The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.In this episode, Chris Britt, Chief Operating Officer of Epic Restaurants, joins us.For nearly five years, Chris has served in a leadership capacity at Agave & Rye, one of the fastest-growing restaurant concepts in the U.S. He has accumulated a diverse array of experiences since joining the Agave & Rye team in 2018, and through his expertise, Chris has helped continually grow the company into a now multi-brand restaurant group, touting such revered concepts as Agave & Rye, S.O.B. Steakhouse, Shindig Park—and the soon-to-be-unveiled, Trashy Dawg. Chris started as the GM of the original location in Covington, Kentucky, before taking the same position at Agave & Rye’s flagship location in Liberty Township, Ohio. Soon after, he was promoted to Regional Director, followed by a promotion to the Director of Operations role. Chris has been in his Chief Operating Officer role for more than a year, right in time for expansion plans in 2023.ResourcesListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. Host D.J. Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.On this episode, we’re joined by Stella Dennig, Co-Owner/GM of Daytrip in Oakland, California.Stella Dennig (she/her) is the Co-Owner/GM of Daytrip, a fermentation-driven party of a restaurant in Oakland, CA. Core to Daytrip’s mission is to push toward a more equitable future for this industry and at the center of that, its workforce. Daytrip has been written up for its employment practices by publications like Bon Appetit, The New York Times, and the SF Chronicle. Daytrip was a Bon Appetit top 10 Best New Restaurant in America in 2023 and Co-Owner/Chef Finn Stern was a James Beard Semifinalist in 2024.Topics Covered:Exploring Daytrip's Business Model: Equal entry-level wages and a shared service charge benefiting all staff challenge industry norms.Cultivating a culture of fairness through democratic management and transparent hiring practices.How regular team dialogues foster a supportive and inclusive work environment.ResourcesDaytripRAISE10 Best New Restaurants in America 2022 | Bon AppetitListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.On this episode, we’re joined by Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality in Seattle, WA.Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality, leads a multi-concept operator of full-service restaurants and oversees the successful Revelers Club loyalty program, boasting 80K members and contributing 30% to the company’s revenue since its 2011 inception. El Gaucho, the flagship concept founded in 1996, spans five locations, while Fire & Vine owns AQUA by El Gaucho, Aerlume, and the Witness Tree lounge. The Revelers Club extends to independently owned properties like Walla Walla Steak Co., Crossbuck Brewing, and Yellowhawk Resort in Walla Walla, WA. Drawing from two decades of hospitality expertise, Chad founded Brigado, a consulting and technology firm. He actively serves on Oracle's Customer Advisory Board for the Global Food and Beverage Industry Group and has held leadership roles in associations like the Washington Hospitality Association and Visit Seattle. Chad is a sought-after speaker on adapting compensation models for full-service restaurants in response to the $15 minimum wage.LinksFire & Vine HospitalityBrigadoListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.On this episode, we’re joined by Irene Shiang Li, Cofounder of Prepshift & Mei Mei Dumplings in Boston, Mass.Irene Shiang Li co-founded Mei Mei in Boston in 2013 and built the brand around ethical, sustainable sourcing and fair and transparent employment practices, including open book management. Mei Mei is now a dumpling company and Irene is now building Prepshift, a tech-enabled coaching and workforce training firm. Prepshift focuses on aligning food business teams around their common goals and empowering them with education and transparency. Irene believes that in restaurants, everyone can win. She is a Zagat and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, six-time James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef nominee, and 2022 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award winner. In 2023, Irene and her sister co-authored Perfectly Good Food: a totally achievable zero-waste approach to home cooking with W.W. Norton.Additional ResourcesMei Mei DumplingsPrepshiftOne Fair WageFollow Irene LiGet Irene’s BookListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. Host D.J. Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.On this episode, we’re joined by Ji Hye Kim, Chef/Owner of Miss Kim in Ann Arbor.Ji Hye was awarded one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2021 and a multi-time James Beard Award semifinalist. She also advocates for fair wages in the hospitality industry, working with organizations like One Fair Wage to enact change. We get into how staff are paid above the industry average at Miss Kim, the tools Kim uses to get her teams engaged, and more.Additional ResourcesMiss KimZingerman’sZingerman’s Community of BusinessesOne Fair WageRAISE: High Road RestaurantsListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Jason Hammel, Chef and Owner of Lula CafeGuest BioChef and owner Jason Hammel grew up in New Haven, CT and is the product of a tight Italian family. He studied writing at Brown University and then traveled in Italy where an accidental stay in an apartment above a produce market left a lasting impact and presaged his career as a chef. Upon returning to the U.S., he received his M.A. in English and moved to Chicago where he met his wife, musician and Lula co-founder, Amalea Tshilds. They live in Logan Square with their two children, Ismene and Cass.   Hammel’s writing has appeared in Bon Appetit and Lucky Peach/MAD feed. He is currently working on a cookbook to be released by Phaidon.  Additional ResourcesLula CafeMarisolPilot LightLula Cafe CookbookListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Kwini Reed, Co-owner of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and Root of All FoodsGuest BioKwini Reed is a Southern California native, wife, mother, and entrepreneur. She is the co-owner of brunch restaurant, Poppy + Rose in Downtown Los Angeles, Orange County dining destination, Poppy & Seed, and upscale catering company, Root of All Foods with husband and chef of these concepts, Michael Reed.She and her husband Michael Reed have received numerous accolades for these concepts, including Orange Coast Magazine's “Best New Restaurant” (Poppy & Seed); and CBS Los Angeles’ “Best All-Day Breakfast Restaurants in LA” (Poppy + Rose) - among others.She pioneers Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed's giving back initiatives as well, coordinating meal donations to organizations across LA, supporting first responders, social justice causes, youth development programs, and more. Kwini is active with local nonprofits, such as Brown Bag Lady, which provides meals to people experiencing homelessness in LA. Additional ResourcesPoppy & RosePoppy & SeedRoot of All FoodsKwini ReedListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Joe Kahn, Founder and CIO of Condado Tacos and Chris Artinian, CEO of Condado TacosGuest BioJoe Kahn is the Founder & Chief Innovation Officer at Condado Tacos. His passion for hospitality started at just 15 years old working at Sizzler and then Pizza Hut. Along the way, he learned to bartend and earned his first management position at The Outpost, a local Chicago venue. After decades of working in all aspects of the restaurant industry, Joe took the plunge to open his own restaurant—which failed. But instead of turning in his apron, he learned from his mistakes, borrowed money from his wife’s 401k, and founded Condado Tacos with several business partners. His focus on creating clean and craveable tacos in an environment that encourages creativity and community was a hit. By 2026, there will be 100 Condado Tacos restaurants! What’s Joe’s secret to success? Treating people well and really great tacos.Chris Artinian serves as President & CEO at Condado Tacos. He has over 30 years of restaurant and retail experience with private and public companies and extensive experience in restaurant and consumer services. He first encountered Condado Tacos while working at The Beekman Group and loved the concept so much that he joined the company to help chart the brand’s meteoric growth because he has the chops. Chris previously held CEO titles at TooJay’s Gourmet Deli, Bakery & Restaurant, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, and Morton’s. He’s recognized by industry peers for his deep operational experience in developing winning strategies and exceptional teams. he also serves on the Board of Directors of Another Broken Egg, Ted’s Cafe Escondido, and Condado Tacos.Additional ResourcesCondado TacosCondado Tacos Careers2021’s Breakout Brand of the Year: Condado Tacos Takes the LeadListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Michel Falcon, Founder & CEO of Brasa Peruvian KitchenGuest BioMichel Falcon is a restaurant entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and best selling author. His expertises are company culture, employee performance, and customer experience strategies. As the CEO & Founder of Brasa Peruvian Kitchen, he oversees all people and growth initiatives. Since August 2021, Brasa has succesfully opened three corporate-owned locations in Toronto, The company's next growth market in New York City in 2023.Additional ResourcesBrasa Peruvian KitchenMichel FalconBrasa Peruvian CareersListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Ron Hsu, Owner of Lazy Betty, Humble Pie, and Juniper CafeGuest BioChampion of fair wages, equality and great food. James Beard nominated Atlanta restaurateur Ron Hsu envisions an industry where the workforce doesn't rely on the goodwill of customers and strives for changes to the way things have always been done.Additional ResourcesLazy BettyHumble PieJuniper CafeRAISE High Road RestaurantsListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Eric Huang, Owner of Pecking HouseGuest BioEric Huang grew up in a Chinese-American restaurant in New York, a very common tale in the Chinese diaspora. He is an amateur cellist turned subpar college student turned chef. Despite investing many years and taking on crushing student debt to become a college-educated professional, he would return to work in restaurants because that’s where he felt most at home. He has been cooking in New York City for the last decade, honing his craft at Michelin-starred institutions such as Cafe Boulud, Gramercy Tavern and most recently as a sous chef at Eleven Madison Park. His dream was to open his own restaurant that would challenge the Western world’s prejudices against Chinese cuisine, but he encountered a minor obstacle in the spring of 2020. With his family’s restaurant, Peking House, shuttered due to the pandemic, he stepped in to do what he could and started frying chicken and delivering it to New Yorkers trapped in their apartments. This became wildly more successful than anyone planned on it being and thus Pecking House was born. He is now a fried chicken dealer in a restaurant landscape figuring out its direction in the wake of the pandemic. He has fully embraced the fast-casual restaurant life because it's fun, it’s tasty and you can put food on disposable plates.Additional ResourcesPecking HouseHow Pecking House's Chili Fried Chicken Became a Smash Hit in NYCEric Huang (@eric.p.huang) • InstagramMeet Eric Huang - Founder of Pecking House in New York CityListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Katie Button, CEO / Co-Founder of Katie Button Restaurants:  Cúrate, La Bodega by Cúrate, Cúrate Trips, curateathome.comGuest BioAsheville, North Carolina's beloved Cúrate, a collection of restaurants, online marketplace, wine club and culinary journeys designed to create exceptional and experiential access to Spanish culture. A Southern chef with a scientific mind, Button honed her craft in the kitchens of some of the world's best chefs, most notably Ferran Adrià and José Andrés, before venturing out to open Cúrate Bar de Tapas with husband Felix Meana and her family. Since, they have grown the Cúrate brand to include Cúrate Trips, Cúrate Spanish Wine Club, Cúrate at Home and most recently, La Bodega by Cúrate. Cúrate is part of the Katie Button Restaurants family, which includes Katie Button Media and Magnolia Network’s From The Source, a series exploring the origins and stories behind different ingredients.Among her many accolades, chef Katie Button was featured as one of Food & Wine's 2015 Best New Chefs. Cúrate was named as one of the "40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years" by Food & Wine and one of the "Most Important Restaurants of the Decade" by Esquire. In 2016, Button released her first cookbook, Cúrate: Authentic Spanish Food from an American Kitchen.In 2022, the James Beard Foundation nominated Katie for a 2022 Best Chefs in America: Southeast award and Cúrate Bar de Tapas won the Outstanding Hospitality award. Throughout it all, Katie continues to challenge the industry standard, steadily building comprehensive benefits to create a sustainable work environment for her living wage-certified restaurant group. She also is an active participant in the James Beard Foundation's Impact programs and is currently serving on the Independent Restaurant Coalition's leadership team.   Additional ResourcesCúrateLa Bodega by CúrateCúrate TripsJust EconomicsListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Eric Scheffer, Founder and CEO of Scheffer Group.Here are some of the highlights:How to treat your team like family and do it with sincerityHow Scheffer has kept staff around for yearsWhat goes into the group's $1620 average annual spend on health and mental wellness benefits per staff member Why Eric's restaurants have a 3% kitchen appreciation feeLeading with relentless generosity Guest BioEric Scheffer has been a pioneer and key member of the Asheville food scene for over 20 years.Originally from Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, Mr. Scheffer left behind a successful television and advertising career in L.A. to chase his true passions: food, wine, and people. After completely revamping The Savoy in 2000 to become one of the country’s preeminent fine dining restaurants—as well as put Asheville on the map as a restaurant destination—he went on to co-found AIR, the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association.Among Mr. Scheffer’s numerous hospitality ventures are the creation of Dining Innovations, Asheville’s premiere catering & corporate events company, Bodega Gratia, a boutique Argentinian winery, and Victus World Imports, where he imported wines from Argentina, Spain, and France. He currently owns Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian (voted best Italian restaurant in Asheville for 10 years in a row) and Jettie Rae’s Oyster House, which sit at number 2 and 3 on TripAdvisor’s best Asheville restaurants, respectively. With a slew of other concepts in the works, Mr. Scheffer is only just getting started.With the Scheffer Group, he’s proud to showcase the culmination of his hospitality experience. “Relentless generosity brings us closer together,” he often says, and the spirit of that sentiment is easy to see in every project he tackles.Additional ResourcesThe Scheffer GroupVinnie's ItalianJettie Rae's Oyster HouseCielo Catering AshevilleLantern HealthListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts (formerly The Restaurant Growth Podcast) breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Newton Hoang, Director of Marketing & IT at 7 Leaves Cafe. Here are some of the highlights:How your customers and employees are a reflection of one another7 Leaves’ foray into mobile orderingBuilding a Culture of Care that keep employees engaged and boosts retentionHow technology can help make all of the above easierGuest BioNewton Hoang is a: Marketing and IT unicorn. 25+ year food and beverage industry purist. Straight shooter with a side of empathy. Servant leader. Girl dad first, everything else second.Additional Resources7 Leaves CafeJoin Us - 7 Leaves CafeNewton Hoang on LinkedInAskNicelyGrandma's House of HopeListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Kelly Phillips, Founder of Destination Unknown Restaurants. Here are some of the highlights:How Kelly started her businessesThe decision to put many of her staff on a salaryThe impact that salaries have had on the team dynamicWhy salaried roles in restaurants aren’t all that radicalAnd how you can explore new comp strategies at your restaurantGuest BioKelly is Founder and Partner in Destination Unknown Restaurants, which is known across DC for Ghostburger (2020, 2022), Taqueria Las Gemelas (2021), and Destino (2021). Recent career accomplishments for Kelly include welcoming President Biden into Taqueria Las Gemelas for Cinco de Mayo shortly after the concept's opening, being part of the 2021 RAMMY winning team for the restaurant group's nomination in multiple categories, and landing on Washington Business Journal's 40 Under 40 2022 list and FSR's 2022 "Rising Stars" list. Kelly was also an integral part of the leadership team that transformed Las Gemelas Cocina Mexicana into Destino in December 2021. It reopened to glowing feedback from guests for their ambitious rustic Mexican fare. Shortly thereafter, Destino landed on Washingtonian Magazine's competitive list of the top 25 Best New Restaurants that opened during the pandemic alongside sister restaurant, Las Gemelas. In late summer 2022, Kelly also transitioned her first restaurant, Espita, into Ghostburger's first standalone concept in a full circle moment for the award-winning pandemic pop-up that began in Espita's Mexican kitchen. Across all of these concepts, Kelly has implemented a living wage at all of her restaurants and eliminated tipping, which she hopes will show other restaurateurs that reevaluating your wage structure is possible, and may even make your restaurant more successful. Additional ResourcesDestination Unknown RestaurantsDestinoTaqueria Las GemelasGhostburgerBiden calls in Ghostburger takeout order, leaves employee speechless - The Washington PostPresident Biden Surprises a DC Taqueria Owner by Dropping by on Cinco De Mayo - WashingtonianVirtual Restaurant Roundtable on Tip Management and StraListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. On this episode, we’re joined by Anthony Valletta, President of bartaco. Here are some of the highlights:How the restaurant industry has changed over Anthony’s decade-long career Bartaco’s heavy lean-in on technologyThe unique approach to training and career developmentBartaco’s radical wage structureAnd how all of those practices have bartaco poised for growth in 2023About Anthony VallettaAnthony Valletta is a restaurant and hospitality industry veteran with over 20 years of experience and deep knowledge in growing brands both big and small. Throughout his career, Valletta has opened two dozen restaurants with varying concepts. He currently serves as the President of bartaco, the upscale street food restaurant brand with a coastal vibe in a relaxed environment, and was previously the Company’s SVP of Operations. As President, Anthony is focused on helping bartaco grow while deepening its ties to local communities by creating jobs with growth opportunities. Prior to joining the bartaco team, Valletta served as Chief Operating Officer at restaurant tech concept, Birdcall. Other previous roles include Chief Operating Officer at fine dining concept Michael Mina in San Francisco, as well as Director of Operations at Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, where he oversaw locations in Chicago, Denver, New York City, Washington D.C., and Boston.Anthony is passionate about humanitarianism and has been named Humanitarian of the Year twice, once in 2014 by the Greg Hill Foundation and again in 2018 by March of Dimes. He received his Bachelor of Hospitality Administration and Hospitality Administration/Management from Boston University.Additional Resourcesbartaco careersGiANT Worldwide1HuddleOneDineAnthony Valletta on LinkedInScott Lawton on LinkedInListen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.How do you create a restaurant culture that attracts staff and retains them?We asked someone who’s done it—the one and only Danny Meyer.Danny Meyer is the founder of Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake Shack, one of the most prolific restaurateurs of our time. Danny is also a founder of Enlightened Hospitality Investments, which invests in companies that serve the hospitality space.Danny joined 7shifts CEO, Jordan Boesch, for a talk hosted by Danny Klein of Food News Media. From what culture is, to how it’s built, and how to use servant leadership, a lot of ground was covered. The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.Listen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.The restaurant business is notorious for being a tough one to work in. And for decades, it has been. But we’re at an inflection point—and restaurant leaders are rethinking what it means to be a part of this industry right now. A better work environment is here, and for guys like Adam Lamb, it’s a long time coming.Adam and I sat down to discuss his career as a chef, when he realized that things needed to change, and how he’s begun to do just that from his position as a leader. We also chat about what the new kitchen culture looks like, and how we can achieve it.The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.Listen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.Zunzi’s has one promise: to make everyone walk away saying “Shit Yeah!” Chris Smith, alongside his role as CEO, is the protector of that promise. In this episode, we chat with Chris about the culture at Zunzi’s and Zunzibar: the why behind it, how they maintain it, and what they hope it will do for their guests, community, and most importantly, their team. The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.About 7shiftsSince 2014, 7shifts has helped restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate with their workforce. Our team is comprised of people who live and breathe restaurant culture and strive to help our customers simplify team management, every single day.Listen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair

This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.On the latest episode of the show, we are joined by Amelie Kang, the owner of MáLà Project in New York City.Amelie opened the first location of her restaurant at the young age of 23—and has learned a lot of lessons along the way. Amelie takes us through: How her role (and team!) has changed as they've expanded to three locationsHer team’s people-first approach to employee managementHopes for the future of the restaurant businessWhat to order in your Szechuan dry potAnd more!The Restaurant Growth Podcast is presented by 7shifts and hosted by DJ Costantino.About 7shiftsSince 2014, 7shifts has helped restaurant managers schedule, evaluate, and communicate with their workforce. Our team is comprised of people who live and breathe restaurant culture and strive to help our customers simplify team management, every single day.Listen, rate, and subscribe!SpotifyApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsYouTubeTikTok7shifts BlogCreditsHost & Executive Producer: D.J. CostantinoEditor: Fina CharlestonProducer: Samantha FungDesigner: Jake Sinclair