Restaurant AI with Matt Wampler is your weekly deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry. Hosted by tech entrepreneur and industry insider Matt Wampler, this podcast explores how AI is reshaping everything from kitchen operations and customer service to marketing, labor management, and the guest experience. Whether you’re a restaurant operator, tech innovator, or hospitality enthusiast, each episode delivers insights, expert interviews, and real-world use cases that help you stay ahead in a competitive and tech-driven landscape.
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Restaurant AI with Matt Wampler is your weekly deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry. Hosted by tech entrepreneur and industry insider Matt Wampler, this podcast explores how AI is reshaping everything from kitchen operations and customer service to marketing, labor management, and the guest experience. Whether you’re a restaurant operator, tech innovator, or hospitality enthusiast, each episode delivers insights, expert interviews, and real-world use cases that help you stay ahead in a competitive and tech-driven landscape.
Michael Ungaro: From Fish Market to Media Company to Future-Proofing a Legacy
Restaurant AI
20 minutes
5 months ago
Michael Ungaro: From Fish Market to Media Company to Future-Proofing a Legacy
Live from the floor of the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, Restaurant AI host Matt Wampler sits down with Michael Ungaro, third-generation owner and visionary behind the iconic San Pedro Fish Market. In this wide-ranging and entertaining conversation, Michael shares how a family-run seafood operation turned into a cultural phenomenon—with over 3,000 seats, a hit streaming series, and a savvy embrace of digital innovation.
From the surprising power of Facebook comments to battling IP theft with strategy, Michael opens up about what it really takes to bring a legacy business into the future. They dive into the challenges of generational transition, the importance of narrative in hospitality, and how a temporary COVID setup turned into a masterclass in tech-enabled guest experience.
Links:
San Pedro Fish Market: https://www.sanpedrofish.com/
Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeungaro
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sanPedroFish
Listen to the Fi$H Factor podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fi%24h-factor-with-mike-ungaro/id1811844101
Visit ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/
00:00 Intro
00:30 Welcome Michael Ungaro
01:21 Embracing technology
03:13 Leaning on people to solve problems
04:40 Intellectual property
05:38 Running a 70 year-old brand
08:34 Kings of Fish TV Show
09:20 "We're not a restaurant anymore"
10:45 Why the fourth generation of a business is the hardest
12:55 Advice for running a family business
14:20 Is Reality TV "real"?
17:19 Getting information from customers
19:04 The 100th anniversary of San Pedro Fish Market
20:15 Outro
Restaurant AI
Restaurant AI with Matt Wampler is your weekly deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry. Hosted by tech entrepreneur and industry insider Matt Wampler, this podcast explores how AI is reshaping everything from kitchen operations and customer service to marketing, labor management, and the guest experience. Whether you’re a restaurant operator, tech innovator, or hospitality enthusiast, each episode delivers insights, expert interviews, and real-world use cases that help you stay ahead in a competitive and tech-driven landscape.
