Ep 10. Life's not a Beach

In Mystery Diners season 6 episode 10, titled "Life's not a Beach," restaurant owners Ron and Mayra are concerned about a drop in their profits at their Mexican-themed restaurant, Hacienda Jalisco, which is located near a popular beach. They suspect that some of their employees may be taking advantage of the restaurant's proximity to the beach and slacking off on the job or even stealing supplies.

To get to the bottom of things, they call in the Mystery Diners, a team of undercover operatives who pose as customers or new employees to gather information about what's really going on behind the scenes. Leading the team is Charles Stiles, the founder of the Mystery Diners program, who has years of experience in the restaurant industry and knows how to spot the signs of employee theft and fraud.

Before deploying his team, Charles meets with Ron and Mayra to discuss their suspicions and devise a plan of action. They agree that the Mystery Diners will visit the restaurant on a busy weekend and keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior or unusual activity. They'll also check the storage room and inventory to see if any supplies or ingredients are missing.

Charles and his team of Mystery Diners then arrive at Hacienda Jalisco, posing as a group of tourists who are looking for a meal after a day at the beach. They order a variety of dishes and drinks, and observe the staff to see how they interact with customers and each other. They also use hidden cameras and microphones to record any conversations or actions that may be relevant to the investigation.

As the night progresses, the Mystery Diners notice a few red flags that suggest something may be going on at Hacienda Jalisco. One waiter seems to be distracted and forgetful, causing delays in service and frustrating some of the customers. Another employee is seen leaving the restaurant for an unusual amount of time, raising suspicions that he may be taking breaks without permission.

Meanwhile, the inventory check reveals that several key ingredients are missing, including avocados, tomatoes, and limes. These are all essential elements of many of the restaurant's dishes, and their disappearance could be causing a decline in the quality of the food.

After the Mystery Diners finish their meal and leave the restaurant, they meet with Charles to debrief and compare notes. They conclude that there is definitely something fishy going on at Hacienda Jalisco, and that further investigation is needed to uncover the full extent of the problem.

Charles then meets with Ron and Mayra to deliver his findings and recommend a course of action. They are shocked to hear about the missing ingredients and the employee slacking off, and vow to take immediate steps to address the issue. They thank Charles for his help and promise to implement his suggestions for improving their restaurant's operations and profitability.

In the end, "Life's not a Beach" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency and negligence in the restaurant industry. By calling in the Mystery Diners, Ron and Mayra were able to identify the root causes of their loss in profits and take steps to correct them before it was too late. This episode serves as a reminder to all restaurant owners to stay vigilant and proactive when it comes to managing their businesses.