Restaurant phones never stop ringing, but you cannot afford to miss a single call. In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Randall Hom from Hosty AI shares how he went from stressed-out operator in San Francisco to building an AI voice assistant that answers calls, protects hospitality, and turns missed calls into real revenue.

Randall walks us through:

• Growing up in a family of operators and launching his own restaurant, Backpack
• The pain of having calls forwarded to his cell, even on closed days
• Why phone answering is one of the biggest hidden bottlenecks in restaurants
• How Hosty acts like a virtual host - answering questions, handling reservations, and capturing event leads
• A case study with Flour + Water and how sharing walk-in availability drove more traffic
• What it really takes to integrate with tools like Perfect Venue and reservation platforms
• The biggest fears operators have about AI and how to keep hospitality at the center
• Why AI will be an assistant, not a replacement, for great front-of-house teams
• How smaller independent restaurants can use AI to compete with big groups
  
  
  

If you are tired of missed calls, burned-out managers, and lost revenue, this conversation will give you a practical look at where AI voice tech is already working today - and what is coming next.

Connect with our guest:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hostie_ai
Website: https://hostie.ai/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

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Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

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What if your most loyal customers are the ones who had a problem… and you fixed it? In this eye-opening conversation, Ovation founder Zack Oates explains why guest recovery is the single biggest loyalty lever in restaurants. We break down the “first date” framework for guest experience, how to remove friction from the journey, and why consistency creates trust across locations.

Zack also shares how Ovation aggregates reviews and real-time feedback from first-party surveys and public platforms, turns it into simple operational scores, and guides GMs on what to fix next. We talk response rates, guest texting, and the stunning ROI of a fast recovery loop. On the leadership side, Zack opens up about building through adversity, aligning with your spouse on risk, and creating a culture of kindness, feedback, and ownership.

You’ll learn

• The guest-recovery math that turns complaints into lifetime value
• A simple way to greet, remove friction, and stay consistent across visits
• How to use AI-driven feedback to spot trends and set monthly ops goals
• Why kindness equals honesty when coaching teams
  
  
  
• Practical leadership habits that keep you grounded and focused
  
  
  

Connect with our guest:

• Social media links: https://www.instagram.com/zackoates
• Website: https://ovationup.com/
  
  
  

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, host Sebastian Stahl sits down with longtime Miami restaurateur Jimmy Carey, whose journey from dishwasher to chef to multi-location owner and now restaurant broker is filled with hard-earned lessons and practical wisdom.

Jimmy shares his 37-year journey through the highs and lows of the restaurant business — from underfunded beginnings and expansion challenges to understanding people, systems, and profitability. Learn how he reinvented himself after decades in operations to now help others buy, sell, and scale restaurants across Atlanta.

If you’re a restaurant owner, chef, or aspiring operator, this conversation is packed with truth, humility, and real-world advice on building sustainable success in today’s evolving restaurant industry.

Connect with our guest:
Website: jimmycareycommercialrealestate.com/

Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl

Follow us on social media to stay updated:

Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!