05/22/2026
Memorial Day weekend used to mean the start of “go time” for us at the restaurant.
Reservations. Staff schedules. Wine orders. Controlled chaos.
This year feels different.
As summer approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the 8 years we spent in the restaurant industry — what I miss deeply, what I’ve learned, and what honestly makes me sad about where the industry is heading.
I miss the people most of all. The staff that became family. The customers who turned into friends. The conversations over wine and life.
But I also talk honestly about what has changed in restaurants today — from added credit card fees to the decline of scratch cooking and the disappearing role of the executive chef.
This one came straight from the heart.
What I Miss About the Restaurant Industry — And What I Don’t
