Francois O’Neill: How to Keep Restaurants Thriving in This Challenging Market & The Importance Of Generosity!

In this episode, Maison François founder Francois O’Neill shares what it really takes to keep restaurants thriving amid rising costs, changing diners, and constant uncertainty. From the realities of staffing and margins to the return of brasserie theatre — foie gras “burgers,” dessert trolleys, and caviar-topped chicken nuggets included — Francois reveals how optimism, generosity, and beautiful chaos keep his world turning. Beyond the food, Francois is candid about the realities of running a restaurant today — the impossible margins, soaring ingredient costs, and the new normal of 35% staff overheads. But his optimism shines through as he explains how Maison François has weathered every storm: through generosity, energy, and human connection . He takes us from the flickering lights of Brasserie St Quentin , where a towering French chef named Marcel used to eat from the stockpot, to today’s buzzing St James’s dining rooms where corner booths, dessert trolleys, and champagne carts help guests “order with their eyes.” It’s a love letter to old-school glamour made relevant again — and a reminder that theatre and warmth are as vital as the food itself. In a wide-ranging conversation, we hear about the breakfast hustle that went from one table to 200 covers, the behind-the-scenes of Frank’s , his quietly brilliant Borough Market venture, and the power of saying yes to single diners. Francois opens up about the grind and the gratitude — from crisis-era reopenings to future plans at Frieze London , and from late-night service lessons to the Brazilian beach barbecue that still defines his idea of heaven. It’s rich, funny, and full of texture — a portrait of a restaurateur who still believes in beauty, hospitality, and a good bit of butter. ------- Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further -as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £69 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.