Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast with Zack Oates
Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast is your backstage pass to the minds of hospitality leaders, innovators, and operators who are redefining what it means to serve. Hosted by Zack Oates, founder of Ovation, each episode dives into real-world tactics and inspiring stories from restaurant pros who know how to create five-star guest experiences—both in-store and off-premise. From fast casual to fine dining, catering to curbside, learn how to drive loyalty, empower your staff, and deliver hospitality that hits home. Whether you're a restaurant owner, operator, marketer, or tech partner, this podcast will leave you with practical insights and plenty of reasons to celebrate and Give an Ovation.
Episodes
Atul Sood, Chief Business Officer at Curry Up Now, joins Zack Oates to discuss the evolving relationship between restaurant operators and technology providers. Drawing from leadership roles at McDonald's, Kitchen United, and across the food tech ecosystem, Atul shares why relationships still matter, how operators should evaluate technology partners, and why the future belongs to companies that solve real problems ra...
Lance Salsman, SVP of Operations at Mike’s Red Tacos, joins Zack Oates to talk about scaling an experiential restaurant brand while staying obsessed with guest feedback. From his early days working at Pizza Hut as a teenager to leading operations at some of the biggest taco and pizza brands in the country, Lance shares what it takes to build systems that support both team members and guests.
Zack and Lance disc...
Michael Montagano, CEO of Dog Haus, joins Zack Oates to talk about thoughtful restaurant growth, franchise alignment, and why strong hospitality starts with building the right foundation. Drawing from his family’s restaurant background and years in finance and operations leadership, Michael shares how Dog Haus is scaling while staying true to its culture and guest experience.
Zack and Michael discuss:
- Why re...
Adam Sanders, CFO of Killer Burger, joins Zack Oates to talk about the connection between guest experience and profitability. Coming from a finance and technology background, Adam shares how data, operational discipline, and hospitality all work together to drive long-term restaurant success. He also explains why the little things, from greeting guests to checking order accuracy, matter more than ever in today&rsquo...
Derrick Hayes, founder and CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, joins Zack Oates to share the story behind one of the fastest growing brands in the country. What started as a way to honor his father has turned into a culture-driven company built on community, consistency, and care. Derrick breaks down how customer service became his biggest growth driver, why culture matters more than perfection, and how he keeps t...
Anthony Valletta, CEO and President of bartaco, joins Zack Oates to break down what guest experience really looks like today. From managing expectations shaped online to delivering consistent in-store experiences, Anthony shares why the “floor” matters more than the “ceiling” and how brands can close that gap. He also dives into leadership, saying no, and why training for recovery matters mor...
Jennifer Schuler, CEO of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and former CEO of Wetzel’s Pretzels, joins Zack Oates to talk about what really drives guest experience today. She shares why people are craving in-person connection more than ever, how small “micro moments” shape loyalty, and where restaurants go wrong with technology. From building an 80-year brand to scaling with intention, Jennifer expl...
Tom Selementi of Spread Bagelry joins Zack Oates to break down what actually drives guest loyalty in a crowded category. From premium positioning to operational discipline, Tom explains why winning in breakfast and lunch comes down to speed, consistency, and experience.
Zack and Tom discuss:
- Why you don’t need to reinvent the product to win
- How speed directly impacts guest satisfaction
- The im...
Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, joins Zack Oates to share how bold branding, authenticity, and resilience built one of the most talked about restaurant concepts in the country. From creating a name that sparks conversation to navigating failure, debt, and rebuilding, Pinky breaks down what it really takes to grow a brand people connect with.
Zack and Pinky discuss:
- Building a brand that stands out...
Zack Oates sits down with Melissa Doolin-Koehne of Elevate Four to talk about what actually moves the needle in today’s restaurant environment. With decades of experience across operations, data, and leadership, Melissa brings a grounded perspective on what still works.
Zack and Melissa discuss:
- Why clarity around your value proposition matters more than ever
- The role of culture in driving guest e...
Zack Oates sits down with David Cole of i Fratelli Pizza to talk about building a restaurant brand that lasts. With nearly four decades in the business, David shares what it takes to grow from a small family operation to a multi-location brand while staying consistent.
Zack and David discuss:
- Why relationships are the foundation of any successful business
- How complaint recovery builds stronger customer ...
Zack Oates sits down with Scott Shotter of Teriyaki Madness to break down what actually makes restaurant brands stand out. With experience leading iconic brands like Moe’s, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, and Condado Tacos, Scott shares a practical perspective on building culture, simplifying operations, and creating experiences guests remember.
Zack and Scott discuss:
- How to identify and protect your brand&r...
Zack Oates sits down with Sterling Douglass of Chowly to talk about why AI adoption in restaurants is accelerating faster than any previous tech wave. After years of slow adoption across online ordering, POS, and delivery, operators are now leaning in and moving quickly.
Zack and Sterling discuss:
- Why restaurants are embracing AI faster than past technology shifts
- How COVID changed the industry’s ...
Zack Oates sits down with Jeff Galletly of Brooklyn Dumpling Shop to unpack what it really takes to scale a brand across both restaurants and retail. Jeff shares how the company has grown rapidly while improving guest experience, and why everything starts with getting the food right before anything else.
Zack and Jeff discuss:
- Building Brooklyn Dumpling Shop across restaurants and CPG
- Why restaurants ac...
Will Stewart, Founder and CEO of RightWork, joins Zack Oates to explore how labor decisions directly shape the guest experience. With a background as a data scientist at Starbucks, Will brings a unique perspective on how restaurants can use data to make smarter operational decisions.
Zack and Will discuss:
- Why labor should be seen as an investment, not just a cost
- How understaffing impacts both guests a...
Zack Oates sits down with Kevin Boehm of Boka Restaurant Group to explore the mindset behind building one of the most respected hospitality groups in the country. From early career risks to scaling multiple award-winning concepts, Kevin shares how creativity, consistency, and resilience shape long-term success.
Zack and Kevin discuss:
- Building Boka Restaurant Group into a nationally recognized brand
- Why...
David Youngberg, CEO of Stonefire Grill, and Matt Calabrese, CTO, join Zack Oates for a deep dive into what it actually takes to scale a restaurant brand without losing what makes it special. From feeding 5,500 guests in under an hour to building a business where catering drives over 20% of revenue, they share real operational insights from inside the brand.
Zack, David, and Matt discuss:
- How catering can be...
Jessica Serrano, CMO of Bagel Brands, joins Zack Oates to share how marketers can better understand what makes a brand truly stand out. With experience across Burger King, Taco Bell, and Dig In, Jessica brings a sharp perspective on how guest insights shape strategy.
- Zack and Jessica discuss:
- Finding what makes your brand uniquely valuable
- Why scrappy guest research often beats big budgets
- How to b...
Zack Oates sits down with Steven Droulis, owner of Resto Vivaldi in Montreal, to explore how a family restaurant built an enormous online following while staying authentic to its roots. With hundreds of videos and hundreds of millions of views across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, Steven shares how consistency, authenticity, and educational content helped his restaurant break through on social media.
They discuss ho...
Zack Oates sits down with Chris Gannon, founder and CEO of Bolay, to discuss what it takes to build a restaurant brand that lasts. After more than a decade in business and over 20 locations, Chris shares lessons from navigating growth, challenges, and maintaining a strong culture.
They explore how guest experience is shaped through small moments, why hiring the right people is critical, and how recognition and celebr...
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