Grano Arso, a beloved Italian trattoria in Chester, Connecticut, is known for its handmade pasta, thoughtful ingredients, and intentional leadership. Chef-owner Joel Gargano and his wife Lani, co-owner, take pride in developing systems that empower their team without micromanagement. To bring that same clarity and structure to tip distribution, he turned to TipHaus. Discover how Chef Joel eliminated spreadsheets, saved hours every pay period, and built stronger trust among his staff.
Executive Summary
Region:
Northeast, Chester, Connecticut
Business Type:
Chef-driven full-service restaurant
# of Locations:
12
Interviewee:
Joel Gargano, Chef/Owner
Problem:
Chef Joel or his team were spending hours each pay period managing and correcting a spreadsheet-based tip system that created unnecessary errors, a lack of transparency, and manual overhead.
Solution:
TipHaus automated tip distribution, provided full transparency through the employee app, and saved hours every pay period, empowering both FOH and management with a reliable system.
Background
Grano Arso has been serving house-made Italian dishes and cultivating community in Chester, CT for over seven years. Chef Joel Gargano, a seasoned leader and advocate for thoughtful restaurant systems, was managing tip distribution manually using complex spreadsheets, a process that was time-consuming and error-prone. With his wife Lani managing the front of house and a lean, high-performing team, Chef Joel needed a tip management solution that aligned with their structured, transparent, and people-first operations.
Problem
Before TipHaus, Chef Joel relied on spreadsheets to manage tip calculations—an increasingly unmanageable task that pulled him away from higher priorities like menu development and team growth. The manual process often led to errors, especially when handling unique tip scenarios tied to private dining and special events. There was no streamlined way to adjust for service charges or redistribute tips fairly across these events, and payroll reconciliation was both stressful and time-consuming. Staff also lacked visibility into how tips were calculated and distributed, leading to questions and frustration.
If someone touched my spreadsheet, it was a problem. Every time we hired someone new, we had to adjust the formulas, which quickly became risky territory. And spreadsheets just aren’t built to handle the unique tip distribution we need for events.
Joel Gargano
Owner/Chef
Solution
Grano Arso implemented TipHaus to automate their tip management and simplify the entire process. The team now saves 2+ hours each payroll cycle and has eliminated the need for manual math or post-shift calculations.
Employee App: Front-of-house staff use TipHaus to view their tips transparently, reducing questions and boosting trust.
Event Adjustments: Special event service charges are now easily reconciled and distributed without spreadsheet chaos.
Time Savings: TipHaus eliminated at least 3 hours of manual work every two weeks—including 1 hour previously spent resolving disputes.
We get far fewer questions from staff now, thanks to the full transparency they have through the free TipHaus employee app. Combine that with the time and money we’ve saved by eliminating manual spreadsheet calculations, and it’s a no-brainer. It saves time for both management and staff—and you’ll make your money back in the first week just by not having employees stay late doing math or spending hours managing tips yourself. It’s a fast, easy ROI.
Joel Gargano
Owner/Chef
Results
What can Tiphaus do for your restaurant?
See why 100,000 employees in TipHaus-powered restaurant chose us
No credit card required.
With TipHaus, Grano Arso moved away from error-prone spreadsheets and embraced a smarter, more transparent way to manage tips. Chef Joel and his team now save valuable time, avoid manual errors, and give employees the clarity they deserve. The result? A smoother operation built on trust, structure, and shared success.
