Simon Zatyrka

Partnering with Restaurants to Craft Kitchen Cultures That Drive Retention and Profitability.
coaching / advisory
Stop Running Your Kitchen. Start Leading It.You've mastered the craft. Built a solid operation. Your food is exceptional.But something's not adding up.## The Truth About Kitchen Leadership
Your talent got you here. But talent alone won't get you where you want to go.I'm Simon Zatyrka, and after 33 years in professional kitchens, I've learned that sometimes talent destroys culture. Your next level of success isn't about cooking better food – it's about building better systems.## This Is You:
* Your restaurant is successful, but you're trapped in it. 60+ hour weeks are your norm, and stepping away feels impossible.
* Your team is good, but turnover is eating into your profits. You're tired of constantly training new staff.
* You dream of expansion, but you can't clone yourself. The thought of managing multiple locations keeps you up at night.
* You're proud of your culture, but something's off. Despite your best efforts, consistency remains elusive.
* The passion is still there, but burnout is creeping in. Again.## Transform Your Kitchen Operations
This isn't about quick fixes or generic advice. It's about creating sustainable systems that transform how your kitchen operates.Through our work together, you'll:
* Break free from operational dependencies
* Build and retain high-performing teams
* Create predictable, profitable results
* Develop strong, capable leaders
* Get your life back## Why Work With Me?
I've stood in your shoes. Run the impossible shifts. Built the high-performing teams. Now I help chefs and operators transform their kitchens through systematic leadership development.My approach focuses on what matters: building sustainable systems that scale. Whether you're running one kitchen or planning to expand, the foundation remains the same – strong systems, developed leaders, and a culture that sustains itself.## Ready to Transform Your Kitchen?
Let's start with a conversation about your specific challenges and goals. During our discovery call, we'll:
* Identify your biggest operational pressure points
* Discuss potential solutions for your immediate challenges
* Explore whether we're a good fit to work together
* Outline what transformation could look like for your operation[BOOK YOUR DISCOVERY CALL] buttonSystems beat talent when talent doesn't have systems.
About
Simon has been in the restaurant industry his entire adult life. He came for the food and stayed for the people. Food was always a very important part of family, so it made sense that his first job was in a kitchen.He quickly understood that as long as he was cooking he could work wherever he wanted. This led to a series of relocations from New Mexico, Massachusetts, Florida and California before finally settling down in Seattle, Washington. By 2002 Simon had become a sous chef and his management career had begun. The revelation that being a chef has as much to do with people as it does food was an eye opener. The good news, Simon is a chatty MF and has always loved to be around people. As much a purveyor of a wonderful story as a stunning taco, Simon's desire to be a great leader and developer of people has informed his path for the last twenty years.After over thirty years in the kitchen, 2022 brought with it the perfect moment to pivot out of kitchen operations. He has spent the last year plotting to take over the world, er, I mean finding a way to help chefs grow their leadership and assisting restauranteurs to improve their culture, systems and profit.In December 2023 Simon brought CULINARY MECHANIC to life. Week by week finding ways to bring insights, strategies, tools and tactics for running your restaurant like a well-oiled machine through stories and great conversation to an ever increasing band of watchers and listeners.

Join Chef Simon Zatyrka, as he opens the door to candid conversations with the hospitality industry's most innovative leaders.Each episode runs the gamut from battle-tested leadership insights to real-world kitchen wisdom, helping you build the restaurant culture you've always dreamed about.New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe now to join a community of leaders who are as passionate about people as they are about food.
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