Real Systems for Real Operators

No corporate theory. No consultant fluff. Just battle-tested strategies from 30+ years running an independent restaurant.

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Cut the Chaos, Keep the Cash

Your menu grew. Your margins shrank. Your kitchen got louder. Sound familiar?

Nobody sets out to build a bloated menu. It happens slowly—a guest request here, a cook's special there, a panic-driven addition when sales dip. Before you know it, your prep lists are longer, your team is overwhelmed, and you're working harder than ever with less to show for it.

This is the practical guide independent restaurant owners have been waiting for—a real-world system for simplifying your menu, protecting your profits, and using AI as a tool (not a replacement) to make smarter decisions.

What You'll Learn

Why smaller menus consistently outperform bigger ones
The only numbers that actually matter for menu profitability
How to classify every item as a Winner, Workhorse, Opportunity, or Loser
Copy-and-paste AI prompts that do the heavy lifting for you
Where your most profitable items should actually live on the page
Complete case study: 34-item menu to focused, profitable 22-item menu

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Available in ebook & paperback

Coming Soon

The Online Hospitality Handbook

Bring your signature hospitality online—and turn clicks into loyal guests.

Hospitality doesn't stop at the front door anymore—it lives online. From ordering and loyalty to data and AI, today's most successful restaurants blend technology with genuine service to keep guests coming back.

Nearly 30 years of real-world experience helping independent restaurants modernize operations, marketing, and the guest experience—without losing the heart that makes hospitality special.

What You'll Learn

Streamline online ordering to reduce friction and increase ticket size
Boost sales & loyalty with digital rewards and gamified engagement
Use data & analytics to make smarter menu and promo decisions
Protect guest privacy with simple, effective cybersecurity practices
Harness AI Agents to answer FAQs, drive signups, and serve guests 24/7
Sweet Spot Action Steps at the end of every chapter

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Available soon on Amazon (ebook & paperback)

About the Author

Mike Sweetman

Mike has spent over 30 years running Extra Innings Paninos & Pizza in Marshall, Minnesota. No corporate backing. No millions of potential customers. Just a community, a team, and the daily challenge of making it work.

After watching his own menu quietly spiral out of control—and seeing what it did to his kitchen, his staff, and his sanity—Mike developed straightforward systems that any independent operator can use.

Everything in these books has been tested in a real restaurant, by someone who still jumps behind the line when things get busy.

Restaurant Owner Since 2002 30+ Years in Hospitality SweetPlay Creator Podcast Host

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