374. Spreading the Legacy: An Authentic Journey of Neapolitan Pizza - Francesco Zimone

Don’t miss this episode, get my FREE “Top 3 Ways You’re Killing Your Restaurant Profits and a bonus at www.restaurantrockstars.com/profits then go out there and Rock YOUR Restaurant! Every restaurant has its own unique story. But this one carries on a 152-year tradition. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I’m speaking with Francesco Zimone. Francesco grew up in Naples, Italy where pizza and pizza making are a time-honored tradition. Francesco is an ex-finance person turned movie maker, turned pizzeria impresario who has brought authentic Naples’ pizza to America with four restaurant locations. As a young boy, he frequently visited L’antica Pizzeria da Michele for many family get-togethers. This pizzeria is not only famous for its century plus old recipe, but also notably appearing in the classic film Eat, Pray, Love! Listen as Francesco shares: • Careers in Finance and movie making before starting his restaurant journey. • How he brought his Neapolitan roots to Hollywood to authentically establish L’antica Pizzeria da Michele here in America • Opening new locations in New York City, Santa Barbara and soon to be Long Beach just four years after founding L’antica in Hollywood • The true meaning of hospitality and how to build a winning team • Why responding to every online review matters • Leadership, company culture and loyalty And of course, chasing the American Dream, wearing “all the hats” and never wavering on his authentic vision. The episode also highlights the business challenges faced due to COVID, how Francesco adapted to that and his vision of a restaurant as a place that brings people together in a warm, hospitable manner. Learn about Francesco's passion for food and quality, and how he is propagating this legacy in America. From his inspiring story, gain insights on running a successful restaurant and see the passion it takes to deliver a memorable dining experience. Roger Thank you to our sponsors: The Restaurant Academy: Everything you need to know to optimize profits and maximize sales https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy/ Sculpture Hospitality is the solution to improve your bar or restaurant inventory and gain healthier profit margins! https://SculptureHospitality.com/rockstar The Birthday Club – Get new and repeat business, fill your tables, and boost sales with Birthdays: https://jointhebirthdayclub.com/BirthdayRockstar/ Popmenu: For a limited time only, popmenu is offering our listeners $100 off your first month plus an unchanging lifetime rate. FREE Demo: https://www.popmenu.com/rockstars