Ep 6. Paint By Numbers

Restaurant Stakeout is a reality TV series that follows the work of professional restaurateur Willie Degel as he helps struggling restaurant owners improve their businesses. Each episode features a different restaurant that is in danger of going under, and Willie and his team visit the establishment in disguise to observe the staff and operations. With hidden cameras placed throughout the restaurant, Willie is able to uncover the problems that are causing the restaurant to lose money and customers. After revealing his identity to the restaurant owners, Willie then works with them to make the necessary changes to save the business.

In season 1, episode 6 of Restaurant Stakeout, entitled "Paint By Numbers," Willie visits a family-owned Italian restaurant in Long Island, New York called La Focaccia. The restaurant is owned by a father and son team, Johnny and Frankie, who are having trouble attracting customers and keeping the business afloat. Willie and his team go undercover as diners to observe the service and food quality.

From the start, Willie notices that the restaurant has a very generic and outdated decor that lacks personality and charm. The walls are painted in a bland, cream-colored tone, and the artwork is uninteresting and poorly arranged. The menu is also quite dull, offering typical Italian dishes that are not particularly exciting or unique. Willie suspects that the lack of creativity and flair is causing potential customers to overlook La Focaccia in favor of other, more interesting restaurants in the area.

As Willie and his team observe the service, they notice that the staff is not particularly friendly or welcoming. The waiters seem disinterested in their jobs and don't seem to care whether the customers enjoy their meals or not. The food quality is also lacking, with several dishes arriving at tables overcooked or under-seasoned. Willie suspects that the poor service and mediocre food quality are contributing to the restaurant's lack of success.

After revealing his identity to Johnny and Frankie, Willie begins to make suggestions for improving their business. He advises them to completely overhaul their decor, incorporating more color and personality into the restaurant to make it more memorable and welcoming. He also suggests that they revamp their menu, adding more creative and intriguing dishes to set them apart from other Italian restaurants in the area. Finally, Willie coaches the staff on how to be more friendly and attentive to customers, emphasizing the importance of good service in creating a successful restaurant.

With Willie's guidance, Johnny and Frankie set to work making the necessary changes to save their business. They consult with a professional designer to create a new, exciting decor scheme for their restaurant, incorporating bold colors and unique artwork. They also hire a new head chef to revamp their menu, adding inventive dishes that showcase their Italian heritage in a fresh and exciting way. Finally, they retrain their staff on how to provide excellent service, emphasizing the importance of treating customers with kindness and respect.

In the end, Willie returns to La Focaccia to see the changes that Johnny and Frankie have made. He is impressed with the new decor, which is lively and inviting, and thrilled with the new dishes that have been added to the menu. The staff is also much more friendly and attentive, making the dining experience much more enjoyable for customers. Willie is confident that the changes made by Johnny and Frankie will help to turn their business around and transform La Focaccia into a successful and thriving restaurant.