Dine & Dish Podcast | Leadership, Franchising & Growth with California Tortilla's Mike Dolinger

Welcome to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast, where hospitality leaders, restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, chefs, and innovators share the ideas shaping the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry.In this episode, Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva, sits down with Mike Dolinger, Vice President of Development & Operations at California Tortilla, to discuss what it really takes to build, operate, and grow a successful restaurant brand. Mike's background includes leadership roles with California Tortilla, Caribou Coffee, Glory Days Grill, and other multi-unit restaurant organizations.Together they explore:Restaurant operations that create consistencyLeadership strategies that build high-performing teamsFranchising and sustainable restaurant growthWhy catering has become a major revenue opportunityManaging third-party delivery while protecting profitabilityThe restaurant KPIs every operator should monitorLessons learned from leading multi-unit restaurant operationsWhether you're an independent restaurant owner, franchisee, multi-unit operator, hospitality executive, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can use to improve operations, grow sales, and build stronger teams.Subscribe to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast for weekly conversations with hospitality leaders, restaurant innovators, franchise executives, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.#RestaurantOperations#RestaurantLeadership#CaliforniaTortilla#RestaurantBusiness#RestaurantFranchising#HospitalityLeadership#RestaurantManagement#DineAndDishPodcast#RestaurantDiva#FoodserviceIndustry00:00 — Welcome to Dine and Dish: Meet Mike Dolinger01:01 — From Restaurant Jobs to an Exxon Franchise05:15 — Why Systems Create Successful Operators06:19 — Mike’s Role at California Tortilla08:31 — Building a Strong Brand Through Franchisee Selection14:30 — Maintaining Operational Consistency as You Scale16:46 — The People-Operations-Sales-Profit Framework22:34 — Hiring, Training, and Retaining Great Teams28:22 — Protecting Brand Standards Through Franchisee Relationships33:23 — Advice for Aspiring Franchise Owners36:53 — Revenue Streams: Catering, Delivery, and Third-Party Sales44:22 — Lightning Round: Loyalty and Personalized Marketing45:59 — Why Catering Is an Underrated Growth Driver47:40 — Final Takeaway: Put People and Culture First49:48 — Closing Remarks