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 - 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?
#2 - 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.
#3 - What Are You Servin' Here?
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/26/2013
Willie comes to the aid of Rene, co-owner of Barzola Restaurant in Flushing, N.Y. Rene inherited the restaurant from his parents but is now struggling to make ends meet, and has no idea what needs fixing. Willie's surveillance uncovers a lack of knowledge on the menu, bad attitudes on the floor and a serious lack of inventory, that may be dragging the restaurant down.
#4 - Joe Broadway's or Bust
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/11/2013
Joe is struggling as a first-time restaurant owner. After his mother's passing, Joe took a big gamble and used his inheritance to open Joe Broadway's Billiards & Sports Pub in Staten Island, N.Y. For the past year, Joe has run himself into the ground simply trying to stay afloat. He's not making any money, his staff is unprofessional and his chef is at wit's end and about to quit. Without Willie's help, Joe's big gamble will go bust.
#5 - Your Mom's Gotta Go
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/18/2013
Willie is called in by Alan, owner of Sugo Cafe, a family-run business in Long Beach, N.Y. For the past six years, Alan, a total control freak, has devoted every waking moment to his struggling restaurant at the cost of spending time with his wife and watching his kids grow up. Desperate to spend time with his loved ones, Alan has staffed Sugo with family and friends, but immediately discovers that business and family do no mix and, in fact, could be the recipe for disaster at the cafe.
#6 - Blonde Ambition
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/25/2013
Willie comes to the aid of Dena, owner of BlonDee's Bistro & Bar in Huntington, N.Y. Dena opened BlonDee's a year ago as a way to support her three children, but after an unfavorable review from the New York Times, she spends all of her time at the restaurant and away from her kids. Willie soon discovers that Dena's dedication has turned into a lack of delegation, crippling the workflow of the restaurant in a myriad of ways.
#7 - Complete Pushover
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/2/2013
Willie rushes to 90 Park in North Bergen, N.J., to come to the rescue of chef/owner Antonia. Due to a family illness, Antonia shifted her attention away from the restaurant and now she's paying for it, even borrowing against her house to keep the business running. Though a wizard in the kitchen, Antonia is a disaster when it comes to managing her staff and handling the finances. Without Willie's help, she'll lose her business and her home.
Watch Now:Apple TV#8 - Kiss Beso Goodbye
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/9/2013
Willie is called in by Donna, the owner of Beso Restaurant and Bar in Brooklyn. Though a successful businesswoman, Donna's first try at running a restaurant is coming as a shock. A strong early start has recently turned into bad reviews and plummeting profits and Donna's iron grip on the staff hasn't improved service. Without Willie's help, this once promising establishment will close its doors for good.
#9 - 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.
#10 - 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.
#11 - 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.
#12 - Starving for Customers
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/27/2013
Former boxing champ Nikko used his winnings to open his own business, A Plate of Soul, in Jamaica, N.Y. Nikko's family depends on the restaurant for their livelyhood but, despite his passion for soul food, Nikko can't turn a profit. The glacially slow staff, in both the front and the back of the house, are turning customers away. Without Willie's help, A Plate of Soul could go down for the count.
#13 - Whine Bar
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/4/2013
Willie steps in to help Rich and Jeanie, owners of 12 Grapes Wine Bar in Peekskill, N.Y. Five years ago, Rich retired from his corporate job to fulfill his lifelong dream of owning a music venue/restaurant. Rich has invested everything they have into the business, but now, his dream is jeopardizing the couple's financial future. Can Willie wake Rich and Jeanie from this nightmare before it's goodnight for 12 Grapes?
#14 - Somers Almost Over
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/2013
Willie is called in to help lifelong best friends and current business partners Joe and Gene. Four years ago the former Wall Street hotshots opened Somers 202 in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. While locals initially loved the restaurant, lately business has bottomed out. The owners dream of passing the restaurant down to their children, but without Willie's help, shutting the doors on Somers 202 may be their only reality.
#15 - 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.
#16 - 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.
#17 - Las Vegas Stakeout
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/4/2014
Tommy thought it made perfect sense to take all of his retirement and buy Buon Gusto Italian Restaurant in Las Vegas so that he and his chef son, Joel, could run it together. Without any restaurant experience, Tommy soon found himself in way over his head and now he's seeing his retirement nest egg vanish. Without telling his son, he has called in Willie to see if he can take this Las Vegas gamble and turn it into a moneymaker.
#18 - 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.
#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?
#20 - Unlucky in Vegas
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/25/2014
Willie is called in to Lake Las Vegas to assist Chanthy, owner of Sonrisa Grill, where the once lively Mexican restaurant is suffering at the hands of the staff. Chanthy has borrowed over $300,000 from relatives and sacrificed splitting up her family to keep this desert oasis alive. Can Willie help Chanthy save Sonrisa Grill so she can pay her relatives back and get her family reunited for good?
Watch Now:Apple TV#21 - Hammered in Vegas
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/2/2014
Willie is called in to help former professional hockey player Bob Fleming with his struggling Hammer's Grill and Bar. In 2007, Bob moved the bar's original location from Illinois to Henderson, Nev., just outside of Las Vegas. Since then, Hammer's success has started to melt away. Known as The Hammer in his hockey days for his brawling ways, Bob is now in the fight of his life to keep Hammer's open.
Watch Now:Apple TV#22 - Cioa, Vegas
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/16/2014
Willie is called in to help Riccardo, the young owner of Gina's Bistro in Las Vegas. Italian traditions meet the American Dream as Riccardo attempts to turn his immigrant story into a successful one. Can Willie get this restaurant back on track, before Riccardo is forced to close and move back to Italy?
Watch Now:Apple TV#23 - Golf Course Stakeout
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/23/2014
When Brian and Brian opened Oh' Brian's On the Green in Clark, N.J., they thought it would be a hole in one. But their manager is perfecting a disappearing act and the staff is left to fend for themselves while customers grow unhappy. Before their dream of building a restaurant empire gets caught in a sand trap, the two Brians call Willie to save their reputation.
#24 - Fuggedabout Mario
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/30/2014
Willie is summoned to Union, N.J., to help owner John with his struggling family restaurant, Mario's Tutto Bene. John's parents passed over the 32-year-old restaurant to him seven years ago but now this restaurant runs more like the Wild West than a cozy family restaurant! The staff at the restaurant has run amok and the owners need Willie's help to not only save their struggling store, but to help mend their family ties.
#25 - Father Daughter Stakeout
Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/20/2014
Restaurateur Nicky's daughter fears that if the stale energy and archaic ways of running Villa Monaco in West Islip, N.Y., continue, in just a few short years the restaurant could become extinct! Without an intervention from Willie to help enlighten Nicky to the real problems at the restaurant, he could lose the business and his relationship with his daughter.