Robert McLain

About Robert McLain

Hospitality Executive | VP of Operations | Partner – New Growth & DevelopmentA strategic operations leader with 28+ years of high-velocity experience building and scaling high-performance restaurant organizations. Currently a Partner at FAR Out Hospitality, I lead the end-to-end evolution of the portfolio—from identifying expansion opportunities and site selection to orchestrating new restaurant openings (NROs) and providing ongoing operational oversight to ensure long-term profitability.My leadership foundation was built at Houston’s Restaurant Group (Hillstone), where I mastered the gold standard of operational discipline, leadership development, and brand consistency. I leveraged this expertise as Vice President of Operations for Cocinas Y Calaveras, where I led multi-unit operations and played a pivotal role in scaling the organization while mentoring high-performing teams.I specialize in bringing the \"Hillstone Standard\" of operational precision to growing brands—architecting the systems, leadership pipelines, and financial discipline required to scale concepts from a dirt lot to high-volume EBITDA growth.Core Executive Competencies:Portfolio Growth & Oversight: Expert in the full lifecycle of restaurant development, from initial concept to post-opening operational excellence.Operational Infrastructure: Architect of high-performance SOPs and systems that ensure brand integrity across diverse multi-unit portfolios.Financial Stewardship: Deep expertise in P&L leadership, capital efficiency, and margin optimization for high-growth groups.Leadership Legacy: Proven track record of recruiting and mentoring multi-unit directors to deliver world-class guest experiences.I bridge the gap between visionary expansion strategy and \"boots-on-the-ground\" execution, ensuring every new venture is supported by disciplined systems and a culture of excellence.

Experience

1. Director of New Growth and Development Partner

   Far Out Hospitality

   Nov 2024 — Present · US