Medium Fine Restaurant Group: Elevating Stability and Excellence in the Los Angeles Restaurant Scene

Mission Statement

At Medium Fine Restaurant Group, our mission is to combat industry instability and reshape the culinary landscape in Los Angeles by fostering a culture of mentorship, equitable pay, and sustainable management. We reimagine the role of top-tier restaurant professionals—elevating them into teaching positions through our mentorship model.

Rather than assigning one executive chef, bar manager, or sommelier per restaurant, we diversify the expertise of seasoned professionals across multiple locations. This shared leadership model reduces overall costs while maintaining excellence. These mentors take on lighter weekly commitments and receive equity participation, allowing them to focus on training, development, and big-picture impact—while enabling us to hire emerging talent at above-market wages. The result is a culture of ownership, financial sustainability, and exceptional service.

We prioritize consistent, timely returns for our investors. By reallocating 60% of capital typically reserved for high-level management into higher hourly wages for staff—and using the remaining 40% to repay investors by the end of year three—we create a self-sustaining ecosystem that also helps fund our next venture. Angel investors in this first project will retain first-tier distribution rights at the same rate in our second, reinforcing long-term partnership and shared success.

Our mentors lead from within, guiding operations, developing mid- and entry-level managers, and transforming talented cooks into refined culinary leaders. We offer full-spectrum support—including accounting, HR, social media, and PR—ensuring every restaurant thrives operationally and creatively. This model eliminates the traditional glass ceiling, improves pay structures, and elevates the quality of life for all staff by fostering fair compensation, clear advancement, and consistent hiring practices.

Medium Fine envisions a network of small to mid-sized, community-focused restaurants that celebrate diverse culinary traditions. Through strategic investment and a commitment to professional growth, we’re setting a new standard for excellence in hospitality—one built on mentorship, sustainability, and deep-rooted collaboration.

Together, we’re building a future where hospitality professionals and investors thrive side by side—creating a vibrant, resilient culinary community in Los Angeles and beyond.

The Problem:

The restaurant industry is at a breaking point. Over the past five years, quality has declined, investment has become increasingly risky, and COVID-19 accelerated cracks that were already widening. Today’s financial climate—marked by inflation, shifting tariffs, and global instability—has only compounded these challenges, making it harder than ever for small operators to stay afloat. Small and mid-sized restaurants—the heart of culinary innovation and community—are vanishing under the weight of rising costs, labor shortages, and operational volatility. Without structural change, the cycle of burnout, underpayment, and lost talent will continue to drain the industry of its future.

  •     •    Restaurant quality has steadily deteriorated, with inconsistency replacing craftsmanship.

        •    Returns on investment remain poor, making restaurants high-risk ventures with steep capital demands.

        •    COVID-19 amplified long-standing challenges, from labor shortages to rising costs.

        •    Ongoing economic uncertainty, international tariffs, and inflation have further destabilized the industry.

        •    Independent and mid-sized restaurants are collapsing due to volatility and lack of support.

        •    Burnout and lack of mentorship are pushing talented chefs and hospitality workers out of the industry.

        •    Inconsistent operations, communication breakdowns, and fragmented funding models stall progress.

        •    The glass ceiling continues to restrict growth for chefs and food & beverage professionals across the board.

The Solution

Medium Fine is redefining what it means to run a restaurant—creating a transparent, supportive environment where culinary professionals can thrive and investors can expect meaningful returns. Our integrated model breaks down the glass ceiling, elevates pay structures, and enhances quality of life for every team member. By rethinking traditional hierarchies and rebalancing capital allocation, we’re building a system that prioritizes mentorship, sustainability, and long-term value.

Key Strategies:

    •    Redefined Profit Margins: We reallocate 60% of capital traditionally reserved for high-level management to fund above-market hourly wages for staff. The remaining 40% repays investors in full by the end of year three, while also helping to self-fund our next venture.

    •    Investor-First Returns: Angel investors in our first project will be invited into first-tier distributions and receive right of first refusal on all future projects—creating long-term alignment and early access to growth opportunities.

    •    Mentorship Over Management: Instead of hiring one executive per restaurant, we train mid- and entry-level managers through a shared mentorship model, building internal leadership while significantly reducing overhead.

    •    Operational Efficiency: Our shared-leadership structure results in an estimated 80% annual savings on traditional management salaries.

    •    Proof of Concept: Our first restaurant, Restaurant Medium Fine, will launch with a $700K investment and feature acclaimed chef Jesse Barber as Culinary Director and Mentor.

    •    Equitable Pay Structure: Senior leadership accepts 20% of a standard executive salary in exchange for equity and reduced time commitments—freeing up capital for staff compensation and reinvestment.

    •    Scalable Consulting Arm: We will implement and license our model across the broader industry, helping other operators build resilient, equitable restaurant ecosystems.

Our Goals

  • Investor Return: Ensure stable and reliable quarterly returns at improved percentage rates.

  • Enhanced Communication: Streamline operations and improve communication between
    kitchen and management.

  • Professional Focus: Allow chefs to concentrate on their culinary craft while we manage PR,
    branding, and concept development.

  • Support Systems: Provide ongoing professional support to combat burnout.

  • Staff Retention: Offer advancement prospects and above-market starting wages.

  • Work-Life Balance: Ensure reasonable working hours.

  • Consistent Hiring and Standards: Establish uniform hiring practices and training standards.

  • Fair Compensation: Provide competitive salaries reflecting skills and hard work, without top-heavy fees.

  • Growth Opportunities: Promote from within to eliminate the glass ceiling and create growth opportunities for all staff.

The Opportunity

Medium Fine is transforming the culinary landscape in Los Angeles by elevating seasoned professionals into mentorship roles and restructuring how restaurants operate from the ground up. Through strategic investment and a deep commitment to professional growth, we’re building a scalable model rooted in equity, sustainable management, and staff empowerment. By redistributing resources—offering equity in place of inflated salaries and reinvesting in hourly wages—we foster ownership, improve quality of life for workers, and deliver reliable returns for investors. Our goal is to revitalize small and mid-sized, community-focused restaurants while creating a thriving, resilient ecosystem where culinary professionals and investors grow together.

By focusing on mentorship and structured career progression, we ensure that individuals are promoted based on their skills and readiness, rather than simply filling roles out of necessity.

We provide a clear, concise approach to revolutionizing the culinary industry through mentorship, financial restructuring, and comprehensive support.

Our comprehensive support includes accounting, HR, social media, PR services, and professional development opportunities to ensure a thriving work environment.

Concise One-Paragraph Pitch: Medium Fine aims to transform the Los Angeles
culinary landscape by transitioning top-tier professionals into mentors, focusing on
mentorship, equitable pay, and sustainable management. By leveraging reduced salaries
and equity for mentors, we foster ownership and financial success while providing
comprehensive support services. Our model ensures better returns for investors and
growth opportunities for all staff, creating a vibrant and dynamic culinary community.

Experienced Chefs: Emphasizing the value of experienced chefs who can no longer handle
day-to-day operations but have invaluable knowledge, we ensure their expertise is utilized
through various mentorship roles, thus guiding the next generation of true culinary professionals.

Thank you for taking the time to read through our vision and plan for Medium Fine.
We appreciate your interest and would love to hear any feedback you may have.
Additionally, if you or anyone you know might be interested in investing, even if the
timing isn't right at the moment, we would be grateful for any connections or introductions.
Together, we can make a significant impact on the culinary landscape in Los Angeles.

Best

Jesse Barber
Director of Culinary & Founder
Jesse@mediumfine.com