Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Danilo.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story is a little unconventional. I went to Indiana University and majored in finance and accounting, and minored in psychology and history; I went to one finance interview and after about 15 minutes I knew that I wasn’t cut out to climb the corporate ladder. I paid for college bartending, so after graduating I maxed out all my credit cards and decided to move to Miami with the ambition of opening my own restaurant. I worked with, and for, some amazing people at some amazing places, and after about five years of working 6-7 days a week I had saved up enough to go off on my own.
I opened Batch in December 2013 with an amazing crew of people, and the rest is history. We’ve been fortunate and have been supported by the neighborhood, and in June 2017 we opened our second location in Delray Beach. I’m incredibly fortunate to have the staff I have, and I’m blessed to have had friends and family help me the entire way. I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all the people in my career that helped push me to be the best I could possibly be, and for my family who taught me never to settle, and always to reach just a little bit further.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! If we were to talk about all the terrible decisions I’ve made or the bad luck I’ve encountered, we’d be here for the next decade. That said, it’s all part of the process, I’ve never met an entrepreneur or restaurant owner who has been able to say “it’s easy”…or at least do so with a straight face. Every day is a battle, and every day there are new challenges, but that’s what makes the job fun. Being in a leadership role and being accountable for everything that happens within an organization is definitely tough, but it forces you to become stronger and more resilient, and over time each challenge seems a little less daunting. I’m sure I’ll never fully stop making bad decisions, nor will I stop biting off more than I can chew, but every day I learn more and get better, and I think that’s what is most important. I generally don’t like giving advice to people because it’s real easy to sit in the cheap seats and tell people what to do- but the one thing I always tell people is to never give up, no matter how hard things get or how much you want to quit, you’ll always cross the finish line with determination and hard work.
Batch Gastropub – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Batch is a casual dining restaurant/bar that features a scratch kitchen and a fully scratch bar. We really pride ourselves on the products we offer, both from a culinary and beverage perspective. My favorite part of the concept is our beverage program. We make our own sodas, juices, syrups, tonics, and even bitters. We infuse spirits in house, as well as barrel age cocktails. We really wanted to take casual dining up a notch by introducing new bold flavors to classic dishes, and to introduce really amazing and unique cocktails to a casual atmosphere. We have an awesome brunch, a fun lady’s night, and throw killer sports viewing parties. We like to think there’s something for everyone at Batch so anyone from any walk of life can wander through our doors and find something to enjoy.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and each December at Batch we host a neighborhood holiday toy drive called Shots for Tots. We trade unwrapped toys for free shots, and all the toys go to the Miami Children’s Hospital and a local foundation called Patches which provides support to medically complex children.
We decorate the restaurant, hire an inappropriate Santa, round up some elves, have a DJ to spin some Christmas Carols, and we give away free eggnog. Each year we get an amazing response from the community and at each event we’ve raised anywhere between 300 and 1,000 toys, along with thousands of dollars in donations. A few times our staff has been able to go give toys out personally, some years we just get pictures of kids unwrapping gifts, but it’s always an incredible feeling to see the results of our event. We love sharing the stories and pictures with our guests whose small acts of kindness have pretty profound impacts on kids who’ve been given a raw deal.
Pricing:
- Bottomless Brunch for $20 on Saturday and Sunday
- $15 All-You-Can-Eat Boneless Wings every Monday
Contact Info:
- Address: 30 SW 12th St
Miami, FL 33130 - Website: www.batchgastropub.com
- Phone: 305-808-55555
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @batchmiami
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BatchMiami/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/batchmiami
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/batch-gastropub-miami
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