Extra Serving: A restaurant industry podcast · 2026-08-03 · 38 min
On this week's Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including a flurry of earnings reports that paint a mostly positive picture for restaurants. They kick things off with some encouraging news: Starbucks same-store sales climbed 7.9% in the most recent quarter, including a 4.2% transaction increase, demonstrating real progress in its ongoing turnaround efforts. The coffee giant's results show that CEO Brian Niccol’s plan to reinvest in Starbucks as a third place is working, and Sam and Alicia break down what’s going right - from operational improvements to food innovation to enhanced customer experience - and how Starbucks can build more momentum in a busy coffee category. They follow that up with a discussion on other restaurant companies that experienced sales growth last quarter, including Chipotle (which posted its best quarter since 2024), Yum Brands (which does not yet factor in the Pizza Hut transaction or cyclospora’s effect on Taco Bell), BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, and The Cheesecake Factory.
The good, bad, and meh of restaurant earnings, featuring Burger King, Texas Roadhouse, Wendy’s, and more79 / 100Domino’s CEO’s surprising announcement, LongHorn Steakhouse’s shocking performance, and a bevy of Starbucks news58 / 100BONUS: How Chef Avishar Barua brings humor and value to fine diningCracker Barrel’s CEO change, Domino’s meh results, and Noodles’ impressive turnaroundCyclosporiasis outbreak traced to Taco Bell lettuce, restaurant bankruptcies surge, and a new marketing blitz