86 Reason Ep19 | The Art of Opening Restaurants - Steve Uhr from STARR Restaurants

86 Reason Ep19 | The Art of Opening Restaurants - Steve Uhr from STARR Restaurants

In this episode, Xavier Mariezcurrena sits down with Steve Uhr, the Director of New Restaurant Openings for STARR Restaurants. Steve shares his journey from burnout to becoming the architect behind nearly 10 successful restaurant launches in just three years, revealing the "masochism" required to execute strategies for successful new restaurant openings in today's volatile market.Steve offers an unfiltered look at the difference between the DC and Philadelphia labor markets, how to manage the "smartphone generation," why the pre-opening phase is sacred, and the brilliant way his team used ChatGPT to fact-check a food critic.

86 Reason Ep18 | Finding 240bps with AI - The Wizard of Oz Effect - Dan Anfinson from MH Restaurants

In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena sits down with Dan Anfinson, COO of MH Restaurant Group and President of The Slapfish Company, to uncover how a former dishwasher is revolutionizing restaurant operations across Texas.Dan reveals his game-changing approach to AI implementation in restaurant back-of-house operations, sharing how he discovered 240 basis points in his P&L by focusing on kitchen prep standardization instead of front-of-house automation.He introduces the "Wizard of Oz" effect, keeping technology invisible so the guest experience stays authentically human.Beyond the numbers, Dan opens up about his leadership journey, the "blood pact" commitment he made with his team, and his conscious decision to prioritize being a "Great Dad" over being a "Kick-Ass Operator."

86 Reason Ep17 | Chad Freedman from Sage: Grease Traps to Cloud, Transforming Restaurant CFOs

From collecting grease traps to leading cloud transformation at Sage Intacct, Chad Freedman's journey reveals how restaurant CFOs are evolving from data entry clerks to strategic advisors.In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena sits down with Chad Freedman, Director & Practice Lead for Hospitality at Sage Intacct, who literally went door-to-door collecting used cooking oil before becoming a leader in restaurant finance technology. His unconventional path gives him a unique perspective on what restaurant finance leaders actually need to drive growth.

86 Reason Ep16 Bruce Nelson The $3M Restaurant Math Mistake That Closes Busy Restaurants

Why do restaurants with 45-minute waits still go broke?Bruce Nelson learned this the hard way. After 20 years in the industry, he opened his dream restaurant—packed tables, rave reviews, the works. It closed in 13 months. The brutal lesson? He had mastered the "Magic" of hospitality but completely ignored the "Math" of profit.Now, as a Fractional CFO and author of "Restaurant Management: The Myth, the Magic, the Math," Bruce helps restaurant groups scale from $13M to over $66M by teaching them what most culinary schools never do: how to actually make money.In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena unpacks Bruce's framework for sustainable restaurant success, the critical mistakes operators make with pricing and overhead, and why your busiest night might be costing you more than you think.

86 Reason Ep15 | Classical Discipline & The Rose Gold Flute Standard in Restaurant Podcast ft Raquel

What does playing first flute in a world-class orchestra have to do with creating exceptional restaurant podcasts? Everything, according to Raquel Murillo. In this episode of the 86 Reason Hospitality Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena explores how classical discipline translates directly into the precision and excellence required to curate the best voices in hospitality.Raquel brings an unconventional blend of musical mastery, front-line restaurant experience, and corporate precision to her role as Executive Relationship Manager at Over Easy Office. With a Master's degree in Music, a Specialization in Commercial Law, and over a decade supporting C-level executives at companies like Jerónimo Martins, she applies the same "first flute" discipline to curating the 86 Reason Hospitality Podcast, ensuring every episode features leaders whose unfiltered stories of resilience truly move the needle.From performing with her rose gold flute in international orchestras to serving tables at Toronto's Corn Beef House, Raquel's unique path has equipped her to recognize the hospitality innovators who are mastering specialized accounting, optimizing technology, and building sustainable operations. This classical discipline is what sets the rose gold standard for identifying which voices deserve to be heard on a great restaurant podcast.