Donald Burns

Founder / CEO - Off the Range Ventures, LLC

Donald is The Restaurant Coach™, named one of The Top 30 Restaurant Experts to Follow in 2016 and 2017. He is the leading authority, speaker, and international coach on how restaurant owners, operators, and culinary professionals go from just good to becoming outstanding. Burns is a sought-after advisor in the areas of: leadership, branding, social media marketing, culture, operations, restaurateur mindset, team development, behavioral dynamics, productivity & peak performance. Be sure to pick up his book Your Restaurant Sucks!: Embrace the Suck. Unleash Your Restaurant. Become Outstanding.

His mission: Build your brand. Increase your profits. Strengthen your team.

Donald is the founder & CEO of Off The Range Ventures, LLC, a behavioral strength based company, that works exclusively in the hospitality industry. Through online courses/programs workshops, seminars and a coaching business model, Off The Range Ventures, LLC creates solution based brands for the restaurant industry. He has 37 years’ experience in the restaurant industry as a restaurant owner, consultant, and as an executive chef for Wolfgang Puck.

He is an industry expert for Foodable TV, Toast Restaurant Management Blog, In Credibly Small Business Blog, BevSpot, HotSchedules, and Modern Restaurant Management, and is the host of The Restaurant Coach™ Podcast on iTunes.

Named one of The 35 Best Chef & Restaurant Experts to Follow in 2017 by Toast Restaurant Management Blog
Named one of The Top 30 Restaurant Experts to Follow in 2016 by Toast Restaurant Management Blog
Named one of The 32 Most Useful Hospitality Websites to Bookmark in 2016 by Typsy
Named one of 50 Hotel, Restaurant, and Cafe Industry Experts on Twitter by Resseto
Named one of 7 Restaurant Podcasts You Do Not Want to Miss by Toast Restaurant Management Blog
Named one of The 27 Restaurant Experts You Should Follow on Twitter by Typsy

Stories by Donald Burns

What's Your Restaurant Guest Experience Score?

by Donald Burns

Monday, September 17, 2018

As we hurtle toward holidays that attract large groups of guests, now is the time for operators to evaluate their venues and make any necessary corrections.

Running Your Business from the Rearview Mirror

by Donald Burns

Monday, August 27, 2018

Holding on to the past is a simple way to fulfill the human need for comfort, but an operator who lives in the past is driving their business the wrong way.

5 Down & Dirty Menu Tricks

by Donald Burns

Monday, August 20, 2018

Donald Burns, the Restaurant Coach, gives you five aces you can hide in your sleeve to maximize your menu.

4 Bar and Restaurant Marketing Myths Busted

by Donald Burns

Monday, August 13, 2018

industry expert Donald Burns shoots down myths surrounding bar, nightclub and restaurant marketing while providing truth and solutions.

How to Pull Yourself Out of a Leadership Rut

by Donald Burns

Monday, August 6, 2018

When you find yourself dug into a leadership rut you can either keep digging your own grave or you can change your attitude and climb out. The choice is yours.

3 Problems with New Restaurant Managers

by Donald Burns

Monday, July 30, 2018

If you find yourself in a new management position or you're an owner about to promote someone to manager, read this and take notes!

Build Your “A” Team in 90 Days!

by Donald Burns

Monday, July 23, 2018

Your successes and failures are due to your ability to gather a high-performance team around you. Here are four steps to building an amazing team in just 90 days.

Stop the Turnover Bleeding

by Donald Burns

Sunday, July 15, 2018

All bars and restaurants have turnover. It's something we don’t want to think or even talk about, but it’s time to have the conversation.

NEVER Say These 3 Things

by Donald Burns

Monday, July 9, 2018

As an operator or manager, you need to watch what you say to your staff during times of stress. Here are three phrases to never say to your staff.

Stop Whining About Hiring

by Donald Burns

Sunday, July 1, 2018

If you want to hire top talent, stop whining that there's a lack of good workers out there. Then look at your brand's culture and make effective changes.