Steps to Success: What It Really Takes to Open a Restaurant from Scratch

Opening a restaurant isn't just about great food—it's about strategy, capital, leadership, and resilience. In this must-listen episode of Dine & Dish, host Michele DiMeo sits down with Gennaro DiMeo, seasoned restaurateur and operator, and Stephen DesLauriers, restaurant systems and operational support, to break down what it actually takes to open a restaurant from the ground up.

From concept and location to leases, build-outs, staffing, cash flow, and opening-day realities, this episode pulls back the curtain on the wins, the mistakes, and the hard truths every operator needs to hear—before signing a lease or lighting the burners.

If you're dreaming of opening a restaurant—or already in the trenches—this episode delivers real-world insight without the fluff.