The WORST episodes of Restaurant Stakeout
Every episode of Restaurant Stakeout ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Restaurant Stakeout!
There are shows on TV, including Food Network's own ``Restaurant: Impossible,'' in which chefs help struggling restaurateurs turn their businesses around. ``Restaurant Stakeout'' takes that format to another level by using hidden cameras to surreptitiously watch the crew to see what really goes on when waiters, bartenders, kitchen staff and other employees think no one is watching. Analyzing that hidden-camera footage is restaurateur Willie Degel, who owns a chain of steakhouses in New York. After seeing how the staff acts, Degel uses his tough-love approach to improve the employees' work ethic and, ultimately, turn around the restaurant's fortunes. If employees don't improve their poor working habits, Degel shows them the door because his goal is making things better for the struggling eatery's owner.
#1 - Tuscan Tumbleweeds
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/12/2013
Joe, the owners of The Venetian Grille in Somerville, N.J., grew up in the business and took over the family restaurant eight years ago. After an unsuccessful attempt at opening a new restaurant, Joe returned to The Venetian Grille and found business had disappeared. Willie quickly discovers that an unprofessional staff, confused identity and frustrated manager are just a few of the problems that need fixing.
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - Damsel in Distress
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/19/2012
Willie helps out Melissa O’Connell, a too-sweet wife, mother and owner of The Pepper Jack Grill in Staten Island. Melissa treats her staff like family, and, like any family, they bring the dysfunction. Their fighting, drinking, and unprofessional behavior is driving customers away and causing business to suffer. Despite the grill’s problem’s, Melissa’s hanging on to the business because of a promise she made to her young daughter. But if Willie can’t help her, she may soon have no choice but close up shop.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - Who Hires These People?
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/26/2012
Willie comes to the aid of Nick, owner of the Pita Grill in Hoboken, N.J. Nick recently achieved a lifelong goal of opening up his own restaurant, as part owner of a small franchise business. Nick's invested everything into the place and needs it to work. But now an unruly staff, more interested in having fun than customer service, could destroy his dream and cost him everything. Willie is Nick's last hope to help straighten out his staff and his business before the Pita Grill is forced to close its doors for good.
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Act Like The Boss
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/10/2012
Willie comes to the aid of Dawn, owner of the Liberty Bar and Grill in Hoboken, N.J. After 14 years in business, Dawn's restaurant is struggling and she's called Willie for answers. He soon discovers that Dawn's hands-off management style has created a leadership vacuum and some serious personnel issues that threaten to bring the business to its knees.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - That's Money Out The Door
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/17/2012
Willie steps in to help Anna Maria, chef and owner of Anna Maria's Italian Restaurant in Larchmont, N.Y. While her food gets raves, her restaurant has developed a reputation for nickel-and-diming the customer and it's driving business out the door. If Willie can't solve the service problems, Anna Maria's dream of running her own restaurant is destined to become a nightmare.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - This Place Is a Circus
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/24/2012
Willie is called in to help a desperate owner, Antony, save his Italian restaurant, Serata, in Oyster Bay, N.Y. Antony's rowdy employees have created an atmosphere that's more sideshow than serene, and business is suffering. The situation is complicated by the fact that Serata's main investor, Vinny, is also Antony's best friend. The two lifelong friends need Willie to get their restaurant back on track before their business and relationship come to an unhappy ending.
Watch Now:Amazon#7 - You Can't Fire Family
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/14/2012
At Ariana Restaurant in Huntington, N.Y., Willie Degel finds a family-run business suffering from too much family and not enough business. The owner's son, Joey, has reached out to Willie to help save the restaurant and convince his father that recent reviews point to a painful truth: The lax atmosphere toward customers is driving business away and threatens to run Ariana's into the ground.
Watch Now:Amazon#8 - On It's Last Leg
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/21/2012
Willie is called in to help the Haven Grill in Port Washington, N.Y. Tough economic times recently prompted this family-run restaurant to move from traditional Italian fare to an American menu with broader appeal. But, with the business still struggling, the restaurant has developed an identity crisis that's taking its toll on the married owners. Their daughter, Stefania, is desperate for Willie to sort this messy situation out and get the Haven Grill on the right track before it's too late.
Watch Now:Amazon#9 - A Bunch of Spolied Brats
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/12/2012
Willie travels to Joey D's Pizzeria in Metuchen, N.J., to help the owner, Joey, put an end to the family drama that is tearing his business apart. Eight years ago, Joey risked everything to pursue a lifelong goal of opening his own restaurant. The gamble paid off as his establishment soon became a local favorite. But now, after almost a decade of successful operation, Joey's twentysomething stepdaughters have essentially taken control of the joint. Their bad behavior is driving customers away and if Willie can't help Joey rein them in, he just might lose everything.
#10 - Barbecue With Attitude
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/13/2013
Willie comes to the aid of Anthony and Toby, owners of Hot Rods Real Pit BBQ in Wharton, N.J. After 10 years, the restaurant is still struggling to succeed and it's robbing Anthony and Toby of precious hours they should be spending with their young daughter. Willie soon finds that bad attitudes and a significant lack of training are among the worst offenders on the floor — and it will take some serious hands-on intervention to turn things around.
Watch Now:Amazon#11 - You Can't Be Everything To Everybody
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/27/2013
A.J., owner of A.J.'s Burgers in New Rochelle, N.Y., can't seem to make ends meet, despite award winning burgers and a commitment to pleasing his customers. Willie soon discovers the issues driving A.J. into the poor house, including an overloaded menu, confused identity and a burned out manager.
Watch Now:Amazon#12 - The Big ... NOT So Easy
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/17/2013
Willie steps in to help Lisa, owner of The Bayou in North Bellmore, N.Y. After 22 years serving up authentic cajun flavors, customers now seem to be disappearing. Willie soon discovers that a disillusioned leader and a staff that treats the place more like Mardi Gras than a restaurant, may be at the heart of the problem.
Watch Now:Amazon#13 - Your Smokehouse Is a Joke-House
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/29/2013
Willie steps in to assist Sean, the young owner of Smokehouse Barbecue in Somerville, N.J., Willie finds that an unprofessional staff, more interested in pulling pranks than customer service, may be more than Sean's business can survive.
Watch Now:Amazon#14 - My Big Fat Greek Nightmare
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/5/2012
Willie comes to the aid of Spiro, owner of Athena Mediterranean Cuisine in Brooklyn, N.Y. The restaurant is a family affair for Spiro, with his mother, three brothers and a nephew all playing roles in it's day-to-day operation. But it's dwindling customer base and reviews pointing to unprofessional service suggest that sometimes business and family are a bad mix. If Willie can't get this passionate family operating on the same page, Spiro's restaurant could become another Greek tragedy.
Watch Now:Amazon#15 - Dysfunction Junction
Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/8/2014
Willie comes to the rescue of Bob, owner of Junction 46 in Ledgewood, N.J. Bob had some initial success when he opened two years ago, but business has recently been on a steady decline. On top of a failing business, Bob needs to cut back his hours to address health issues, but with a troublesome staff he is often working 90 hours a week. Can Willie bring some relief to this restaurant so Bob can rest and retire?
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#16 - What Would Your Father Do?
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/19/2013
Willie answers the call of Frank, owner of Michael's Roscommon House in Belleville, N.J. Frank inherited the restaurant from his late father and is struggling to keep things afloat. Willie soon finds that an untrained staff, lack of structure and an unruly chef are only part of Frank's problem: Frank himself must learn to step up and lead as his father once did, or kiss his business goodbye.
Watch Now:Amazon#17 - Family Style Failure
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/16/2013
Willie is called in to help husband and wife Larry and Joan, owners of The Original Mama Angelo's in North Arlington, N.J. This family-style Italian eatery's authentic cuisine is no longer enough to keep customers coming back for more, and they are worried about losing everything. Pouring their life savings into the declining business, Larry and Joan need Willie to pull Mama Angelo's back from the brink of disaster.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#18 - Division Street Disaster
Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/18/2013
With its fifteen-year anniversary around the corner, Division Street Grill owner, Arne, calls in Willie as a last ditch effort to save his struggling business. Arne was once a hands-on owner, but has recently lost his passion for the business, and his staff is following his lead. If Willie is unable to reinvigorate this rundown staff and its disimpassioned owner, Arne will have to close the doors of his Peekskill, N.Y., restaurant for the first time in fifteen years.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#19 - Hoover Dam'd Pizza
Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/18/2014
At Vinny's Pizzeria in Boulder City, Nev., near the Hoover Dam, Willie Degel must save an owner who isn't making money even though he spends 75 hours a week at the restaurant. Vinny has been in the pizza business since childhood, but despite his years of experience, Vinny can't figure out what's going wrong. After moving his family 1,700 miles to open this restaurant, failure is not an option. Can Willie's surveillance cameras, and his expertise in service, solve this mystery before it's too late?
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#20 - Clueless Cousins
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/30/2013
Willie swoops in to VB3 in Jersey City to come to the aid of two cousins that opened up a high end Italian restaurant a year ago. Chef Mike is running the kitchen with precision, but his cousin Joe is having difficulties operating the restaurant and managing an unorganized staff. Without Willie's help, the doors will close and the cousins' million-dollar investment will disappear along with their business.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#21 - Bad News Bistro
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/23/2013
Willie is called in to rescue, Pat, the chef/owner of PK's Restaurant & Lounge in Staten Island, N.Y. When Pat opened his restaurant a year ago it was a dream come true, but now it's become a nightmare. Only Willie can help him whip his young, inexperienced staff into shape and get the sprawling menu under control.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#22 - The Place Is a Ghost Town!
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/5/2013
After 20 years of hard work and chasing the American dream, going from dishwasher to owner, Juan opened Roasted Peppers in Mamaroneck, N.Y., with his business partner and co-chef, Darrell. No matter how hard they try, they can barely make ends meet. Complicating matters, Juan's 11-year-old son was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. Desperate for help, Juan turns to Willie to save his restaurant and keep his dream alive.
Watch Now:Amazon#23 - Sushi on the Strip
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/11/2014
Willie is called in to help Joy, owner of Osaka's Japanese Cuisine, the first sushi restaurant in Las Vegas. With her restaurant floundering, Joy calls in Willie to reel in her staff before her legacy comes to an end. Only Willie can save this Las Vegas tradition, before it becomes lost in the sands of time.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#24 - Momma's Boy
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/20/2013
Willie comes to the aid of Luis, who, with his mother, own The Latin Kitchen in the Bronx, N.Y. After a freak accident that nearly claimed his mother's life and the arrival of new competition in the neighborhood, Luis is on the verge of ruin. It's up to Willie to take an unfocused, unguided staff and turn them into the winning team that Louis and his mother so desperately need.
Watch Now:Amazon#25 - The Customer's Always Wrong
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/12/2012
Willie has his work cut out for him when he stakes out the Oakwood Diner in Staten Island, N.Y. The owner, Mike Jr., has been around the diner business his entire life. Following in his successful father's footsteps, he took over the Oakwood Diner two and a half years ago. Mike inherited an undisciplined staff that treats the place like their living room and drives customers away with rude and inappropriate behavior.
Watch Now:Amazon