622: Lauren Brie Lynch on The Power of Improvising
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Release Date: 06/10/2019
1239: Willet Feng and Diane Wu Feng, Co-Owners of burger-chan
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Willet Feng and Diane Wu Feng are the Co-Owners of , a "mom and pop burger shop" founded in 2016 and located in Houston, Texas. Chef Ryan Stewart of Silver Linings Hospitality recently partnered with them and has taken over the major operations of burger-chan so that Willet can focus on is next concept, the still young . Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share,...
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1238: Charles Clark, Owner of Clark Concepts
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Charles Clark is the owner of Clark Concepts, based in Houston, TX. Charles was on the show for episode 666 back in 2019 and quite a lot has changed since then. In 2019, he had 6 concepts and a partner. He and his partner recently split amicably so that Charles could solely focus on . In addition to improving Brasserie 19, Charles is currently looking for a location for his next solo concept. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: - Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution...
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1237: Maria Degaine and Joshua Santana, Co-Founders of Cerboni Services
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Maria Degaine and Joshua Santana are the Co-Founders of Cerboni Financial Services, based in Houston, TX. Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution for restaurants. Maria's background is in hospitality and owning restaurants, while Joshua's background is in finance and tech. Together they formed Cerboni Services in 2017 to help independent restaurant manage their financials and lower costs through performance based metrics. Today, Cerboni helps around 800 restaurants nationwide. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our...
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1236: Jim Hallers, Founder & Managing Partner of Citizens Grill and Tailgators
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Jim Hallers is owner/co-owner of 8 bars and restaurants in the Magnolia/Woodlands Texas area of Texas. He opened his first restaurant, Tailgators, in 2009 at the age of 46 after a long and successful career in Information Technology. Today, his portfolio includes Citizens Grill, The Republic Grille, Good Charlie’s Oyster Bar and Kitchen, 2 distinct dive bars and 4 Tailgators. His 8 restaurants bring in 23 millions dollars in revenue. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: - Cerboni...
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1235: Dan Weinberger, Founder of Weinberger’s Deli
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Dan Weinberger is the Founder of located in Grapevine, Texas. Dan's parents opened and operated 5 deli's in Chicago from 1952 until 2000. Dan worked in his parent's stores growing up and eventually went to culinary school and opened his own deli, Weinberger's Deli, in 2002 in Grapevine, TX. Weinberger's Deli is still going strong today with plans to expand the current location's footprint. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: - Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution for...
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1234: Addie and Dustin Teague, Owners of Relish Restaurant and Bar
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Addie and Dustin Teague are the owners of located in Houston, TX. The pair are married and are both from Houston originally. Dustin worked in restaurants in Las Vegas and New York before returning to Houston. Addie attended culinary school and worked in places as revered as Eleven Madison Park in NYC, and also returned to Houston. In 2011, Addie opened Relish as a market and hired Dustin as her chef. The market version of Relish closed in 2015 and was reopened in 2016 as Relish Restaurant and Bar. In 2024, the second location opened. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up...
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1233: David Denis, Chef/Owner of Bistro Mistral
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Chef David Denis was born and raised in France with a grandmother and mother who both owned restaurants and cafes. David became a chef and ended up in Houston for a private chef gig and stayed. He opened his first restaurant in Houston in 2001, then opened his second restaurant 7 years later. He later became a consultant and finally in 2020 he bought with his partners. This year he became the sole owner of the restaurant and will rename it Bistro Mistral. He plans to open at least 4 more restaurants in Houston. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on...
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1232: Brian Reece and Steve Crowley, Co-Founders of Service Physics
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Brian Reece and Steve Crowley are the co-founders of . Service Physics is a multi-unit restaurant service consultant company based in NYC. The company was organically recommended by Haven Hot Chicken for franchising. Brian and Steve are hosting a live on December 9th, 2025. Go to to get a link to join that conversation! Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share,...
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1231: Dan Carr, CEO and Co-Owner of Visconti’s Hospitality Group
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Dan Carr is the Co-Owner of . The original Visconti’s was opened in 1985 in Wenatchee, WA. Dan moved to Wenatchee from the midwest in 1991 and started working in Visconti’s in 1993 after meeting the President and Owner, Candy Mecham. Dan and candy then opened a second Visconti’s in Leavenworth, WA and since then they have opened 6 concepts across 9 locations in Washington. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional...
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1230: What you need to know about L.T.O.’s with Anna Neave
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
This is a LIVE event all about Limited Time Offers (L.T.O.'s) and how to best utilize them in your business, as presented by Anna Neave. Anna is the owner of and in Austin, Texas! Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE...
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The University of Albany graduate, Lauren Brie Lynch had 10 years food and beverage experience before joining forces with Jay Janawsky, and Chad Vigneulle to open Harlem Public in 2011. With the moment the team went on to open At The Wallace in 2014, followed by The Honey Well in 2016. All three restaurants continue to go strong to this day. Addition, there is a food hall opening on the horizon in Washington Heights.
Show notes…
Favorite success quote or mantra:
"Make something good and the money will come."
In this episode with Lauren Brie Lynch we will discuss:
- How technology can positively impact you as the owner
- Knowing your lane and staying in it
- Defining roles
- The importance of mentoring your younger staff
- Stress management
- The numbers game for opening
- Risk factors
- Opening/building pains and how to deal
- Theft
- Building relationships with your staff
- The importance of checklists
- Social media
- Aesthetic is secondary
- The ins and outs of partnerships
- Technology in the restaurants
- Empower your staff
Today's sponsor:
BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more.
Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel’s streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable.
Knowledge bombs
- Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
- Communication
- What is your biggest weakness?
- "Getting stuck in my own head"
- What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
- Do I want to hang out with this person
- What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
- Remaining open-minded and staying relevant
- Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
- Be welcoming
- What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
- Asking how the guests is doing
- What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
- Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
- What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
- Humanizing staff
- What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations?
- If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
- Other people will come in and do something better
- I want to be like the cheers bar that welcomed anybody
- Many ways to skin a cat
Contact info:
- Social media: @harlempublic @thehoneywellnyc @atthewallace
Thanks for listening!
Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!
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Huge thanks to Lauren Brie Lynch for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!