716: Danielle Rosse on Live and Die by Your Budget
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Release Date: 05/21/2020
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Today's guest will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on August 24th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Kathy Terry co-founded with her husband, Patrick Terry, in 2005, opening the first location in Austin, Texas. Known as the company’s guiding conscience, she helped shape the brand’s mission around quality food, exceptional service, and community-minded...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Robert Sloop is the CEO of , a consulting firm that helps restaurant operators improve financial performance, operations, and tech stack implementation. With over 30 years in foodservice, he has served as CFO for leading multi‑concept restaurant groups and now advises owners on data‑driven systems and continuous improvement. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: - - Private event leads die in inboxes every day. Mia fixes that. She's an AI agent that responds within seconds,...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Mike Bausch is an industry leader whose restaurant, Andolini's Pizzeria, is a top ten pizzeria in the US, as named by Trip Advisor, BuzzFeed, CNN and USA Today. Andolini's began in 2005 and has grown to five pizzerias, two gelaterias, two food-hall concepts, a food truck, and a fine dining restaurant by 2020. He's a World Pizza Champion, a Guinness Book world record holder, and a writer for Pizza Today, and the author of Unsliced: How to Stay Whole in the Pizzeria Business. Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Today's guest will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on July 27th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! is the co‑founder and owner of Beto’s Mexican Restaurant, a family‑owned Mexican restaurant based in Grand Prairie, Texas, that has been serving the community since 1993. A lifelong Grand Prairie resident and graduate of South Grand Prairie High School,...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Today's guests will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on August 10th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Peter and Martha Pollay are the cofounders of Mandara Hospitality Group, the Asheville restaurant group behind Posana and other hospitality-driven concepts. Built around a philosophy of local ingredients, sustainability, and intentional service, their work...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Today's guest will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on August 3rd, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Molly Irani is the cofounder and chief culture officer of the James Beard Award-winning Chai Pani Restaurant Group in Asheville, North Carolina. She has helped shape the company’s celebrated hospitality, community-minded culture, and people-first management...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Today's guests will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on July 27th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown are the husband-and-wife team behind Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group, one of Charlotte’s most distinctive hospitality groups. After leaving corporate life to travel through Europe, they returned home inspired to open a...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Dan Simons is the co-founder and co-owner of Founding Farmers Restaurant Group, a mission-driven hospitality company built around sustainable food, responsible business practices, and support for American family farmers. Along with his partner Michael Vucurevich, he helped grow Founding Farmers into one of the most recognized restaurant groups in the Washington,...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Today's guests will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on July 13th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Chef Mike Cordero is the chef and owner of Cordero Hospitality, bringing more than four decades of experience in the hospitality industry to some of Northern Virginia’s most recognizable restaurants. Known for his creativity, entrepreneurial drive, and...
info_outlineRestaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Today's guests will join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network for a live Q+A on July 6th, 2026 at 11AM EST. To join us and engage with all our guests and events, go to restaurantunstoppable.com/live -OR- to just catch today's guest, head over to restaurantunstoppable.com/cwe and we will get you a link to join that specific event for FREE! Greg Casten is a veteran restaurateur and co-owner of Fish & Fire Food Group, with more than four decades of experience in the fish and seafood industry. He has helped create, develop, and build standout concepts including Ivy City Smokehouse and Tavern,...
info_outlineDanielle Rosse was just 22 and recently widowed when she first opened Oceans 234 in 2001. In 2013 She purchased the restaurant to become the sole owner of the establishment and in 2015 she underwent a massive $1.8-million-dollar renovation on the property elevating the guest experience.
In addition to Oceans 234 in 2007, Rosse launch The Whale Raw Bar, A neighborhood New England Raw bar in Parkland. After six years of successful business ownership she sold in 2013.
Grounds Zero Bootcamp a guided online Bootcamp dedicated to helping restaurants rebuilding their business.
Check out episode 437 with David Scott Peters about menu engineering as mentioned in today's episode.
Check out Tripleseat Sales and Event Manaent Software as mentioned in today's episode!
We interviewed the Founder of Tripleseat. Check out that episode here.
Show notes…
Calls to ACTION!!!
- Click Here to save half off on your GroundZero: Virtual Hospitality Bootcamp
- Enter promotional code "dontstop" for 50% off!
- Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel
- Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group
- Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!)
Favorite success quote or mantra:
"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
In today's episode with Danielle Rosse we will discuss:
- Mentors
- Budgeting
- Labor costs
- Recipe costs
- Relinquishing control of aspects of your business
- The 2008 recession
- Preparing to sell your business
- Inventory best practices
- Toast POS and why she uses it
- Hand-held tablet ordering and how to integrate it into you restaurant
- COVID-19 reactions and plans; transitioned into a grocery store
- We must stay relevant, especially during COVID-19
- Ground Zero Bootcamp; what is it?
Today's sponsor:
Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.
Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.
Knowledge bombs
- Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
- "Sense of responsibility"
- What is your biggest weakness?
- "My people skills"
- What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
- "Sense of responsibility"
- What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
- "Being open with down revenue"
- Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
- "Everything matters"
- What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
- Empathy
- What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
- The Culture Solution by Matthew Kelly
- Restaurant Prosperity Formula by David Scott Peters
- GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
- What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
- Budgeting
- Name one service you've hired.
- The Largo Group - accounting
- What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced 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?
- Use time, talent, and resources to give back to your community
- Care about your team
- Create the life you want for yourself
Contact info:
Email: danielle@oceans234.com
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!
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.
Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.
And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.
Huge thanks to Danielle Rosse for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!
