The Week in Restaurants

LeBron James has scored another restaurant investment.This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the basketball star’s investment in Mike’s Red Tacos, his latest in a string of investments in restaurant chains. DoorDash is investing in the delivery food hall Wonder. We discuss that while trying to figure out exactly what Wonder is. Papa Johns is adding “coaches” to help with brand standards. We talk about that interesting trend and why restaurant chains are marketing it.Technomic Talk this week is about the impact of GLP-1 use on restaurants. And on Tech Check Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks about AI and point-of-sale systems. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe on Spotify.

Another casual-dining chain has shut down.This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the closure of O’Charley’s, which has closed its corporate stores, leaving about four franchisee-owned units. We also discuss Jersey Mike’s first earnings call as a public company. The sandwich chain’s stock soared after the company said transactions were increasing and the company is boosting spending on digital marketing.We also look back at two years of Brian Niccol at Starbucks.On Tech Check, Joe Guszkowski talks Walmart delivery. 

Can Domino’s new menu item be a big winner? In this week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants, we look at The Domino, Domino’s new, single-serve, Detroit-style pizza. Is it too expensive? And what does that mean for the pizza chain’s future?Walmart, meanwhile, is getting into the restaurant delivery business, thanks to a new deal with Dunkin’. We’ll discuss what that means. And 7 Brew won the Salad and Go sites after Dutch Bros opted not to increase its bid. We discuss what kind of impact that will have on the drive-thru coffee war. On Tech Check, Joe Guszkowski talks about the next restaurant tech company IPO. 

Can you really prevent what just happened to Texas Roadhouse? This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at an online hoax involving the casual-dining steak chain, and whether any company can effectively prevent such issues.  Independent restaurants are apparently doing better than you think. We’ll discuss what that means for both local restaurants and national brands.McDonald’s franchisees are worried about their profitability after years of discounts just as the company is about to ask for remodels. We’ll talk about that issue.On Tech Check, Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks “vibe coding,” whatever that means. Join us at FSTEC 2026!⁠https://informaconnect.com/fstec/?utm_source=content&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fstec26&utm_content=podcasts⁠

Just when you thought it was safe to go to restaurants, there’s this: Bagels are making a comeback.This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast The Week in Restaurants looks at the planned expansion of Einstein Bros. Bagels and what that says about the latest bagel boom. We also talk, again, about Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp and whether its second comeback in four months is a good idea. We also discuss the latest executive change at Wendy’s, what it says about the brand and why it’s been struggling.On Technomic Talk, Robert Byrne discusses the loss of low-income consumers at Wendy’s and Burger King. And Senior Tech Editor Joe Guszkowski talks about InKind on Tech Check.Join us at FSTEC 2026!⁠https://informaconnect.com/fstec/?utm_source=content&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fstec26&utm_content=podcasts⁠