806: Ken McGarrie Co-Founder of Korgen Hospitality
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Release Date: 06/14/2021
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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1229: Hannah Selinger, Author of Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
is a James Beard-nominated lifestyle writer and journalist based in Massachusetts. Hannah attended the French Culinary Institute and started working in the restaurants around 2002 in NYC. She worked for some very big names, such as David Chang. In addition to promoting her new book, a memoir titled , she is also promoting restaurant workers' rights in the modern age. Hannah asked that you use to purchase her book. Come hang with Hannah and me on 10/20/25 at 11 AM EST: https://zoom.us/j/6508205412 Join RULibrary: Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: ...
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1228: 7 Phases of Menu Engineering with Sean Willard
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Sean Willard has two decades of hospitality experience. He started in the business in his teens in a steakhouse and quickly moved through nearly all positions (FOH and BOH) until he landed at menu engineering. He then attended Cornell University's School of hotel Administration where he was taught by Stephani Robson (past guest many times over!). You can find Sean these days at https://www.menuengineers.com/ 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...
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1227: Jason E. Brooks, Keynote Speaker, Author, and Profitability Coach
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
is many things, including: keynote speaker, author, profitability coach, and podcast host. In the past, Jason has worked for so many impressive companies in the hospitality industry. Some of his roles include: Managing Partner at Ruby Tuesday, Director of Operations at LIME Fresh Mexican Grill, Franchise Business Consultant at Moe’s Southwest Grill, Franchise Operations Coach at The Wendy’s Company, and Strategic Leadership Facilitator at Runza Restaurants, among many others. Currently he is the Founder of Coach Up and Founder & Creator of CoachNext.AI. He is based in Charlotte,...
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1226: Three Elements that Define Excellence with Rudy Miick, Part 3
Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Rudy’s an executive coach, psychologist, restaurateur, writer, speaker, athlete and dad. His clients typically run at 3 – 5 times above median profit within our industry, and they get there within contract periods. He is a co-founder and curriculum creator for UCLA Extension’s Hospitality Management Program and was an adjunct professor there for 13 years. Rudy is a Certified Management Consultant, CMC®. This certification is only given after meeting the highest global standards and ethical canons of the profession. Less than 1% of all consultants have achieved this level of excellence....
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With Excitement allow me to introduce today's guest Co-founder Korgen Hospitality Group and Author of The Surprise Restaurant Manager, Ken McGarrie. Ken is also the author of the book The Surprise Restaurant Manager.
Ken McGarrie is the cofounder of Korgen Hospitality, a nationwide consulting firm dedicated to helping restauranteurs reach their absolute potential with effective leadership and maximum profitability. For the past two decades, he has helmed many successful restaurants, bars, and entertainment-based venues with a relentless focus on anticipatory service, staff empowerment, and attentive hospitality. He has helped launch new concepts and train hospitality leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada.
After failing to start an exceptional college band with only average talent, Ken worked as a server/bartender while writing for magazines and newspapers. He started in management the same way that many people do – by surprise. When his GM asked if he would take a set of keys and open the restaurant on occasion, he was suddenly promoted to manager with no training or preparation, like so many others in the industry.
Ken went on to open and manage numerous successful restaurants and entertainment venues. With Korgen Hospitality, he has an exceptional client list, including helping open over a dozen restaurants with Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani nationwide.
Check out Angel's Envy distillery as mentioned in today's episode.
Shoutout to The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group inChicago for hosting this interview!
Show notes…
Calls to ACTION!!!
- Join with a 30-day trial Restaurant Unstoppable Network and connect with my past guest and a community of superfans.
- 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:
- "Enjoy the ride."
In today's episode with Ken McGarrie we will discuss:
- Past experiences influencing you today
- Lobbying to be manager right out of the gate
- Working in nightclubs/as a bouncer
- Language
- Apathy
- Training/empowerment
- The host position
- Regrets
- Membership models?
- The Five G's
Today's sponsor:
Ecolab: Streamline your clean with Ecolab’s new EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer. It will help reduce risk, simplify your procedures and help ensure compliance. This solution cleans and sanitizes hard non-porous surfaces with a single product, eliminates the rinse step and equips your staff to clean more efficiently. Clean simplified, confidence delivered.
7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free.
BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant’s website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more.
Knowledge bombs
- Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
- Obsession
- What is your biggest weakness?
- Rumination
- What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
- Preparation
- "Who not to hire" Chapter 2 pg 11 From Ken's book
- What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
- Second guessing myself
- Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
- If you are comped in a restaurant, tip the original amount, not the discounted amount
- What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
- The guest is usually wrong
- What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
- The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson
GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM
- The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson
- What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
- Anyone who works for you could work anywhere for anyone
- Name one service you've hired.
- Talent Distinctions based in LA for HR
- What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls 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?
- My book
- Bill Hicks standup special "Revelations"
- Fish Bone album titled Truth and Soul
Contact info:
Find Ken's book right here.
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 Ken McGarrie for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!