Alex Koons has spent nearly two decades building restaurants, developing systems, and helping teams perform at a higher level. As the owner of Hot Tongue Pizza in Los Angeles and a veteran of the independent restaurant industry, he brings real-world experience, practical solutions, and a deep understanding of what it takes to operate a successful pizzeria.
His approach goes beyond dough formulas and recipes. Alex believes great restaurants are built on people, process, and consistency. Drawing from his background in music, he often compares running a restaurant to being in a band: your team is the band, service is the performance, your guests are the audience, and the food is the music. Success comes when every part works together.
Whether you’re opening your first shop, refining operations, improving quality, or building systems that scale, Alex helps operators create businesses that are both sustainable and meaningful. From menu development and dough programs to training, leadership, and operational structure, his goal is simple: help good people build great restaurants.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — Pablo Picasso
There are enough surprises in the restaurant business—you don’t need to pay for all of them yourself. From equipment selection and kitchen design to staffing, systems, and operations, I help pizza operators make smarter decisions before small mistakes become expensive problems.
Save time, avoid costly detours, and build your business on a stronger foundation.