The Late Night Restaurant Podcast Show

On this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, Jay and Domenic sit down with Karisa Marra from Square to dig into how modern POS systems are changing the game for restaurants.

Karisa shares her journey from working the floor in busy dining rooms to leading Square’s Canadian sales team, and she breaks down how today’s tech can give operators back entire days of their lives.

They talk about the real challenges restaurants face ...

This episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show is pure gold for anyone in foodservice. Jay, Dom, and Beck welcome Alton Watts, from Sysco Food Services, and the conversation swings from hilarious stories to hard‑earned lessons. Alton talks about growing up as the youngest of ten in Jamaica, learning to cook at his mother’s side, and eventually moving to Canada.

He shares how he stumbled into the kitchen world, turned a dishwasher s...

In this late-night deep dive, Jay and Beck jam on the chaos and promise of tech in the restaurant world from AI tools to SaaS fatigue to why operators are craving clarity more than ever. They get candid about social media noise, future industry trends, and share practical tips you can use tomorrow. Whether you’re running a single shop or a growing group, you’ll hear insights that hit home.

✅ 3 Key Takeaways

1. Tech is messy but full...

The Late night gets loud when John Di Domenico rolls into the studio. He’s an actor, comedian, and impression machine who can flip from Trump to Guy Fieri to Dr. Phil without breaking a sweat or a martini glass.

He tells us how he went from a kid with a speech problem to a guy who’s been on Howard Stern more times than some staffers, why he thinks Guy Fieri might hunt him down, and what really happens when you’re paid to be someone...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, we sit down with Antonio Cinaflone from FastTab, the Winnipeg-based company quietly transforming dine-in operations across North America. From cutting table turn times in half to increasing average checks by 22%, FastTab is giving operators a low-lift, high-impact solution that customers actually want to use.

We talk about what it takes to build tech in the prairies, why QR codes...

In this episode, we sit down with Craig Milliken-Smith from Calgary’s Grey Eagle Resort & Casino to talk about what it really takes to lead a massive food and beverage operations in the casino. From managing over 200 staff to promoting one of the best Indigenous restaurants in the country, Craig shares his real-world take on leadership, culture, and staying grounded in the chaos.

We get into everything from buffet strategy and 2...

What happens when you mix 25 years of kitchen grit, a dream restaurant in Medicine Hat, and dinner domes you can’t eat in? You get Josh Bennett and this week’s episode is a full pour of what it really takes to run one of Alberta’s most impressive independent restaurants. From Earl’s days and the talk about Jay's butter-basted wings to the magic of a pickle pizza, we talk culture, menus, mayhem, and how to lead a team without lo...

This week on The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, we sit down with one of Canada's most respected hospitality icons: Doug Stephen, founder of WOW Hospitality Group. From early dreams of becoming a doctor to finding his true calling in restaurants, Doug shares his incredible journey from pizza cook at 15 to industry legend and Hall of Famer. With nearly five decades in the business, he opens up about leadership, legacy, and how ho...

What happens when a seasoned U.S. restaurateur and coach moves to Calgary and starts helping Canadian operators rethink everything? You get a smart, funny, and totally unfiltered episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show.

In this episode, Jay, Dom, and Beck welcome Kevin Morrison a restaurant owner-turned-coach who brings decades of real-world experience to the mic. From the truth about coaching (hint: it’s not just spreadsheets) to...

This one’s for the folks who can make a perfect risotto but panic when it’s time to open a spreadsheet. In this episode, Jay and Dom sit down with Bruce Nelson, restaurant operator turned fractional CFO, for a real talk about the money side of the business. No fluff, no jargon, just stories, insight and honest advice from someone who’s helped countless operators move from barely surviving to building something sustainable. They get...

This week on The Late Night Restaurant Podcast we sit down with Jamil Bhuya, the mastermind behind Burgers n’ Fries Forever (BFF), to dig into what it really takes to build a standout burger brand in Canada. From his early days navigating Amsterdam’s late-night eats to opening his first location at just 22, Jamil walks us through his journey, sharing lessons on entrepreneurship, halal sourcing, marketing that actually works, and th...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, we’re joined by Joanna and Melissa from Taste the City, the duo shaking up how locals (not tourists!) experience the best food neighborhoods in Canada and beyond.

We go deep into how their tech-meets-food tour concept is making it easier (and way more fun) to support local restaurants, one mystery dish at a time. From building an MVP with $25k to ending up on Dragon’s Den, these ...

What happens when a global tech leader walks into a late-night restaurant podcast? You get a power-packed conversation with Brian Klinger, a key voice at Comcast Business, who’s not only transforming QSR and enterprise restaurant brands with cutting-edge tech, but doing it all with purpose.

Jay and Dom go deep into:

• The real reason why AI might actually save the restaurant industry (hint: it’s not what you think)

• How brands like C...

On this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, we sit down with Nick Scaccio, COO of Paris Baguette North America, to talk croissants, culture, and how a 4,000-location global brand stays consistent, innovative, and joy-driven. From training centers to trademark packaging, this isn’t just a bakery—it’s a masterclass in hospitality excellence. Plus, some wild ideas get tossed around (yes, including butter dipping stations and...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, host Jay Ashton welcomes Maxim Atanassov—entrepreneur, investor, and founding partner of Future Ventures—for a powerful, free-flowing conversation that covers everything from natural wine to venture studios to the emotional side of leadership. Maxim shares his journey from Bulgaria to Canada, launching multiple businesses, and why mentorship and vulnerability are now at the core...

In this powerful episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, Jay sits down with Ryan Handel, founder of FIXE, the innovative bookkeeping platform created by restaurant pros, for restaurant pros. They dive deep into the real financial challenges operators face every day — from cash flow crunches and POS headaches to why so many restaurants are still using outdated systems that don’t scale.

Ryan explains how FIXE streamlines everyth...

In this unforgettable episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show, the crew welcomes Sasha Rajamani, the founder of Pokko Chips — a bold, South Asian–inspired snack brand built from rice, chickpeas, and sheer determination. Sasha shares his unfiltered journey from milking goats in Alberta and scraping pig fat in a Toronto slaughterhouse to launching a breakout brand that’s now found in cafes, airports, and office snack programs acros...

In this special episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, Jay and Dom go behind the scenes with Kandrix Foong, the co-founder of NEXT Food Expo, set to take Western Canada by storm this September 8–9 at the BMO Centre in Calgary. From Comic Expo origins to chef parades, vendor sleepovers, and why shag carpet still sparks debate, this conversation is packed with laughs, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on what a trade show s...