He’s opened restaurants that printed millions, coached teams out of chaos, and still managed to let his website expire.

This episode of the Vilardi Digital Podcast features Vince Kassay—an operator, mentor, and guy who’s been in the hospitality game long enough to spot BS from across the dining room.

We talk about:

What actually kills culture in restaurants (it’s not what you think)

Why most consultants don’t fix anything

The myth of “great customer service” in 2025

Real stories from Carrabba’s to $6M restaurant openings

How to lead without pretending you have all the answers

There’s no script here. Just two guys who’ve worked the floor, trained people, and still care about doing things the right way—even when it’s messy.

🎙️ Watch. Subscribe. Or don’t. Just don’t fake it.

Chapters
00:00 – Intro
03:40 – Early days at Carrabba’s
08:15 – Opening a monster restaurant with Whiskey Cake
13:30 – Systems vs chaos
18:10 – Coaching people who are stuck
24:50 – Customer service is dead?
30:00 – Digital presence = business reputation
34:00 – Lightning round
38:00 – Final truth bomb

#VilardiDigitalPodcast #HospitalityRealTalk #RestaurantLife #LeadershipWithoutBuzzwords #VinceKassay #NoFluff #CreativeLeadership #TampaPodcast #OperatorEnergy #PodcastStudioVibes

The Vilardi Digital Show is produced in our custom-built podcast studio in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weeekly/monthly.

Follow & Connect:

• Instagram: @vilardidigital
• TikTok: @vilardidigital
• YouTube: Vilardi Digital
• Website: www.vilardidigital.com

🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?
Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio