648: Scott Roberts on Persistence and Hard Work

648: Scott Roberts on Persistence and Hard Work

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee September 9, 2019 Duration: 46:53

The Salt Lick has a story that dates back to the 1830s when Scott Robert's ancestors came to TX with Steven F Austin and moved to Driftwood, TX in the 1870s. Over the next 100 years, BBQ techniques were developed by Roberts family that would eventually be used in the original Salt Licks, which was established in 1967, by Scott Roberts' parents, Thurman and Hisako Roberts.

In 1985 the Business was passed from parents to son. In the proceeding 30 years, Scott has scaled the original footprint and has opened an additional 3 locations. Today The Salt Lick is continuously recognized as one of the best BBQ locations in America.

Show notes…

Favorite success quote or mantra:

"If you want to be successful in this business you need to devote your life to it, you've got to put your soul in it, you've got to be friendly, and you've got to serve the best quality product you can."

In this episode with Scott Roberts we will discuss:

  • Operating a 100-year-old restaurant
  • Modernizing an old business
  • Cash-only operation
  • Inheriting a business from parents
  • Consistency
  • Quality control
  • Systems, processes, and procedures
  • Passing on a legacy to new generations
  • The meaning of Texas BBQ to a community

Today's sponsor:

BentoBox empowers restaurants to own their presence, profits and relationships. The hospitality platform disrupts third-party services that come between the restaurant and the guest. BentoBox puts the restaurant first and offers tools that drive high-margin revenue directly through the restaurant's website. BentoBox is trusted and loved by over 5,000 restaurants worldwide including Union Square Hospitality Group, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, Lilia and more.

 

CAKE provides an easy-to-use integrated software and hardware solution to build better dining experiences for restaurant operators and their guests. With mobile marketing and waitlist management to point of sale payment processing, the CAKErestaurant management system helps you grow your business.  Learn more at trycake.com/unstoppable

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Caring about people; customers and employees
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • An unpaved parking lot
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Desire
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Finding people with desire
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Pick up trash when you see it; translates into quality everywhere else
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Smile and be respectful
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Care
  9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations?
  10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Family legacy passed on to my daughter
    • The look of the space
    • The feel, the experience

Contact info:

Salt Lick website contact page

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Scott Roberts for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Podcast Episodes
1148: Ilma Lopez, Chef/Co-Owner of Chaval and Ugly Duckling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:29
Ilma Lopez is from Venezuela and moved to the US in 2001 to go to school. She ended up going to culinary school in NYC and worked there for high profile chefs like Daniel Boulud and others. She worked in Spain for a year…
1147: Terry O'Brien, Owner of Red Parka Pub [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:20
Terry O'Brien is the owner of The Red Parka Pub in Glen, New Hampshire. The Red Parka is a 53 year old restaurant housed in a building from the 1800s in the White Mountains of NH with 250 seats during peak season and doe…
1145: Dick Delaney, Owner of Delaney's Hole in the Wall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:36
Dick Delaney is the Owner of Delaney's Hole in the Wall located in North Conway, New Hampshire. Dick Delaney originally wanted to open a ski and snowboard shop in NH but started working in restaurants in the White Mounta…
1144: Keith Sarasin, chef, author, and owner of Aatma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:56
Chef Keith Sarasin is an award-winning chef, 4x author, and owner of Aatma. Keith Sarasin was previously on the show back in 2020. Chef Keith Sarasin is currently operating, along with Chef Chris Viaud, the Farmer's Tabl…
1143: Justin Walker, Chef/Partner at Walkers Maine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19:43
Chef Justin Walker is the chef and partner at Walkers Maine. Justin was a D1 racing skier while simultaneously working in restaurants. While is school and still racing, he decided to switch focus over to cooking. He went…
1142: Michael & Siobhán Sindoni, Owners of Wayside Tavern [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13:52
Michael and Siobhán Sindoni are the owners of Wayside Tavern, located in Portland, Maine. Michael and Siobhán met while working in a restaurant in D.C. They eventually got married and worked together in the restaurant sc…
1141: Gregg Sessler, Chef/Owner of Oddfellows Tavern [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:48
Gregg Sessler is the Chef/Owner of Oddfellows Tavern in South Berwick, Maine. This is Gregg's 2nd time on the show. His first episode was number 06, way back in the beginning of Restaurant Unstoppable. Back then, Gregg o…
1140: Brett Wintersteen, Chef/Owner of HiFi BURRITOS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:28
Brett Wintersteen is the Chef/Owner of HiFi BURRITOS in Dover, NH. Brett grew up in Rhode Island, working restaurants since he was 15, but went to school at UNH in Durham, NH. He got a job after college at Margarita's, a…
1139: Emshika Alberini, Chef/Owner of Chang Thai Cafe and The Catch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:20
Emshika Alberini is the Chef/Owner of Chang Thai Cafe and The Catch, both in Littleton, NH. Emshika moved to the US from Thailand in 2000 looking to become a professor, but ended up in corporate America until 2006 when s…