Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast with Zack Oates

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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 importance of owning one core menu item
 What most restaurants get wrong about guest attention
 How Covid changed guest expectations around time
 Simple ways to elevate experience without overcomplicating
Thanks, Tom!
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-selementi-aa794719/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/spread-bagelry/about/
https://spreadbagelry.com/

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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 through controversy and creativity
 Why authenticity matters more than polish
 Lessons from raising $33M and scaling fast
 How failure reshapes better leaders
 Why the right team changes everything
 Balancing guest experience with profitability
Thanks, Pinky!
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinky-cole-879696a6/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sluttyveganatl/
https://sluttyveganatl.com/

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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 loyalty
 The shift from phone orders to digital and third-party delivery
 Simple but effective ways to follow up with guests
 What operators should consider when expanding locations
Thanks, David!
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cole-73227537/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-fratelli-pizza/about/
https://ifratellipizza.com/

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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’s DNA
 Why simplicity leads to better guest experience
 The role of culture in scaling restaurant brands
 How to create memorable in-store experiences
 Ways to bring hospitality back in a digital-first world
Thanks, Scott!
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/linkedinscottshotter/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/teriyaki-madness/about/
http://www.teriyakimadness.com/

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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 experience
 Why investing in general managers delivers the highest ROI
 What tech companies get wrong when selling into restaurants
 How strong relationships shape long-term success in the industry
Thanks, Melissa!
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-doolin-koehne/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevate4/about/