#471 If I Owned Your Restaurant in 2026, Here’s What I’d Fix First

If I owned your restaurant in 2026, here’s exactly what I’d fix first—and why it matters now more than ever. In this episode, I break down the Restaurant Operator Playbook for the year ahead, focusing on the systems, leadership, and profit drivers that separate struggling restaurants from those that thrive. We cover how to stand out in a crowded market, build true leaders instead of babysitting managers, hire and retain A-players, tighten labor and prime costs, and stop the silent profit leaks hiding in your menu, portions, and daily operations. I also share proven strategies for increasing check averages, creating raving fans, and adding new cashflow streams without adding more stress or labor. This isn’t theory. These are the exact systems I used to build profitable restaurants—and what I’d put in place immediately if I were running yours today. If you want clarity, control, and stronger margins in 2026, this episode is your starting point. Run a Smarter, More Profitable Restaurant. Discover the proven systems & solutions that drive sales, train staff, and maximize your margins. Join The Restaurant Academy now: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy Thank you to our sponsors: • The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits, maximize sales and train your team in restaurant fundamentals! https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/ • Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish, every daypart like Smithfield’s new ready to eat select bacon, new ground chorizo or the broadest portfolio of pork. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. To order or more information go to: https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield • AtlasNova: AtlasNova is like having an AI CMO and COO built into one platform. It connects your POS and marketing data, tells you exactly what matters, and then actually helps execute: campaigns, insights, next best actions, all without adding headcount. Less guessing. Less busywork. Better results. If you want your business to run smarter, not harder, check out AtlasNova at https://www.atlasnova.ai/rockstars and Get 20% off using the code Rockstars20