Eli Feldman on How Restaurants Must Evolve to Survive Artwork

The meez Podcast

Josh Sharkey (Entrepreneur, professional chef, and founder/CEO of meez, the culinaryOS for food professionals) interviews world class entrepreneurs in the food space that are shifting the paradigm of how we innovate and operate in our industry.

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The meez Podcast

Eli Feldman on How Restaurants Must Evolve to Survive

September 09, 2025 • Josh Sharkey • Episode 106

#106.
Josh sits down with Eli Feldman, founder of Elided Opinions and Shy Bird, to explore the rapidly changing dynamics of restaurant management and hospitality. Feldman shares insights on how restaurants must evolve beyond traditional dining models to survive in today's competitive landscape, emphasizing the critical need to monetize customer attention for higher-margin revenue streams. The conversation covers the transformative impact of technology on operations, from AI-powered customer interactions to data-driven insights that enhance both efficiency and dining experiences.

The discussion examines the fundamental challenges facing the industry, including rising operational costs, declining profitability, and the ongoing debate around delivery services potentially undermining the social essence of dining out. Feldman and Sharkie explore innovative approaches to restaurant economics, including the potential of franchising models and the importance of creating unique, memorable experiences that differentiate establishments in an oversaturated market. They also address how restaurants can leverage technology and data analytics to better understand customer preferences while adapting to shifting consumer behaviors in the post-pandemic hospitality landscape.