Gustavo Fuentes: So You Want to Build a 5-Star Rated Restaurant With 1.1K Google Reviews?

In this on-location episode of So You Want to Run a Restaurant, Claudia and Spencer sit down at the Gordon Food Service Food Show in Grand Rapids, MI with Gustavo Fuentes, owner of Dorados, and co-owner of multiple West Michigan restaurants.Gustavo shares his incredible journey, from growing up in Guanajuato, Mexico, to washing dishes at 15, to building one of the highest-rated and reviewed Mexican restaurants in the region. You’ll hear how Gustavo turned community love into real momentum, why his restaurants maintain thousands of reviews with near-perfect ratings, and how he approached opening a brand-new concept, Delicias, blending Mexican, Italian, and American flavors with help from the culinary team at GFS.Whether you’re a restaurant operator, a food entrepreneur, or just someone who loves a great origin story, Gustavo’s blend of humility, grit, and innovation is guaranteed to inspire.Highlights: 🍽️Growing up in Mexico and learning to cook from family 🍽️ Climbing from dishwasher to owner/operator 🍽️ The story behind the Dorados name 🍽️ Expanding to new concepts without cannibalizing the brand 🍽️ Partnering with GFS chefs to build a fusion menu 🍽️ Why consistency, authenticity, and community loyalty drive real success🔗 Learn MoreBack of House: www.backofhouse.io🎧 Listen to more episodes of So You Want to Run a Restaurant, powered by Back ofHouse.io, a Gordon Food Service brand, wherever you get your podcasts.Follow @wearebackofhouse for more insights and stories from restaurant founders, owners, and operators.🔗 Sponsored by LocalizerManage reviews, boost visibility, and get more guests in the door.Listeners get 25% off the first 3 months: localyser.com/podcast⭐ Follow UsPodcast: https://linktr.ee/soyouwanttorunarestaurantClaudia: https://www.instagram.com/claudia.saric/Spencer: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantspenny/🍸 Explore Dorados Website: https://doradosmexicangrill.com/