Ep 4. Outside the Box

In Restaurant: Impossible season 7 episode 4, entitled "Outside the Box," Chef Robert Irvine heads to Fishkill, New York, to help turn around the struggling restaurant, Joe Willy's Seafood House. The restaurant has been in business for 13 years but the owner, Andrea, is struggling to keep it afloat. The restaurant has outdated decor, a menu that lacks character, and the service is poor.

When Chef Robert arrives, he is immediately impressed by the outside of the restaurant, but as soon as he steps inside, he can see that there is a lot of work to be done. The decor is very old-fashioned with a lot of wood paneling and the furniture is dated. Chef Robert knows that the first thing he needs to do is to update and modernize the interior and make it more appealing to customers.

The next issue is the menu. Andrea is offering generic seafood dishes that do not have any personality, and the food is not consistent. Chef Robert meets with the kitchen staff and challenges them to create a new menu that showcases the freshest fish available and utilizes local ingredients. He stresses on the importance of consistency and how it can impact the success of the restaurant.

The day begins with a full renovation of the restaurant's exterior, where Chef Robert and his team work on rebuilding the entrance, adding more lighting, and repainting the outside to give it a fresh look. Inside the restaurant, the team gets to work on stripping the outdated decor and replacing it with new, modern pieces. The walls are painted with a cool blue color, adding a new look and feel to the dining area. The team also replaces the old carpet with hardwood flooring, and the new furniture brings a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

While the renovation is happening, Chef Robert works with the kitchen staff on creating new dishes for the menu. He introduces them to new seafood ingredients and encourages them to cook outside of their comfort zone. Andrea is impressed with the new dishes, which are both innovative and delicious. Chef Robert stresses on using local and seasonal ingredients, which not only help with the quality of the dishes but also help to support the local community.

The service aspect of the restaurant is also tackled, as Chef Robert works with the front of house staff on greeting and serving customers. He shows them the proper way of setting tables, taking orders, and how to upsell without being pushy. He also teaches Andrea how to manage the restaurant more effectively and how to motivate her staff.

After their efforts, the restaurant is given a proper relaunch in front of a crowd of excited locals and regulars. The results of the relaunch are impressive, with customers being impressed by the new look and feel of the restaurant, as well as the quality of the dishes. The restaurant sees an increase in business and the staff receives rave reviews from satisfied customers.

Overall, "Outside the Box" is a great episode of Restaurant: Impossible that showcases Chef Robert Irvine's talent for transforming struggling restaurants into successful ones. He and his team do an excellent job at improving the decor, updating the menu, and teaching the staff about customer service. This episode shows that with hard work, dedication, and a little creativity, even the most challenging restaurant can be turned around.