Managers: Good, Bad, or Necessary Evil

Managers: Good, Bad, or Necessary Evil

Author: Kara Restaurant Group January 31, 2023 Duration: 13:04

Peter Karapanagiotis aka The Y.B. makes his debut on Restaurant Punk, reflecting on the fact that Kara Restaurant Group has never hired formal managers. Looking ahead to the opening of a few new BYOBs in 2023, Peter asks Nikos and Liz to share their thoughts on managers in restaurants. 

  • Are managers a good thing – a bad thing – a necessary evil? 
  • What determines whether a restaurant needs a hierarchy or if the team can manage itself? 
  • Are managers more effective if they are feared or respected? 
  • Do you know the unwritten rules of the Yianni handbook?
  • If you were to open a 100-seat restaurant tomorrow, would you hire a manager?

Watch now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/t0rbU9lKDB0


Behind every great meal is a story that’s often messy, chaotic, and surprisingly funny. Restaurant Punk is that story, told straight from the trenches by the team behind Kara Restaurant Group. This isn't a polished, corporate guide. It's the raw, unfiltered conversation that happens after hours, where decades of hard-won experience collide with the absurd reality of running restaurants. You'll hear the kind of hilarious, cringe-worthy anecdotes that only come from a life spent in hospitality, paired with genuinely humbling advice on building a business that actually treats people well-staff and guests alike. Each episode feels like pulling up a stool next to veterans who have seen it all, offering a necessary release valve for the industry's daily pressures and a spark of inspiration for entrepreneurs brave enough to try it themselves. It’s a blend of business savvy, artistic struggle, and comedic relief, all served up without the pretense. Tune into this podcast for a unique mix of lessons learned the hard way and the unvarnished truth about creating a place where people want to be, all delivered with the kind of energy that keeps the kitchen-and the conversation-moving.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 219

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