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Restaurant Rewind

`Those who don’t know their history are destined to relive it', to riff on the words of a famed philosopher. For anyone in the restaurant business, that oft-quoted saying may be more of a heartening promise than a dire admonition. The industry’s past is packed with tales of scoundrels and heroes, big thinkers and pinheads, colossal successes and dismal failures, breakthrough moves and self-inflicted destruction. Few soap operas pack as much color and drama. Yet those yellowed snapshots provide insights relevant to the challenges of today. Join Peter Romeo, a 41-year veteran of the business with a penchant for restaurant history, as he explores those pivotal moments from the past. 

Operations

Don't even think about asking these restaurant operators to bend the rules

 By Peter Romeo on Dec. 05, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Some of the most successful chains in the restaurant business have forgone huge increases in business by refusing to make a particular change. Here’s a sampling of the brands that have held firm.

Operations

How restaurateurs came to speak the way they do

 By Peter Romeo on Nov. 28, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Like any industry, the business has its own jargon. In this week's episode, we look at the origin of terms that are likely to be heard in kitchens today.

Consumer Trends

Here’s why some Thanksgiving turkeys are getting tanked

By Peter Romeo on Nov. 21, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Deep-frying a whole bird is no longer a novelty. But the alternative prep method was largely unknown until recent decades. Here's how the process evolved from crazy notion to viable option.

Marketing

What happens when promos don’t work as expected

By Peter Romeo on Nov. 14, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: If the offer proves more or less enticing than anticipated, chaos can follow. Here are some prime examples from the industry’s past.

Marketing

How Hilltop Steak House would draw 3 million guests a year

By Peter Romeo on Nov. 07, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The 1,500-seat, $30 million-a-year landmark may have been the restaurant industry’s greatest value story.

Emerging Brands

Long before there was fast casual, there was Tad's, a specialist in $9 steaks served Chipotle-style

By Peter Romeo on Oct. 31, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The concept persisted in the fierce New York City market for 63 years, not disappearing there until 2020.

Leadership

Restaurants needed a kick to be mindful of the environment. Here's who provided it.

By Peter Romeo on Oct. 10, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Lady Bird Johnson provided some tough love, and the industry is still showing the results today.

Financing

Jimmy Buffett wasn't wasting away in Margaritaville

By Peter Romeo on Oct. 03, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The pop singer and proponent of a never-ending happy hour was that rare rock star who found nearly as much success in the hospitality business as he did in music. And he did have some company.

Marketing

Restaurant chains have been the subjects of crazy rumors. Here are some standouts.

By Peter Romeo on Sep. 26, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: The industry has given rise to reports that defy reason. But that doesn't mean they didn't find traction.

Emerging Brands

How far can buzz take a restaurant? Here's a cautionary tale.

By Peter Romeo on Sep. 12, 2023

Restaurant Rewind: Wagamama was going to blitz the U.S. market, or at least that was talk. Decades later, we're still waiting.

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