Welcome to another insightful episode of the Waiting On Fries Podcast! 🍟 This week, we're diving deep into the heart of what makes a bar or restaurant truly stand out in today's competitive hospitality landscape. We explore the unique elements that attract patrons and keep them coming back for more.
🔍 Episode Highlights:
The Power of Originality: Discover why replicating another establishment's "special idea" often falls flat and how authenticity reigns supreme in creating a memorable dining experience.
Spotlight on NYC's Unique Spots: We discuss standout venues like Clemente Bar, Bar Snack, Outback Steakhouse, Smokehouse Tailgate, Sushi on Me, Jack's Wife Freda, and Mother's Ruin, examining what sets them apart in the bustling New York City scene.
Creating Your Unique Draw: Learn how to identify and cultivate your establishment's unique selling proposition to captivate your target audience and foster loyalty.
🎧 Tune In Now: Join us as we unpack these topics and more, providing valuable insights for restaurateurs, bar owners, and hospitality enthusiasts aiming to elevate their brand.
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For more episodes and resources, visit our website: waitingonfriespodcast.com
#WaitingOnFriesPodcast #HospitalityTrends2025 #UniqueRestaurantConcepts #ExperientialDining #NYCFoodScene #BarInnovation #RestaurantMarketing #AuthenticBranding #HospitalityInsights #FoodIndustryPodcast
When some people tell stories you ask others if they're true. James Zinkand is no exception to this as it's hard to believe anyone would be biking around the world multiple times from coast to coast, find himself stranded overseas without a Visa, living one adventure to the next.
So how'd we land into creating a spirits brand for those that enjoy adventure? He's got to tell this one to you - and we're just all going to listen.
https://misguidedspirits.com
We're here, and it's another chance to find ways to take advantage of the sporting events for sports bars. Justin runs through some of the arguments he had internally about how to gain further restaurant traction as well as what kind of promotions fit the business and establishment he's building.
There's reasons certain advertising styles work in some locations and may fail in other locations. What are some ways you take advantage of advertising to your clients?
Welp. We discussed that aging and sports just doesn't work the same way one would think...
Since Justin's all roughed up, but the restaurants certainly need to continue being worked on and managed - he's got a plan. We get into the thick of booking parties, looking at his Toast system and more. We should assume much computer work will be done over the next few months!
Consistently joking about the busiest time of Justin's restaurant not being Christmas Holiday area, and actually being Super Bowl Sunday - this is his Super Bowl.
Justin runs through a few techniques he uses to get through the week leading up to the Super Bowl and how he handles people once their at the restaurant.
Also, is it too hard to ask people to parent their children in restaurants? There's so many ways they can get hurt and affect others experiences that we've got to clamp down on whatever opportunities and options we have in creating a safe and hospitable environment for our guests.
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What's this stuff people are drinking? Kombucha? Is it healthy? Is it fizzy? Is it delicious? Who knows. We're speaking with Julz Enriquez today who started Feel Good Booch while working in plenty of amazing bars and restaurants.
Juggling how to start a business is never an easy task, and a scary one when your income is derived from elsewhere. This is what also makes Julz drive and hustle harder as he is continuing to work his other bar job to make sure income continues while growing his brand.
http://feelgoodbooch.com
Have you always wanted to figure out how to scale your business to the next level? We're talking to a group of guys who weren't even really in the restaurant business prior that have managed to assemble strengths and "figure it out".
Sitting with Carmelo, Nick, and Sebastian we learn that they all come from largely different roles and found themselves in the restaurant business together. Along with a perfect storm of outside factors that helped the brand become just that, a brand, there were plenty of learning lessons along the way.
Find out how they got themselves to 6 restaurants and growing - I mean, why stop if it works?
The year end is upon your restaurant and bar. Did you already figure out your budget for next year? Justin takes us through what he's done to account for what he expects to be spending on for 2025 at Smokehouse, his BBQ restaurant.
Filmed At: Smokehouse Tailgate Grill, New Rochelle, NY
It's great being able to get deep. Nick put his phone down for a bit and let his notorious hospitality and bar industry meme account run itself for an hour before a pop up he conducted in collaboration with Kabin NYC and Campari. This conversation covers so many different thoughts from making a conscious decision to adopt sobriety, how the business found itself as a meme page, cease and desist letters, and more. Mover & Shaker Co. is the leading meme account with millions of impressions across the world from bartenders and hospitality sector workers alike. In their 7th year of existence it seems they're only picking up steam. Nick Hogan (https://www.instagram.com/boldcitybourbon) Mover & Shaker (https://www.instagram.com/moverandshakerco/) Mover & Shaker Co. (https://moverandshakerco.com/) Filmed By: @jaeboogz Filmed At: Kabin, NYC
It's the end of the year so we're talking balance sheets and what we're looking for to know our bars and restaurants are healthy, different ways of looking at the books, and what percentage of growth we want to see.
We're also looking at what point it's too late to keep booking holiday parties. Would you agree that most companies have already booked their parties for the end of year?
What we're discussing:
What we're talking about?
Shot at: Vinyl Steakhouse, NYC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylsteakhouse/
How do we talk about more business topics? #shiftbeers is a covnersation that has a ton of different gems about current topics happening in our Bar and Restaurant ownership journey. What are we talking about today? • Planning the year's events through calendar to prepare for correctly. • Different levels and types of events: Natural Holiday's, Municipality Created, Personal Events. • When do you hire an event coordinator to increase the sales of event rooms • What sort of event packages do you utilize in your banquet packaging. Shot in: Cocktail Garnish Co. White Plains, NY
This episode features Baked After Midnight's Gianna Khader (https://www.bakedaftermidnight.com), a cookie company that uses high end ingredients and is gaining ground in bars & restaurants. Gianna literally quit her job to pursue making cookies. She was always baking, literally for years - but doing it after midnight was therapeutic as no one is often around late night to bother. We discuss things like costs, motivation to have the business, how we gauge success in expos or trade events as well as using a third party delivery app to potentially help create a sales lift for the business.📷: Filmed, Recorded, & Edited by: Pour Shots, Justin Benfaida📍: Baked After Midnight, Gianna KhaderFind us on Youtube as well for all the shorts and bonus content! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHhZ1-fp853NdPkWeL53bWg)
This episode features Rust & Gold (https://www.therustandgold.com/), a Huntington Long Island bar and restaurant that allows families to gather and fun to happen late night. Frank came from beginnings in the music industry, but decided that the A plan wasn't going to be the one he retired on. Along with a few friends Rust & Gold opened 7 years ago. The pandemic also wound up accelerating growth with the concepts of The Rolling Gold (tap & catering truck - a '63 Chevy!) and 1653 pizza. 📷: Filmed, Recorded, & Edited by: Pour Shots, Justin Benfaida 📍: The Rust & Gold, 70 Gerard St, Huntington, NY 11743
On the couch later? Find us on Youtube! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdzqYSPp5Ts)
We get to the bottom of Justin's hatred for Uber Eats and why it's still a necessary evil in the restaurant space. They have near zero risk - and the restaurant always deals with the blame. Florida has also taken on more hurricanes than it prefers.
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