Ep 4. Fast, Cheap, and Out of the Box

In Restaurant Startup season 3 episode 4, titled "Fast, Cheap, and Out of the Box," viewers are introduced to two aspiring restaurant owners who are vying for funding to start their business. The episode begins with the show's hosts, restaurateur Joe Bastianich and celebrity chef Tim Love, meeting with the entrepreneurs and hearing their pitches.

The first entrepreneur, Jillian, is seeking funding for her concept, "Wrap It Up!" which features healthy, quick, and customizable wraps. Jillian explains that her concept is inspired by her own struggle to find healthy food options while working long hours in a corporate job. She believes that Wrap It Up! fills a gap in the market for healthy fast food. Joe and Tim are impressed by Jillian's energy and commitment to her concept and decide to give her a chance to prove herself.

The second entrepreneur, Jim, is pitching his concept, "The Roast Beef House," which features classic roast beef sandwiches with a modern twist. Jim explains that he has years of experience in the food industry and has been perfecting his roast beef recipe for years. He believes that his concept is unique because he uses high-quality ingredients and creative flavor combinations. Joe and Tim are skeptical of Jim's concept, as they feel that roast beef sandwiches are not a particularly innovative idea. However, they decide to give him a chance to prove them wrong.

The entrepreneurs are given $7,500 each to create a pop-up restaurant and present their concept to a group of diners. They are only given three days to plan, cook, and execute their pop-up, which puts pressure on both Jillian and Jim. The episode shows the entrepreneurs shopping for ingredients, preparing their menus, and dealing with unexpected challenges, such as a power outage at Jillian's pop-up location.

On the day of the pop-up, Joe and Tim visit both restaurants and sample the food. At Wrap It Up!, they try a variety of wraps, including a vegan option and a gluten-free option. They are impressed with the healthy and flavorful ingredients, as well as the speed and efficiency of the service. At The Roast Beef House, they try a classic roast beef sandwich as well as some more creative options, such as a sandwich with Asian-style slaw. They are skeptical of the concept at first but admit that the sandwiches are tasty and well-executed.

After the pop-up, Joe and Tim meet with each entrepreneur to give feedback and decide who to invest in. They are impressed with both concepts but ultimately decide to invest in Wrap It Up! They feel that Jillian has a clear vision for her brand, an innovative concept, and a strong work ethic. They also believe that the healthy fast food market is a growing trend and that Wrap It Up! has the potential to be successful.

The episode ends with Jillian receiving the news that she has been chosen for funding. She tears up in excitement and expresses her gratitude to Joe and Tim for believing in her. The episode serves as a reminder of the challenges and rewards of starting a new business and the importance of passion and hard work in pursuing a dream.