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Artwork for So You Want to Run a Restaurant?

So You Want to Run a Restaurant?

Back of House
Restaurant Industry
Earls Restaurants
Leadership
Mentorship
Growth Strategies
Canada
United States
Cali BBQ
Hospitality
Entrepreneurship
Chicago
Philadelphia
Bridget Foy's
Grand Rapids, United States
Dorados
Midnight Pasta
Private Chef Industry
Podcasting
James Beard Award
Cry Baby Pasta

So You Want to Run a Restaurant is a podcast from Back of House that goes behind the scenes with restaurant owners and operators across the country to talk candidly about the realities of the restaurant and foodservice business.

Whether you're dreaming of opening your first restaurant or already in the thick of it, this podcast has unfiltered stories, restaurant management and operations tips, an... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes65Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessFoodArts

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Artwork for So You Want to Run a Restaurant?

Latest Episodes

What happens when you walk away from a path to becoming a doctor, and end up becoming a Shachi Mehra - a Food Network Chopped champion, restaurant owner, and founder of a sauce brand?

In this episode, we sit down with Chef Shachi Mehra to talk about... more

So you want to launch a private chef business? 👩‍🍳

In this episode, we sit down with Dara Lyubinsky, founder of Nourish Culinary, to break down what it really takes to build a successful personal chef company; from cooking in New York’s high-press... more

In this episode, Claudia Saric and Spencer Michiel sit down with Cody Bates, restaurateur, hospitality leader, and co-founder of Bates Co.- the group behind Kansas favorites like the Burger Stand, Taco Zone, Bon Bon, and the art-driven Cider Gallery.... more

Today, we sit down with Chef Alam Mendez Florian, chef and co-owner of Apapacho at La Cosecha Food Hall in Washington, DC.

Born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, Alam grew up literally inside his parents’ restaurant, La Quinta Letras—recognized by the ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Codi Bates
Restauranteur, hospitality leader, and co-founder of Bates Co; board member of IRC and Lawrence Restaurant Association
Bates Co; Independent Restaurant Coalition; Lawrence Restaurant Association
Episode: Codi Bates: So You Want to Build a Better Restaurant Industry?
Alam Mendez Florian
Chef behind Apapacho taqueria at La Cosecha Food Hall, Washington, DC
Apapacho, La Cosecha Food Hall
Episode: Alam Mendez Florian: So You Want to Open A Mexican Taqueria?
Valerie Mnuchin
First-time restaurateur, owner of Leon 1909 on Shelter Island
Leon 1909
Episode: Valerie Mnuchin & Chef Armond Joseph: So You Want to Run A Seasonal Restaurant All Year Round?
Armand Joseph
Executive Chef at Leon 1909
Leon 1909
Episode: Valerie Mnuchin & Chef Armond Joseph: So You Want to Run A Seasonal Restaurant All Year Round?
Zoey Heyn
Founder of Zo's Mini Donuts
Zo's Mini Donuts
Episode: Zoey & Lydia Heyn: So You Want to Launch a Food Truck Business at 15?
Lydia Heyn
Co-founder of Zo's Mini Donuts
Zo's Mini Donuts
Episode: Zoey & Lydia Heyn: So You Want to Launch a Food Truck Business at 15?
Alfredo Arcobelli
Private chef focused on home events and private dining experiences
Independent private chef
Episode: Alfredo Arcobelli: So You Want To Become a Private Chef?
Maya Madsen
Founder of Maya's Cookies, vegan cookie company
Maya's Cookies
Episode: Maya Madsen: So You Want to Turn Your Side-Hustle Into A Thriving Business?
Enga Stanfield
Co-founder of Matengas Pizzeria
Matengas Pizzeria
Episode: Hengam Stanfield: So You Want to Fail, Learn From Mistakes, And Grow Your Restaurant?

Hosts

Claudia Seric
Producer and host with deep involvement in the show's industry conversations
Spencer Michael
Co-host with extensive restaurant background, contributing operational perspective
Claudia Czerak
Co-host leveraging hands-on restaurant experience to guide discussions

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 25 ratings
  • So good!!

    My business partner & I love this podcast 🩷

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Econ1242
    United States2 months ago
  • Love learning about trends

    Another great podcast from Back of House! Love learning about the trends in the industry. It’s really cool that there’s always a new guest to learn from, too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beth Nintzel
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Love the practical takeaways for running a restaurant.
The show consistently highlights community impact and mentorship in foodservice.
Listeners appreciate hearing from operators who share real-world challenges.
Guests bring diverse perspectives from across the hospitality sector.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#183
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#174
Australia/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#245
Germany/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#89
Poland/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#208
Netherlands/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#234
Ireland/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Zoey & Lydia Heyn: So You Want to Launch a Food Truck Business at 15?
Q: What three pieces of advice would you give to other young people starting a food brand or truck?
Keep it simple and take action immediately, rely on a strong support system, and prioritize customers over ego while iterating based on feedback and data. Start with achievable goals, avoid overcomplicating the offering, and steadily scale as you validate demand.
Chef David Standridge: So You Want to Create an Award-Winning Sustainable Seafood Restaurant?
Q: Why focus on sustainability and local purveyors, and how has that shaped your award-winning work?
Sustainability for me goes deeper than the plate; it's about supporting fishermen, preserving livelihoods, and partnering with local communities. This mindset helped us win the James Beard Award by aligning culinary excellence with social impact and responsible sourcing.
Chef David Standridge: So You Want to Create an Award-Winning Sustainable Seafood Restaurant?
Q: What was it like working in high-profile Michelin environments, and how did you evolve from that experience?
The environments were brutal and highly demanding, with a culture of fear. Over time I learned that you can achieve excellence without breaking people, and soft leadership paired with clear expectations is more effective for building strong teams and delivering great food.
Chef David Standridge: So You Want to Create an Award-Winning Sustainable Seafood Restaurant?
Q: How did your early life influence your approach to food and hospitality?
Growing up in Vernon, New Jersey, with extensive time on lakes and in the woods, taught me to respect seasonal, local ingredients and to use everything available. That background, plus time on the water with family from New York, wired me to value sustainability and community in food.
Chef Carlos Lopez Muñoz: So You Want to Open a Modern Oaxacan Restaurant
Q: How did your experiences learning from mentors like Carlos Gaitan and Rick Bayless shape your cooking and your decision to open Istmo in Chicago?
They taught me to translate traditional flavors into a Chicago context, focus on the background of ingredients, and tell a story with each dish; they also stressed the importance of digging deeper into recipes and connecting with guests on a cultural level.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About So You Want to Run a Restaurant?

What is So You Want to Run a Restaurant? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show pulls back the curtain on running and growing foodservice businesses, spotlighting operators, founders, and leaders who have built restaurants, bars, or hospitality concepts from the ground up. Episodes center on entrepreneurship, scaling teams, brand storytelling, community impact, and the realities of daily operations—often with a strong emphasis on resilience, mentorship, and navigating industry shifts with creativity and tech. A notable through-line is the blend of hospitality with broader business strategy, from leadership-minded culture to leveraging media and marketing to reach customers. The format tends to mix personal origin stories with practical lessons, making it particularly useful for aspiring operators and operator... more

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Which podcasts are similar to So You Want to Run a Restaurant??

These podcasts share a similar audience with So You Want to Run a Restaurant?:

1. Build A Better Restaurant with Peter Harman
2. RESTAURANT STRATEGY
3. A Deeper Dive
4. Restaurant Daily
5. Crime Junkie

How many episodes of So You Want to Run a Restaurant? are there?

So You Want to Run a Restaurant? launched 5 years ago and published 65 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on So You Want to Run a Restaurant??

Recent guests on So You Want to Run a Restaurant? include:

1. Codi Bates
2. Alam Mendez Florian
3. Valerie Mnuchin
4. Armand Joseph
5. Zoey Heyn
6. Lydia Heyn
7. Alfredo Arcobelli
8. Maya Madsen

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