#136: What It Truly Takes to Drive Repeat Restaurant Business

I opened this episode with a simple truth: restaurants don’t win on one great meal — they win on the second and third visits. In my conversation with hospitality pro Darren Denington, we unpack what really drives repeat business right now: first impressions that stick, value guests can feel (beyond price) and service that creates a personal connection.

You’ll hear how to turn a first-time guest into a regular, what “value” actually means to today’s diners, where operations quietly erode loyalty and how to use systems, training, accountability — and yes, secret shopping — to keep experiences scoring in the 90s.

This is a playbook for owners who want more visits, higher check averages and a reputation that markets itself.

Darren Denington, founder of Service with Style Hospitality Group, is a certified food and beverage executive with 30+ years across the dining room and the kitchen. He lives and breathes customer experience and builds programs that make “wow” repeatable. If you’re ready to move from chasing new guests to compounding repeat visits—and you want your operation to back up your marketing—this episode is for you.

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Ready to learn more? Get a free 30-minute training video where David outlines exactly what you need to do. 

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