I opened this episode with a simple truth: restaurants don’t win on one great meal — they win on the second and third visits. In my conversation with hospitality pro Darren Denington, we unpack what really drives repeat business right now: first impressions that stick, value guests can feel (beyond price) and service that creates a personal connection. You’ll hear how to turn a first-time guest into a regular, what “value” actually means to today’s diners, where operations quietly erode loyalty and how to use systems, training, accountability — and yes, secret shopping — to keep experiences scoring in the 90s. This is a playbook for owners who want more visits, higher check averages and a reputation that markets itself.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Service with Style: www.servicewithstyle.com/dsp

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: https://www.davidscottpeters.com

Who doesn’t love a comeback story? In episode 135 of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I sit down with Linda Grace Zadoian, owner of Piccadilly Grace Café & Market in San Marino and South Pasadena, California, to trace her path from middle-market finance to multi-unit operator who rediscovered joy in the business. You’ll hear how she stabilized after inflation shocks, literal wildfires and personal loss — not through heroics, but by embracing leadership, systems, training, accountability and taking action. Expect to learn what changed in her mindset, the specific levers she started pulling, and why community and the right implementer turned overwhelm into momentum.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Service with Style: www.servicewithstyle.com/dsp

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: https://www.davidscottpeters.com

What happens when the coach becomes the one in the hot seat? In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I hand the mic to longtime friend and Mastery Plus member, Brian Sandel, co-owner of Creekwood Grill in Cypress, Texas. Sandel brings decades of restaurant experience to the table — and plenty of tough, thoughtful questions. Together, we dive into leadership lessons, the realities of restaurant ownership and even personal stories that shaped my journey. If you tune in, you’ll hear candid insights about success, failure, impostor syndrome, and why systems and processes are the foundation of lasting prosperity in the hospitality and restaurant business.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Service with Style: www.servicewithstyle.com/dsp

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: https://www.davidscottpeters.com

When money’s tight, creativity has to be tighter — and that’s exactly what you’ll learn about in episode 133 of the “Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast. I share how the most resilient operators innovate without big tech, big teams or big checks. You’ll learn how to spot high-impact opportunities right under your nose, pressure-test ideas cheaply, measure what matters (so you stop guessing) and either scale the winners or kill the losers — quickly. You’ll also hear real results from fellow owners who trimmed food cost, simplified menus, boosted repeat visits and turned “dead space” into revenue. This is a blueprint for using leadership, systems, training, accountability and action to create momentum when the margin for error is paper thin.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Service with Style: www.servicewithstyle.com/dsp

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: https://www.davidscottpeters.com

If your restaurant feels like it’s running your life, this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast is for you. I invited leadership expert and author of “Watch Me Rise Dr. Doug “Dr. Luff” Luffborough — who went from homelessness to Harvard and a career coaching leaders — to join me and talk straight to restaurant owners about why prosperity starts with leadership. We connect his story to the Restaurant Prosperity Formula I teach and focus on what you can expect to learn: how your personal life fuels your leadership, how your default style shapes results and how balanced teams create freedom and profit.

Learn more about Dr. Luff at https://www.drluff.com

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – America’s Best Restaurants: https://dsp.coach/ABR-podcast

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: https://www.davidscottpeters.com

What does it take to go from pulling double shifts in your family’s restaurant to running four successful locations while still making time for family? In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I sat down with Matt Jacobs, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant entrepreneur who built Ben Franklin’s Tap Room and now owns three Jersey Mike’s franchises. Matt shares his journey of starting out overwhelmed, underpaid and stuck in the day-to-day grind to creating systems, building a strong leadership team, and ultimately gaining both financial and personal freedom. Listeners will walk away with inspiration and clarity on what’s possible when you commit to systems, accountability and scaling with purpose.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – America’s Best Restaurants: https://dsp.coach/ABR-podcast

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

When restaurant burnout hits its peak, what comes next can be your most powerful transformation. In episode 130 of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I flip the script, literally. Longtime restaurateur and community favorite Bob Cady takes over the mic to interview me in a deeply personal and insightful conversation. We dive headfirst into the mindset challenges that make or break independent restaurant owners, the pivotal moments that lead to transformation, and why systems alone won’t save your business unless your brain is in the game. Whether you're exhausted from years in the trenches or just hitting your stride, this episode is a raw and energizing look at what it really takes to create a prosperous, sustainable business.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – America’s Best Restaurants: https://dsp.coach/ABR-podcast

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Ever wonder why some restaurants seem to hum along like a perfectly tuned engine while others grind through each shift with staff drama and burnout? In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I dig into one of the most overlooked drivers of restaurant profitability and long-term success: staff well-being. This isn’t fluff. It’s about results — better retention, higher morale, and ultimately, more money in your pocket. You’ll learn why mental health, work-life balance and building a culture of safety and recognition aren’t just good intentions — they’re mission-critical strategies for thriving in today’s restaurant industry.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – America’s Best Restaurants: https://dsp.coach/ABR-podcast

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com