Ep 2. Your Mom's Gotta Go

In Restaurant Stakeout season 4 episode 2 named "Your Mom's Gotta Go," renowned restaurant consultant Willie Degel sets out on a mission to rescue a struggling family-owned establishment. All is not well at the New Orleans-style eatery as customers are not returning and the financials of the business are a cause for concern. The owners, a mother and son duo, are at odds with each other and ultimately blame each other for the restaurant's woes. It is up to Willie to dig deeper and identify the root cause of the issues facing the business.

As is customary, Willie and his team set up hidden cameras in the restaurant to observe the staff and the customers. Through careful analysis, they notice several glaring problems that need to be addressed. The first and most pressing issue is the staff's lack of training and accountability. The wait staff is caught making several errors, including misplacing orders and mixing up tables. This has resulted in some diners leaving the restaurant dissatisfied and never returning. The second issue relates to the restaurant's hygiene. Willie is shocked to see the kitchen in a state of disarray and notices that some of the cooks aren't following proper food handling procedures. He realizes that this could potentially lead to a health violation and subsequent closure of the restaurant.

Willie seeks to boost morale and inject passion into the staff by conducting a pep talk. He urges them to take pride in their work and treat each customer as if they are guests in their own home. He then works hand in hand with the mother-son duo to address the core issues affecting the restaurant. It is revealed that the son, who is responsible for the marketing of the restaurant, had stopped advertising and focusing on the restaurant's online presence. This is a significant issue given the world's increasing dependency on the internet. Willie advises that the restaurant have a more active social media presence and focus on attracting reviews on popular sites like Yelp.

With the help of Willie and his team, the restaurant is transformed in just one week, and it is now a shining example of what a successful eatery should be. Willie also takes the extra step of bringing in a former restaurateur, one who is extremely skilled in New Orleans-style cuisine, to demonstrate some of his signature dishes to the chefs and wait staff. This additional training helps the staff learn and refine the trade and makes them more equipped to handle the daily culinary demands of the restaurant. Finally, the restaurant owners are taught to be efficient and use systems and structures to manage the business effectively.

Overall, the episode "Your Mom's Gotta Go" is an insightful and captivating look into the world of restaurant consulting. Viewers can see firsthand the challenges that these businesses face and how experts like Willie Degel can help them overcome their hurdles. It is a must-watch episode for anyone looking to learn more about the restaurant industry and how it operates.