The WORST episodes of Mystery Diners
Every episode of Mystery Diners ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Mystery Diners!
What happens in the food world when a bad employee starts to take down an otherwise thriving establishment or when restaurant owners suspect someone of not doing their job appropriately? They call in the Mystery Diners. These undercover operatives go into restaurants, bars and food service establishments with hidden cameras to find out what's really going on when the boss isn't around.
#1 - Local Celebrities
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/24/2014
A staff may be getting carried away with the digital shorts they produce to promote a restaurant and help is sent in.
#2 - Getting a Leg Up
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/2/2012
The owner of Pips on La Brea in Los Angeles named Derrick Pipkin has a problem with a waiter named Bob who claims he hurt his leg on the job the day Derrick was going to fire him for not doing his job. This former waiter has threatened a lawsuit. So to appease him, Derrick has made him a host. However, his lazy behavior has not stopped and Derrick wonders whether the injury is even legitimate. Derrick contacts Charles Stiles for help and Mystery Diners Shellene, Lukas, and Tracey go undercover to see if Bob is faking his injury. While posing as a damsel in distress, Tracy helps to prove that Derrick is right about Bob. During the confrontation, Bob is finally fired and told to take his leg brace with him. The narrator revealed that Bob "kept on walking" and Derrick hasn't heard from Bob since the taping of this sting. Pips has finished it's relaunch where business has never been better.
#3 - Raising the Stakes
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/9/2012
Ali, owner of a Moroccan-themed restaurant in California called Marrakesh, seeks the help of Charles and the Mystery Diners because he believes his manager may have a gambling problem outside of work that's affecting his ability to do his job. Mystery Diners, Rob, Scarlet, and Loree go undercover to see if the manager's extracurricular activities are taking a toll at work.
#4 - Extra Curricular
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/16/2012
Johnny, owner of Pina Pizza House in Downey, California, seeks the help of Charles and the Mystery Diners because he believes his "frat-tastic" college-enrolled waiter may not have his best interests at heart and that he may be taking the party off campus and into his restaurant. Mystery Diners Grant and Jill go undercover to see if the waiter is taking his job as seriously as he claims to be taking his classes.
#5 - Valet Disservice
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/23/2012
George, the owner of Los Angeles hot spot Ca' Brea, has recently received a few complaints that are surprisingly not related to the quality of his food or his wait staff's service, but about his valet service. Charles sends Mystery Diners Tracey and Hank undercover to show George just how detrimental a bad valet can be to a restaurant's business.
#6 - Sleeping on the Job
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/7/2012
Chef Marc, owner of Parma in Las Vegas, contacts Charles and the Mystery Diners for help after noticing disparities in sales receipts and inventory with his high-end Italian deli meats. Mystery Diner Shane goes undercover as a busboy and discovers one of Marc's employees is down on his luck and may be using restaurant supplies for personal gain.
#7 - Singles Night
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/14/2012
When Will, co-owner of Whiskey Dick's in Las Vegas, becomes concerned over a steady decline in female patrons, Charles and the Mystery Diners come in to investigate. Mystery Diner Shellene goes undercover as a waitress and learns that the manager is serving more than just drinks from the bar.
#8 - Sour Grapes
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/21/2012
Scott, the owner of Rhythm Kitchen in Las Vegas, suspects his sophisticated, but slightly arrogant, wine sommelier is somehow negatively affecting spirit sales. But could he also be selling his own wine to customers and keeping the profits? Charles sends Mystery Diners Chelsea and Hollie in as customers to see if something smells rotten.
#9 - Love Hurts
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/18/2013
When two employees who recently broke up disrupt staff harmony and start effecting sales at Marche Bacchus, owners Jeff and Rhonda seek Charles for help. The Mystery Diners go undercover to get to the bottom of this lovers' quarrel.
#10 - All In The Family
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/17/2013
The owner of R&O's Restaurant in New Orleans is fed up with the lack of respect. The Diners discover big problems: the owner's niece Dee Dee who works as a waitress is rude to customers and staff, and the owner's nephew Chris who works as a busboy is coming in tired from college and getting only a few moments of sleep. During the confrontation, the owner fires Dee Dee for her blatant disrespect while telling her never to return despite being related. Dee Dee threatens to send her mother to confront him as she leaves. Chris apologizes while stating that he has college work to do and the owner is convinced to talk to his mother as well. The narrator revealed that Dee Dee has apologized for her actions after being scolded by her mother and has found another job. The nephew has a lighter work schedule to accommodate his college workload and has gotten straight A's in his recent semester. Another one of the owner's nieces named Amanda has been promoted to manager.
#11 - Naked Lunch
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/24/2013
After losing several sushi models, Bruce, the owner of Lotus on Flower in Los Angeles, fears that one of his best customers is behaving inappropriately during the restaurant's "naked sushi" dining experience. Charles sends in Mystery Diner Christine to go undercover as a model to discover who is encouraging the inappropriate behavior.
#12 - Cocktail Fail
Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/13/2014
Fearing that a rivalry between her two flair bartenders is the cause of tension and missing alcohol, Sarra, owner of The Compass in Carlsbad, Calif., asks Charles to investigate. Mystery Diners Amanda and Chelsea go undercover to find out who's the real culprit.
#13 - Dueling Food Trucks
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/20/2014
Marko and Brett own competing food trucks in San Diego, but put aside their differences to investigate revenue loss in both of their vehicles. Charles sends in Mystery Diners Seth and Corinne, who discover that their employees are turning a friendly competition into an all out war.
#14 - Customer Concerns
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/3/2014
Fearing that his regular customers have become too entitled, Larry, owner of 730 South in Denver, asks Charles to investigate. Mystery Diners Ariel and Conner go undercover and discover an employee may be creating the problem.
#15 - Secret Pairings
Season 7 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/24/2014
When Peter and Delinda, owners of Indulge Bistro and Wine Bar in Colorado, notice discrepancies in their food costs — specifically their expensive wine and cheese — they contact Charles for help. Mystery Diners Taylor and Brent go undercover and expose some employees who are hosting their own events.
#16 - Food Cart Catastrophe
Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/2014
Rod and Linda, owners of a la carts Food Pavilion in Portland, Ore., hear complaints from their tenants about the new onsite manager so mystery diners are sent in to investigate.
#17 - Daddy's Girl
Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 10/13/2014
When Joe and Fran, owners of Geppino's Sicilian Kitchen in Moorpark, Calif., hear customer complaints about stolen items, Joe suspects their daughter's new boyfriend is to blame. Charles sends in Mystery Diners Shelby and Destiney to identify the real thief.
#18 - Something Smells Fishy
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/26/2012
When Mario, the owner of La Traviata in Long Beach, California, becomes concerned over complaints with respect to the quality of his fish, Charles and the Mystery Diners discover that a recently hired chef may not be honest about what's in his high-priced dishes. Mystery Diners Rob, Shellene, and Lauren go undercover to find out what smells fishy.
#19 - Raw Deal
Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/26/2014
Fearing that her employees are selling the secret recipes to her raw food menu, Sylvia, owner of Beets Cafe in Austin, Texas, contacts Charles for help. Mystery Diners Holly and Robin go undercover and discover an even bigger problem.
#20 - Skating On Thin Ice
Season 10 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/14/2015
After noticing missing food and merchandise, Shauna and Joe, owners of Epic Rollertainment in Murrieta, Calif., contact Charles Stiles for help. Mystery Diners Kendall and Eliot discover an ever bigger problem when the roller rink closes at night.
#21 - Tastes Like Chicken
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/6/2014
The owner of Source in San Francisco has concerns about meat being served in his vegan restaurant. The Mystery Diners point to bigger problems with his male cashier eating outside food at the restaurant in addition to lying to customers about meat being served, another cashier named Sydney is being rude to customers with her vegan ways, and his head chef coming in to work intoxicated while drinking booze hidden in a drink cup. During the confrontation, the male cashier storms out, the chef is forced to take time off, and Sydney is reprimanded to ease up on customers. The narrator reveals that the former cashier has found employment elsewhere. The chef is attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Sydney has adopted a more friendly approach.
#22 - Mascot Mayhem
Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/3/2014
Blaine Cook, the owner of Zippy's Giant Burgers in Seattle, calls Charles Stiles to investigate rumors he's heard that his employee Aaron working as the costumed mascot Zippy the Yum Yum Burger Boy is misbehaving. The Mystery Diners go undercover and point to big problems when they reveal who was behind the whole misbehavior, Aaron's friend and roommate named Dopey Dan. He has been showing up intoxicated as a favor while Aaron visits his sick mother in secret to handle her errands. When the two are confronted, Blaine expresses his disappointment in Aaron for having Dan cover his shifts. Stiles asks Aaron why he doesn't have Dan take care of his mother's errands. Aaron stated that he wouldn't trust Dan to do any sort of errands for his mother. Stiles also points out that he made the mistake of trusting Dan to come to his place of work to cover his shifts and having him wear the Zippy costume while intoxicated. Aaron is reprimanded by Blaine and is told if he needs time off next time to take care of his mother's errands, they will discuss it. Until then, he is suspended for a week, and Blaine also tells Dan that he is no longer allowed on the property. The narrator revealed that Aaron has made amends with the owner and nobody else wears the Zippy the Yum Yum Burger Boy costume without the owner's approval. Dan is mentioned to still be unemployed.
#23 - Behind the Eight Ball
Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/2014
Kent, owner of Uptown Billiards in Portland, Ore., believes the social media expert he hired to promote his restaurant isn't doing an adequate job. Charles sends in Mystery Diner Amber and discovers the customers are being hustled.
#24 - Scorpion Sting
Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/2/2014
After Paul, owner of Nacho Daddy in Las Vegas, notices a discrepancy in the expensive scorpions used in his restaurant's "scorpion shot," he contacts Charles to investigate. Mystery Diners Andy and Peter go undercover and discover an employee with a gambling addiction.
#25 - Tour Bust
Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/7/2015
Father and son team Danny and Danny Jr. own the Star Cafe and Star Coaches in Atlanta. They are concerned about missing food in their kitchen and a rise in fuel expenses on their tour buses. Charles Stiles sends in Mystery Diners Meagen and Jamie to investigate what's happening on the road.