.ediblebeats.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if the restaurants you admire most were never meant to be copied?Alex Pfaffenbach came up inside some of the most celebrated dining rooms in the world—Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad, Quality Branded—where ambition was massive and the standards were unforgiving. He saw what happens when lightning strikes. He also learned that lightning isn’t a business model.In this conversation, we break down the difference between managing a restaurant and owning one, why being busy doesn’t mean being profitable, and how timing, capital, and emotional resilience shape long-term success. Alex shares how he blended world-class hospitality with commercial discipline to build Marquette and Argyle without chasing anomalies.If you’re building something that has to last, and not just impress, this episode will recalibrate how you think about growth.To learn more about Marquette and Argyle and follow Alex’s journey as an independent operator, visit marketterestaurant.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
Success in the restaurant industry is as much about grit as it is about vision, and few people embody both quite like Peter Newlin. As Chief Vision Officer of the Gastamo Group, Peter has transformed small neighborhood restaurants into a multi-concept hospitality group, all while championing the power of focus and community-driven dining. In today’s conversation, we explore Peter’s journey from outdoor enthusiast to restaurant innovator, his vision for disrupting suburban dining, and the critical role of AI and intentionality in shaping the future of hospitality. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a thriving business while staying grounded, this episode is for you. For more information on the Gastamo Group and their innovative concepts, visit https://www.gastamogroup.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if your guests aren’t buying what’s on the menu, they’re buying who you are?That’s the philosophy guiding today’s guest, the CEO of Philz Coffee and the man behind some of the most successful turnarounds in hospitality. After scaling Wingstop and reviving Chuck E. Cheese, Mahesh didn’t come to Philz for the margins, he came for the mission.In this conversation, Mahesh breaks down why culture is the only sustainable advantage, how he trimmed 87 priorities down to five that actually mattered, and the high-stakes leadership moves required to reignite passion from the top down. We also unpack the loyalty trap most brands fall into, and how Philz is turning casual customers into community superfans.This isn’t just about fixing broken brands. It’s about leading with clarity, choosing people over product, and building a coffee shop that everyone has to visit and no one wants to leave.To learn more about Philz Coffee and their community-driven mission, visit philzcoffee.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if your biggest marketing asset isn’t your food or your logo, but your team?Mike Smith didn’t build his career by following trends. As the president of Moe’s Southwest Grill, he’s championing a radical shift in how we think about fast casual: less transaction, more transformation.In this conversation, Mike shares why brand is culture, how real loyalty is built inside the four walls, and why treating people like line items kills growth before it begins. We get into hiring with intention, empowering teams to act with personality and how value can still win in a discount-fatigued world.For any operator struggling to balance margins with meaning, this one hits home.To learn more about Moe’s Southwest Grill, visit moes.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if running a restaurant is the best leadership training program in the world? Mayor Daniel Rickenmann believes it is.Before becoming Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, Daniel built his career in hospitality, managing teams, navigating high-pressure service environments, and learning how to lead when outcomes are public and unforgiving. Those lessons didn’t stay in the kitchen. They followed him into city leadership.In this conversation, we explore why hospitality creates sharper leaders, how failure becomes leverage when handled correctly, and what operators can learn from public-sector decision-making. We also break down why authenticity outperforms image, why empowering employees drives real ownership, and how “success leaves clues” when leaders pay attention.If you’ve ever felt the pressure of leading people, managing conflict, or carrying responsibility for outcomes, this conversation goes far beyond restaurants.To learn more about Daniel’s background, leadership work, and community initiatives, visit rickenmannformayor.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if delivery isn’t a cost center, but your biggest growth engine?Most restaurant operators still treat delivery like a necessary evil. Today’s guest knows better. What started as a delivery-only restaurant in India turned into a blueprint for Loop, a platform now powering $4 billion in digital restaurant ordering.In our conversation, Anand shares how he turned operational obsession into competitive advantage, what it really means to “win the algorithm,” and why delivery isn’t the end game, it’s the front door to growth. We get into the economic shifts redefining restaurant success, how digital ordering became the new drive-thru, and why resisting delivery is like ignoring your best customers.If you’ve ever felt stuck between low margins and rising demand, this conversation will change how you see your business, and highlight where the real opportunity lives.To learn more about Loop and how they’re helping restaurants grow with delivery, visit loopai.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
Most operators think they’re managing food costs. Ronald Cardwell thinks they’re just guessing.As Commodity Director at Restaurant Technologies, Ronald has a unique vantage point: tens of thousands of kitchens and decades inside the oil and biofuel industries. And his message is blunt: if you’re not measuring it, you’re losing money.In this episode, we get into why fryer oil might be your highest-margin opportunity, how to identify invisible cost leaks before they wreck your menu, and the underrated power of treating every ingredient like a commodity - with strategy, not habit.If inflation is the headline, this is the fine print. This episode is for operators who are ready to stop gambling with their margins and start managing with intention.To learn more about Restaurant Technologies and their management systems, visit rti-inc.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
Most chefs want more creativity. David Utterback wanted more control.After 13 years helping grow a sushi brand from one shop to a $175M empire, he walked away to build something of his own. What he learned? Great food is only part of the puzzle. In this episode, David shares how he’s applying big-brand systems to small-scale restaurants, with a relentless focus on profit, precision, and sustainability.We get into why scaling doesn’t always mean selling more, how he trimmed labor without killing creativity, and the spreadsheet moment that made him rethink growth altogether.This episode is for those of us who are tired of working harder just to make less, and ready to start running a restaurant like a business.To learn more about Yoshitomo and his growing group of restaurants, visit yoshitomo.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if your biggest opportunity wasn’t the one you planned for, but the one that forced you to prove you belonged?For Sarah Thompson, leading a fine dining Mexican restaurant as a non-Mexican chef wasn’t the goal, but it became the proving ground. At Casa Playa inside the Wynn Las Vegas, Sarah has built more than a menu: she’s built trust, earned belonging, and redefined what excellence looks like in a cuisine she wasn’t raised in but has come to deeply respect.In this episode, we unpack how she overcame cultural bias in the kitchen, turned imposter syndrome into authentic leadership, and leveraged the resources of a major hospitality group to create a restaurant that’s as respected by locals as it is by the Strip’s most demanding diners.If you’ve ever had to earn your place in the room, you’ll feel this one.To experience Casa Playa or learn more, visit wynnlasvegas.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if your entire career started with being told you were too nice to succeed?For John Terzian and Brian Toll, that’s exactly how it began. These are the minds behind The h.wood Group: an empire born from rejection, reinvention, and the refusal to follow the rules.In this episode, they share how protecting guests instead of exploiting them became their superpower, why aesthetics matter more than you think, and how they transitioned from bottle service to building culture through culinary. We get into the painful leap from nightlife to fine dining, how they designed demand instead of chasing it, and the operational discipline required to stay profitable 10 years in.This isn’t just about cool venues, it’s about what it takes to last in an industry designed to burn you out.To learn more about The h.wood Group and their concepts, visit hwoodgroup.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if the real reward in restaurants isn’t the exit, but the impact?Scott Redler didn’t just co-found Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, he scaled it to 400+ units without losing his soul.In this episode, we get into the mindset shifts that made that possible: from hiring like your business depends on it (because it does), to giving GMs ownership in everything but name. Scott shares how he built a culture of transparency and accountability, why the “no-jerk rule” matters more than a resume, and how he chose franchisees who shared his values, not just his ambitions.For operators who care about building something bigger than themselves, this is a masterclass in scaling with intention, and not ego.To learn more about Mocha’s Coffee & Eatery, visit mokasusa.com_________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if resilience is just a code word for neglect?Catarina Bill of Southern Smoke is calling BS, and doing something about it. Born into the back-of-house world through her family’s meat business, Catarina’s not just preaching compassion, she’s building infrastructure. Her work exposes the cracks in our industry’s foundation: no healthcare, no mental health safety net, no margin for error.In this conversation, we get into the systems she’s building to catch people before they fall, why professionalizing hospitality means meeting human needs, and the radical idea that support shouldn’t be earned by burnout.This isn’t charity, it’s a wake-up call. And for anyone still wondering why staff won’t come back, this conversation has answers.To learn more about Southern Smoke and how to support their mission, visit southernsmoke.org._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if the best leadership training didn’t come from business school, but from the brutal discipline of an Ironman?David Youngberg didn’t start triathlons until 50. But the mindset it required, focus, repetition, resilience, changed how he runs restaurants. After two decades at BJ’s and now CEO at Stonefire Grill, David brings that same intensity to team culture, systems thinking, and servant leadership. In this conversation, we get into how Ironman training sharpened his business instincts, what it takes to build 20-year team tenure, and why the best leaders don’t demand more, they serve more.For anyone trying to lead with longevity in mind, this episode is fuel.To learn more about Stonefire Grill and their people-first approach, visit stonefiregrill.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if the best hospitality isn’t taught – it’s demonstrated, brick by brick?Wesley Sohn didn’t just walk away from a promising finance career, he ran toward something deeper. Something messier. Something real. He started as a food runner, not to climb the ladder faster, but to understand the foundation better. And it shows. Today, Wesley helps lead one of the most intentional hospitality groups in the country, where culture is lived—not laminated—and SOPs don’t kill creativity, they fuel it.In this conversation, we unpack the engineering mindset behind scalable hospitality, how real culture is modeled not mandated, the hidden value of invisible work, and what it takes to build restaurants that work, because the people inside them believe in what they’re building.This one’s for operators who know culture is your system, and your strategy.To learn more about Cote, visit cotekoreansteakhouse.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
What if staying small was actually the boldest move you could make in restaurants?Fred Piehl didn’t come to San Diego chasing an empire; he came with Paris training, a place to sleep, and a 30–seat bistro he found on Craigslist that became The Smoking Goat.In this conversation, we break down why he and his wife Tammy treat restaurants like “leaky buckets,” how he built a life where skiing trips, summers in New Hampshire, and family dinners matter as much as Saturday covers and how he’s resisted the pressure to scale for so many years.For operators who feel owned by their restaurants, this is a blueprint for taking your time, your profitability, and your joy back.To learn more about The Smoking Goat and One Door North, visit thesmokinggoatrestaurant.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com
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This is exactly the kind of conversation every restaurateur needs to hear! 🎙️ As someone who knows how tough the industry can be, I’m excited to dive into FULL COMP and learn from the best minds in the game. If you’re ready to take things even further, check out Crown Devour (https://crowndevour.com/)—a treasure trove of tools and resources tailored for restaurant and café owners. Together with the insights from Josh Kopel and the solutions from Crown Devour(https://crowndevour.com/), success is just around the corner. 🚀🍴
Thanks for reaching out! I’m excited to share that https://cavamenudallas.com/is part of the restaurant industry revolution, much like FULL COMP. Our website helps restaurants modernize their menus with an innovative digital experience, making it easier to stay competitive. Feel free to check it out and let me know if you have any questions!
That's totally how you Fuxk an industry up, I could listen to this guy all day
Bagatelle Restaurant is a culinary gem that must be experienced. Their French cuisine is exquisite, bursting with flavors and creativity. Coupled with unmatched hospitality, every visit is a delightful journey of culinary delights and warm welcomes. A must-visit for food enthusiasts and hospitality seekers alike! https://bagatelle.com/
Classy guy and that goes far in this business - timeless and the relationship part he gets
Setting the Table for Success
I read Danny Too