Ep 1. Catering on the Side

In the premiere episode of Mystery Diners, a team of undercover operatives visits the catering company, Hillcrest Catering, to investigate allegations of theft, deception, and general incompetence. The owner, Bill and the manager, Michele are brought under scrutiny as the Mystery Diners work to identify the root causes of escalating customer complaints and cancellations.

In the first scene, we see Bill and Michele meeting with the Mystery Diners, Charles and Jamie, who pose as a newly engaged couple seeking to plan their wedding with Hillcrest Catering. Charles and Jamie express their desire for something “unique and innovative,” which piques Bill’s interest. As the conversation unfolds, the Mystery Diners note that Michele seems overly preoccupied with her phone, and Bill’s stories about previous catering experiences don’t match up.

The Mystery Diners then don disguises and infiltrate Hillcrest Catering’s event site. They observe strange behavior from Hillcrest employees, including a bartender who repeatedly pockets cash from a jar intended for tips, and a waiter who spills wine accidentally-on-purpose.

During a debrief, Charles and Jamie clue the team into another issue - Bill and Michele have been pilfering items from customer events, like centerpieces and candlesticks. The Mystery Diners decide it’s time to set up a sting operation.

In their final undercover encounter, the Mystery Diners pose as investors who have been considering investing in Hillcrest Catering. Bill and Michele agree to a meeting, which takes place at an off-site location. There, Bill and Michele share their business plans, but the conversation quickly takes a disreputable turn- Bill shares how he teaches his employees to handle stolen items, including re-selling them to other customers on Craigslist!

The Mystery Diners reveal to Bill and Michele that they are not investors but undercover operatives, and that they have footage of all the thievery and poor customer service they have witnessed. Bill and Michele are left to face the consequences of their unethical actions, and the Mystery Diners make it clear that they won’t tolerate any more malfeasance.

Overall, the first episode of Mystery Diners sets a high bar for future episodes in terms of its incisive investigation and its ability to uncover the often-shady undertones of restaurant businesses. Fans of the show should relish the suspenseful plot and the clever tactics employed by the Mystery Diners to get to the bottom of the situation. The episode also provides a great introduction to the central team of operatives, who each bring a unique skill set and playful personality to the table.