Barry Shuster

Executive Editor
RestaurantOwner Insights

Article

No Show, No Problem: How to Manage Last-minute Staffing Shortages

With experience, independent operators learn to schedule staff depending on the time of the year, the day of the week, and the weather. Still, the best laid plans go awry with inevitable last-minute employee no-shows. What to do?

Success Story

No Experience. No Problem. Frank Mendoza’s Unlikely Restaurant Success Story

Even for entrepreneurs with restaurant experience, opening a new concept is risky business. Imagine the challenges faced by an independent operator with zero restaurant experience when launching an unproven concept. Meet long-time RestaurantOwner.com member Frank Mendoza.

Article

Breakfast of Champions: Baking Cross-training Into Your Concept’s Culture

Management consultant Peter Drucker’s oft-cited quote "Culture eats strategy for breakfast" can be applied to employee cross-training. The strategic advantages of cross-training include diversification of employee skills that maximize workforce effectiveness and morale. Nevertheless, it must be baked ...

Article

Small Wonder: Succeeding with Small-plate Menu Items

Spanish tapas and Mediterranean meze fans have long-appreciated small-plate menus. When guests can order several decadent shareable items, it can foster a uniquely adventurous and convivial dining experience. Small-plate concepts work across multiple cuisines – if done well. Guests will ...

Article

Beyond Trivia Night: Out-of-the-box Solutions to Guest Traffic Doldrums

While many concepts successfully employ old-school tactics to put “butts in seats” midweek and off-season, you might want to consider these innovative approaches to boosting traffic.

Article

How to Add Custom Content to Your Content Library

RestaurantOwner.com provides Premium Members with the ability to import and edit more than 400 ready-to-go lesson and quiz templates into the Custom Training System. Our goal is to help you create training in minutes not months!

Training Video

Basic Management Styles

When it comes to managing people in a restaurant, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Having an adaptable leadership style is key, especially during ...

Training Video

Pre-Shift Meetings -- Communication for Success!

Are pre-shift meetings part of your daily routine? If not, they should be. Regular pre-shift meetings will profoundly impact your restaurant’s success ...

Training Video

Staff Training Video: Three Reservation Challenges and How to Handle Them

Even over the phone, hospitality matters. In this video, you’ll learn how to tackle three common reservation challenges and discover how effective communication ...

Training Video

Take Five: How to Promote Genuine Teamwork in your Kitchen

In the restaurant industry, it doesn't get much better than a busy kitchen during a rush, humming along like a well-oiled machine, sending out dish after ...