In honor of Women’s History Month, Rewards Network® is spotlighting some of our fantastic women-owned restaurant partners. Starting and running a successful restaurant requires lots of determination, planning, and hard work. After learning more about some of our women-owned restaurant partners, we feel they more than exemplify these traits along with a deep desire to serve their community delicious food in a fun, warm environment. Learn more about some of our outstanding women-owned restaurants from the owners themselves by checking out our Q&A below.
Baby’s Burgers
Location: Vista, California
Owners: Erica Escontrias and Lori Barbera
Cuisine type: Burgers
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We serve delicious, ½ lb. gourmet burgers in a fun, lively brewery offering both beer and wine.
What has owning a business taught you?
I have learned you need to be involved in all aspects of your business and lead by example with regard to your staff.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
It’s a tough business but very rewarding when you see your concept operating successfully.
Red Stix Street Food
Location: Dallas, Texas
Owner: Uno Immanivong
Cuisine type: Pan-Asian and Asian-fusion
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
Red Stix Street Food, located in Dallas, Texas, beautifully captures the sights, smells, and tastes of Asian street food. The menu is the culmination of my childhood memories in Thailand and my ongoing adventures as a globetrotter. The finishing flourish of each hand-crafted bowl or bánh mi are Red Stix: our signature yakitori skewers. Each of the Stix is threaded with morsels of chicken, pork, or steak bathed in a silky, umami-rich marinade and grilled over binchotan charcoal.
I’ve always been grateful for the life I’ve been afforded as an immigrant born in a Thai refugee camp. My parents instilled at a very young age the value of hard work and giving back to the community as others had given to them when they came to America. I’ve been fortunate to have a successful banking and hospitality career due in large part to the individuals that have mentored and believed in me, along with the community that continues to support the business. I have been a chef facilitator for the Cooking Matters program run by the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB). More recently, I have nourished volunteers, front-line workers, and healthcare heroes during the pandemic by providing over 100,000 meals for COVID testing and vaccination sites. I was also the caterer for the homeless community impacted by COVID and isolated at the West Dallas Rec Center and women and children of domestic violence for the Genesis Women’s Shelter. I was able to accomplish this from donations, fundraisers, and volunteers. I currently serve on the Advisory Council for the NTFB and am looking to build a community children’s garden in Farmers Branch, Texas. I will continue to serve others to leave the world a better place than I found it.
What has owning a business taught you?
Owning a restaurant has taught me humility and perseverance. There are many days that I’ve planned for, and other days, I’ve had to pivot, problem solve, and keep moving. I appreciate the moments of success so much more because of it.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
If this is your dream, do it. Set small goals towards your vision, keep the promises you’ve made to yourself to make your dreams a reality, if you fail, fail better next time. These tiny steps add up to big leaps.
Hambone’s Smokehouse
Location: Bellflower, California
Owner: Lillian Bitar
Cuisine type: Real California barbecue
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
I would like people to know that we serve quality smoked barbecue using the finest cuts of meat. We also have some delicious seafood options and even have a very tasty vegan fried rice!
What has owning a business taught you?
I would say it has taught me to be resilient above all else. I feel that my role is something that I have grown into and have learned a great deal along the way. COVID was a scary time of uncertainty and even now, trying to navigate each day with these major cost increases, teaches me to focus on each day and look for creative solutions. I am happiest when I am busy with my work and dealing with people one on one.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
To be honest, owning a restaurant is a lot of hard work with many moving parts. Make sure cleanliness is first and foremost and maintain freshness and consistency of your food. Surround yourself with people who have had experience in this field and don’t be afraid to literally roll up your sleeves and work. A restaurant owner really needs to learn all aspects of the business including washing dishes from time to time!
Mo’ Better Brews
Location: Houston, Texas
Owner: Chasitie Lindsay
Cuisine type: Vegan
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
Our favorite saying is, “We have great food that just happens to be vegan!”
What inspired you to open a restaurant?
After having several successful vegan concepts (food trucks, events, and store), we knew a brick and mortar was the next step. It has always been Chef Courtney’s dream to become a restaurateur, so when the opportunity came about, we knew it was God’s perfect timing.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a restaurant owner?
Seeing our vision come to life has been the biggest reward. We wanted to see people of all demographics coming together to enjoy the good food and music offered at our restaurant. It’s a beautiful thing to witness!
What challenges have you faced as a restaurant owner?
One challenge we have faced has been trying to find consistent revenue growth according to the market.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
I would say that one should make sure their quality and consistency go hand in hand. Never do anything halfway, do everything with excellence or not at all.
Stevie’s Pizza Plymouth
Location: Plymouth, Massachusetts
Owners: Juliana Hauch and Juliana Martins
Cuisine type: Greek-style pizza, calzones, subs, salads, and wraps
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
Freshly prepared food to best serve our customers. We make our pizza dough daily. We’re owned by women and ran by women.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a restaurant owner?
Personal and professional success.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
Always run after your dreams and goals.
Kunstler Brewing
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Owner: Vera Deckard
Cuisine type: European Gastropub
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
Our vision was to have a place that tracked with the community where neighbors and families could come together.
What has owning a business taught you?
Initially, I thought I would create a great experience with a great product and people would come. I quickly realized that I need a great team as well. That realization taught me how to be a leader and how to lead from behind. I don’t own this business; the community and my staff own this business. I see it very much like raising a child, it takes a community.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
However long you think it will take you to open up, triple it and however much money you have in your budget, try to triple that as well! Learn to be flexible. There are so many things that happen that you don’t plan for. Any given day that I walk in here, I don’t know what’s going to happen and you have to be able to learn and roll with the changes. Listen to your staff and listen to your customers too. The feedback from Rewards Network members is important to me because I glean either that we’re doing the right thing or that we should be shifting more into another direction. I like to be open and listen to everything. And don’t forget to be competitive on social media!
Great additional nuggets shared:
I’m the head brewer and owner here at Kunstler Brewing. When I first started there were no female brewers in San Antonio and there were one or two female brewers in Texas at the time. People ask me often, “What is it like to be a female in this industry?” It’s hard for me to answer that question because I don’t know what it is to be a male in the [brewing] industry! The majority of the industry is male, and I never ever had any issue with somebody looking down on me for being a female, but I think a part of that has to do too with the fact that I’ve always been very clear that I didn’t want to define myself by my sex or my age. I always wanted to define myself as just being an amazing brewer or business owner.
Thai House
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Owners: Pranee Chatayatham, owner and Benjawan Sukmanee, co-owner
Cuisine type: Thai food
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We are the oldest Thai restaurant around Oklahoma City. We still carry the same recipes from day one and when people dine with us they will for sure experience a true Thai taste.
What has owning a business taught you?
Owning a business definitely taught us to be resilient. And also taught us to be great problem solvers.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
“Don’t do it” (Pranee) Joking, but honestly do what you love and if it is in a restaurant field, know that it’s hard work. But to see your customers eating your food with joy, that hard work comes with a reward!
Therapy Wine Bar 2.0
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Owner: Angela Terry
Cuisine type: Classic American
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We are a vibe in Bed-Stuy. Our goal is to offer wine varietals in a non-intimidating way to complement various palettes.
What inspired you to open a restaurant?
I wanted to give back to my community and add the necessary amenities to uplift people.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a restaurant owner?
To meet new people and be a part of their celebrations.
What challenges have you faced as a restaurant owner?
It’s challenging to meet financial goals when there aren’t enough customers coming through our doors.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
You can accomplish your dreams just keep going!
Café Gratitude and Gracias Madre
Locations: Venice, California and West Hollywood, California
Owner: Lisa Bonbright
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We are 100% organic, handmade, plant-based food and beverages. When you weave our offering into your everyday diet, you would be amazed at how great you feel.
What has owning a business taught you?
Running a successful business is all about teamwork. The family, caring environment we have created in our restaurants has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
The restaurant business is a 24/7 endeavor, so you have to be sure you love the world of hospitality.
Favorite dishes:
“I AM RESOURCEFUL” from Café Gratitude
SHAVED KALE & BUTTERNUT
radicchio, Tuscan kale, fennel, maple rosemary pecans, cashew mozzarella, balsamic dijon
Lisa’s favorite dish from Gracias Madre is “The Madre Burger”
Rosa’s At Park
Location: Bronx, New York
Owner: Rosa Garcia
Cuisine type: Latin fusion
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
It’s Latina-owned, great food, one of the few restaurants in the Bronx with a rooftop and the only restaurant with all-day brunch on the weekends.
What has owning a business taught you?
To be humble, to excel in customer service which makes people continue to come and support.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
Be ready to work 24/7, but if it’s a passion of yours, you will love it and it will encourage you to do more.
Mallorca Restaurant
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Owner: Laurie L Torres
Cuisine type: Spanish and Portuguese
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
Mallorca is the most-awarded restaurant in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It’s iconic and a destination in the city. In fact, most who know Cleveland, will say if you didn’t visit Mallorca while in town, you missed the heart and soul of the city. The same chef and floor staff has been in place for over 25 years—a true testament to the family atmosphere cultivated by the restaurant. Mallorca is a fun fine dining spot known for its excellent cuisine that stems from my mother-in-law’s recipes from her kitchen in Spain. Our Spanish food is chalked with the delicacies of the sea and laced with unique flavors like saffron, smoked paprika, and white pepper. Fresh seafood and slow roasted meats abound, while your taste buds cheer at having something unique and original.
What has owning a business taught you?
After owning businesses in the real estate, marketing, law, and culinary fields, I think that nothing is as wonderful as the restaurant industry. It’s a place where people come to celebrate their joys and seek refuge from their sorrows. It’s a place where you are invited to raise a glass to your customers’ success and help them navigate their way through their failures. This industry is where life exists over the table of warm food, surrounded by ones who love you. There can be no greater joy, no greater feeling of contribution to the world, than creating an environment where life is celebrated in all its forms.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
Advice I would share is to remember that in order to create something that succeeds it can’t be just about the money. It has to be about being part of your community. It has to be about being more than just food. In the restaurant industry you are creating and nurturing emotions around the food. Great food and service are only the beginning of creating success for your business. Long-term success means long-term thinking. Nothing makes me happier than to hear the stories of how we have become a part of our customers’ histories while they have become a part of ours. With a loyal following for over 25 years, the soul of Mallorca is created by all the joy that has been celebrated here. It is that same joy that has allowed our success. The joy of service and the joy of being served in equal parts to make the perfect business venture.
The Pullman Restaurant & Bar
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Owner: Jennifer Hammer, Two Dames Dining Group
Cuisine type: New American
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
The Pullman Restaurant & Bar sits on the site of the original Bryn Mawr freight house circa 1879. The restaurant concept takes its cues from The Pullman dining cars of the 1940’s, offering guests a quintessential railcar dining and drinking experience but with contemporary twists including the glamorous Live Music Lounge where we offer live music five nights a week and we’re setting sights on the spring opening of the outside ‘10/14’ Bar on The Rails.
What has owning a business taught you?
To be successful, it all starts with having the right staff. You can’t build the best customer experience, present the best food and drink service, or make memorable dining experiences without them. We value our staff and they in turn help to give the best customer experience.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners.
We think connecting with customers is extremely important. From how we take verbal reservations to speaking with customers during their dining experience, this allows us to build a strong understanding of what people want, what they like and what will make them return clientele.
Mexi-Q
Location: Mason, Ohio
Owner: Laura Volski Ramirez
Cuisine type: Smoked meats served Mexican style
What would you like others know about your restaurant?
With our catering services, we bring the food to you. Buffet-style catering and food truck style catering options are available.
What has owning a restaurant taught you?
Owning my own business is rewarding, yet extremely stressful!
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
There is something so rewarding to put yourself out there and take a leap and have faith.
Juicehead Smoothies & Coffee
Location: Yorkville, Illinois
Owners: Megan Diaz (responding to questionnaire), Lauren Imbo, Jessica Gomez, and Rafael Gomez
Cuisine type: Handcrafted beverages and eats
What to know:
My sister, Lauren, and I conceptualized Juicehead together in 2020. With my brother-in-law, Rafael, and other sister, Jessica, we brought the vision to life. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of both healthy and indulgent foods and beverages. We offer smoothies, in-house cold pressed raw juices, smoothie bowls, locally roasted coffee and espresso-based beverages, and a variety of food items.
What has it taught us:
When you step away from “working for the man” it is more of a challenge than it is freedom. Every hour of every day you are thinking about how you can improve, what to do to stay up with the trends. When people call off you are the person that covers the shift. It is a lot more work than a 9-5, but it is so much more rewarding to have full creative control and to watch your business grow and evolve over time.
Advice:
Do a lot of research and development. See how others who have similar businesses run theirs. Take what you like, change what you don’t like. But don’t copy what others are doing, be unique and put your touch into everything. That’s what will make you special and what will make people return to you.
Strong, powerful, and successful women like these, impact the restaurant industry in positive ways and help pave the road for future women restaurant owners. Whether it’s always been a life-long dream to open a restaurant that honors family recipes or a mid-life career pivot to reignite a creative passion, each of our restaurant owners has a story that is uniquely their own and completely inspiring. A big thank you to all the amazing restaurants that allowed us to share their personal and heartening stories.
Restaurant owners were not compensated for their participation in this blog.
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