In the latest episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg “The Restaurant Guy” and Jimmy Frischling “The Finance Guy” chat with R.J. Melman, President of Lettuce Entertain You, a fifty-one year old restaurant group that is privately held with over one hundred and twenty restaurants across the country in thirteen different states. It is based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Melman’s dad, Rich Melman started the company back in 1971 when he opened a restaurant with his best friend Jerry Orzoff. Melman’s siblings Jarrod and Molly are both part of the Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants team.

The guys share breaking news and say that Lettuce has just opened their first restaurant in Florida. It is Aba, a Mediterranean restaurant that brings cooking influences from the Mediterranean, including Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. Also the group is opening RPM Italian in West Palm Beach and Summer House in Orlando.

In Chicago in 2023 Melman talks about the new collaboration between Tao Group Hospitality. The partnership will bring a new private members club. The guys also talk about the Lettuce loyalty program that has been around for more than three decades. Now the program is free through the app. Recently they announced that Lettuce has partnered with DoorDash for a first of its kind loyalty program. The program powered by DoorDash will now allow guests to receive loyalty points and redeem gift cards for takeout and delivery.

Melman’s goal when he became President was to use tech to transcend hospitality in dining rooms, bringing hospitality and technology together. Melman says they are in the process of switching over our general ledger, HR solution and more.

Melman shares how the company continues to keep things going well with all of the expansion. They have been consistent on expansion over the last thirty years and said that the team has played a role in the growth.

Key Takeaways:

[02:42 - 04:17] Introducing RJ Melman, President of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants
[04:18 - 07:20] RJ introduces himself and his company, its history in Chicago and their 120 restaurants
[07:20 - 08:31] RJ's first job as a restaurant host
[08:36 - 09:51] Breaking news, Aba opens its doors in Miami's Bal Harbor Shops
[09:49 - 11:24] Working in Florida, the opportunity to do a restaurant for Disney Corporation
[11:24 - 14:17] Partnering with Tao Hospitalities, more on working with RJ's brother and sister
[14:24 - 16:07] Lettuce Entertain You partnership and menu powered by DoorDash
[16:15 - 18:19] Redeeming loyalty points on delivery orders, bringing technology and hospitality together. The Tech Stack.
[18:20 - 22:27] A family business that has focused on growth. RJ's dad gave them autonomy and acted as their cheerleader in managing the restaurants
[22:30 - 25:11] Learning from RJ's store success, "Someone ahead of you never stops you from growing in this company...And developing someone below you never makes you be replaced either."
[25:11 - 29:31] Talking Back, RJ asks about the best of the best
[29:36 - 32:55] Food Service Feud, favorite pretzel chain and Franke The Tank
[32:55 - 37:40] Branded Quickfire, Taco Tuesday or Fried Chicken Friday

To hear more about Lettuce’s tech strategy, the foodservice feud and the talking back segment plus get the answer to the trivia question, check out this episode of Hospitality Hangout.