Hospitality Academy w/ Matt Brown (V. Mertz)

Hospitality Academy w/ Matt Brown (V. Mertz)

From Restaurant Hoppen by Hurrdat Media

April 2, 2026 · 1h 0m

About this episode

Matt Brown, the GM of V. Mertz, discusses customizing restaurant experiences and modernizing a classic Omaha restaurant.

If Omaha had a hospitality Mount Rushmore, Matt Brown's face would be chiseled onto it. The GM of V. Mertz joined me to discuss how he and his team customize the restaurant experience for each individual guest, how he's helped keep a beloved, classic Omaha restaurant modern and current without alienating original customers, what an advanced sommelier wine exam entails, and so much more. If you want to understand what goes into a restaurant experience beyond the food (we talk plenty of food, too!), this is a must-listen episode. Learn more about V. Mertz:https://www.vmertz.com/ This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser 00:00:57 – Welcome to the Show, Matt! 00:03:57 – “Reading the Guests” 00:11:15 – V. Mertz, Then & Now 00:17:45 – Restaurant Collaboration 00:23:49 – Turnover Learning Curve 00:23:49 – Wine Exams 00:31:57 – Kitchen & Front of House Communication 00:44:15 – General Manager at 21 00:50:24 – Tips to Become a Better…

People in this episode

Guest: Matt Brown

Topics covered

  • hospitality
  • restaurant experience
  • wine exams
  • customer service
  • Omaha restaurants

Keywords

  • V. Mertz
  • advanced sommelier
  • restaurant collaboration
  • dining tips

Mentioned in this episode

Products: V. Mertz

Books & works: Reading the Guests

Places: Omaha, NE

More episodes of Restaurant Hoppen

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Restaurant Hoppen podcast page.