Ep 4. Robbed Kabobs

In the season 8 episode 4 of Mystery Diners titled "Robbed Kabobs," Charles Stiles, a restaurant consultant with a team of secret diners, arrives at the location of an Armenian restaurant in Glendale, California. Mike, the owner of the restaurant, is concerned that his profits are declining despite an increase in traffic. He suspects that his employees might be stealing from him, but he cannot pinpoint who is responsible for the losses. Charles and his team go undercover to investigate the matter and provide answers to Mike.

Upon arrival, Charles meets with Mike to discuss his concerns about the restaurant. Mike explains that in the last few weeks, he has noticed that some items are missing from his inventory. The restaurant sells a popular dish called kabobs which are skewered and grilled meats. Mike says that the losses are happening sporadically, and he cannot detect a pattern in the thefts. Charles assures Mike that his team can help.

To start the investigation, Charles installs hidden cameras in the kitchen to monitor the staff's activity. He also sends in secret diners to pose as customers and observe the restaurant's operations. During their first visit, the diners notice several issues with the service, including long wait times, cold food, and unfriendly staff. Some of the diners also report seeing the employees acting suspiciously.

As the investigation progresses, the hidden cameras capture footage of one of the employees taking food items and hiding them in the pantry. However, the employee is not stealing the kabobs, but instead the restaurant's side dishes and other pantry items. The diners also note that some of the staff members are not wearing proper uniforms and are not following the restaurant's rules.

After completing their investigation, Charles and his team confront Mike with their findings. They inform him about the rogue employee who was responsible for the thefts and how some of the other staff members contributed to the poor service. Charles states that the problems could be easily resolved with stricter policies and training for the staff. Mike agrees to take the necessary steps to improve his restaurant's operations.

In the end, Charles reveals his team's identities to the employees and discusses the importance of maintaining high standards in the restaurant industry. Mike thanks Charles and his team for their help and expresses his relief in finally finding out what was causing the losses. The episode showcases how Mystery Diners provides practical solutions to restaurateurs' problems and how they help maintain the integrity of the food service industry.