FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution

Here's what you have to look forward to in 2025!

In this conversation, Savneet Singh shares his journey as the CEO of PAR Technologies, detailing the challenges he faced when he took over a struggling company. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance, making difficult decisions, and fostering a strong company culture. Through transparent communication and a focus on values, Singh transformed PAR from a failing business into a thriving enterprise, highlighting the role of innovation and teamwork in achieving success. In this conversation, Josh Kopel and Savneet Singh discuss the challenges faced by restaurant operators in today's rapidly changing industry. They explore the importance of technology and data in enhancing customer experiences and operational efficiency. Savneet emphasizes the need for a culture of risk-taking and innovation at PAR Technologies, while also highlighting the significance of staying true to a brand's promise. The discussion concludes with encouraging words for restaurant owners to never give up and to invest in their teams.TakeawaysThe only genius in entrepreneurship is not giving up.Business is fundamentally about solving problems.Difficult conversations are essential for leadership.Cultural values must be lived, not just stated.Ownership and accountability drive success.Innovation in technology is crucial for the restaurant industry.A transparent environment fosters trust and collaboration.Defining clear values can reshape company culture.Hard work and dedication lead to significant outcomes.Success requires a commitment to customer satisfaction. The restaurant industry is facing unfair expectations from customers.Technology is essential for restaurant operators to survive.PAR Technologies embraces change and innovation.Data must be actionable for restaurant owners to benefit.Personalized customer experiences are the future of dining.Unifying data across platforms is crucial for efficiency.Risk-taking is a cultural norm at PAR Technologies.Staying true to a brand promise is key to success.Investing in people leads to better outcomes.Work-life balance is important in the restaurant industry.Chapters00:00 The Power of Perseverance in Entrepreneurship06:09 The Journey to Leadership at PAR Technologies11:53 Cultural Revolution: Building a Winning Team18:07 The Road to Success: Hard Work and Transparency25:10 Adapting to Change in the Restaurant Industry35:39 The Culture of Risk-Taking at PAR43:11 The Excitement of Team and Mission____________________________________________________________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

Family businesses are the backbone of the restaurant industry, but they come with unique challenges and opportunities. Eldredge and Tyler Ropolo of Washington Street Hospitality have taken their family’s vision to new heights, blending timeless Italian traditions with modern hospitality innovation. In today’s conversation, we explore their unconventional journey from Italy to Newport and beyond, the lessons learned from balancing personal passions with business practicality, and how they’ve created restaurant concepts that feel as personal as their own homes. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow without losing authenticity, this episode is a masterclass. For more information on Washington Street Hospitality and their concepts, visit https://www.washingtonstreethospitality.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

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. ____________________________________________________________ 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

What does it take to evolve from an ambitious young chef to a seasoned restaurateur and CPG innovator? Harold Jurado’s journey is a masterclass in risk, resilience, and reimagination. From working at culinary institutions like Charlie Trotter’s to leading high-pressure kitchens and corporate dining at Google, Harold’s path has been anything but ordinary. Today, we dive into how he balances creativity and practicality, his leap into the world of consumer packaged goods, and his vision for building a business that takes care of both staff and customers. If you’re looking for inspiration to rethink your own path to success, this episode is for you. For more information on Harold and his restaurant, Ramenwell, visit https://www.ramenwell.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

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. ____________________________________________________________ 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

After cooking in 5 Michelin-starred restaurants, you might be surprised to find Chef Myles Moody in a butcher shop but there is a method to his madness. At Kinship, Myles has managed to find lightning in the bottle. This cafe, coffee shop, butcher shop hybrid has done so well locally that they’ve received national attention and the calls to expand have begun to come in. Today we sit down with the chef to discuss his growth strategy for Kinship. As it turns out, the fastest way to grow is slowly.  More more information on the chef and Kinship, visit https://kinshipbutcheratl.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

Learning how to tell a great story will make you popular at the next cocktail party you attend but there are some other unexpected benefits. Meet Shannon Smith, an accidental chef that has built a massive private dining business and launched a successful cookbook off the back of what can only be described as world-class storytelling. Today Shannon sits down to share her story with us so that we can learn how to tell our story in a way that turns heads and creates fans.  For more information on the chef, visit https://chefshannon.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

Can lightning strike twice? After interviewing Chad Coulter, I’d say so. After building and successfully selling his restaurant brand Louvino, Chad is at it again with his latest creation Biscuit Belly. Today we sit down to discuss the essential elements of a scalable brand and what needs to be considered when determining the best way to grow that brand. In this masterclass we’re covering everything from joint ventures to custom plating.  For more information on Biscuit Belly, visit https://biscuitbelly.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

Restaurateur and consultant Elizabeth Blau wasn’t just present for the culinary renaissance in Las Vegas over the last 20 years, she helped usher it in. After working with the best restaurateurs and chefs in the world and becoming a successful consultant globally, Elizabeth did the unthinkable…she launched her own restaurant group. Spanning multiple tiers of dining and across several markets, Elizabeth is out to prove that there is a formulaic recipe for success in the restaurant industry. Today we sit down to discuss what that recipe is and how we can adopt her best practices to create the best outcomes for our own businesses.  For more information on Elizabeth, visit https://elizabethblau.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