09/19/2026
NEW VENTURE!! STARTING A NEW CHAPTER.
After more than 30 years in sales, customer service, and the food and hospitality industry, I’m excited to share a new chapter in my life with my friends and family.
I’m officially getting ready launch Restaurant Growth Works — RGW.
And NO — I’m not leaving Chilito’s Latin Fusion Catering! Chilito’s is still my baby and growing strong! I’m incredibly grateful for all the customers who have supported us throughout the years.
Actually, Chilito’s is a big part of WHY I decided to start RGW.
Over the years, I’ve watched the restaurant industry change dramatically, especially after COVID. Lately, I’ve seen something that really bothers me:
Restaurants are closing left and right.
Many have great food.
Beautiful locations.
Good concepts.
Hard-working owners who put their sweat, tears, and hearts into making their dreams come true.
But great food alone is no longer enough.
After COVID, I began noticing a major change in hospitality. Genuine human interaction started disappearing. Customer service became more transactional and robotic. Upselling became inconsistent. And too many restaurants became focused on getting customers through the door without giving enough attention to what happens once they arrive — or what will make them want to come back.
That’s where my second baby, Restaurant Growth Works, was born!
RGW will focus on helping independent restaurant owners strengthen the areas I believe can make a tremendous difference:
Hospitality-Customer Experience-Leadership. Teamwork-Upselling-Guest Retention-And 5-Star Reviews.
My mission isn’t to walk into someone’s restaurant and tell them how to cook their food or run their kitchen.
My goal is to work alongside the owner and their team, observe the guest experience, identify opportunities, train the team, implement practical systems, and help turn more first-time customers into loyal, returning guests.
This new venture brings together more than 30 years of sales, customer service, and hospitality experience, along with everything I’ve learned from building and operating Chilito’s Catering for nearly two decades.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way. I’ve learned from them. I’ve learned from my customers. And most importantly, I’ve learned that sometimes the smallest changes in how we treat people can make the biggest difference in a business.
That’s why, over the years, I became obsessed with providing my customers with an exceptional hospitality experience — making people feel welcome, appreciated, and giving them a reason to come back.
My philosophy with RGW is simple:
Great food may bring a customer in once.
Great hospitality gives them a reason to come back.
I’m excited to see where this new journey takes me.
To all my restaurant-owner friends — and to my friends who know someone who owns a restaurant — I would truly appreciate it if you passed this along.
I’m looking forward to working alongside restaurant owners and their teams, learning from them, and hopefully helping more independent restaurants grow, build loyal customers, and stay in business for many years to come.
Restaurant Growth Works — RGW
Real Experience. Real Results.
— Chef Al
Restaurant Growth Advisor
