''Restaurant Stakeout'' is a scripted American
reality television series on the
Food Network. The series debuted on March 12, 2012, with the second season premiering on August 29, 2012. It is one of the first non-studio shows attempted on Food Network.
Plot
The series follows
William Jack "Willie" Degel, the owner of
New York City restaurant
A restaurant is a business that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. Restaurants vary greatly in appearan ...
Uncle Jack's Steakhouse, who goes behind the scenes of various restaurants across the country at the request of their owner(s). He takes the keys and installs
hidden cameras to examine their service problems.
Willie and the owner(s) observe the restaurant's operation from a control room, and Willie comments about what he sees. Once Willie has assembled a list of key issues, the owner(s) calls a staff meeting. Willie appears at the meeting and confronts the staff with his findings. After that takes place, Willie returns the next day to help correct the problems. Some time later, Willie returns (now dressed in casual clothes) to get a status report.
The show differs from other similar shows in that its primary focus is on identifying ways to provide better customer service. Unlike ''
Kitchen Nightmares
''Kitchen Nightmares'' is an American reality television series formerly broadcast on the Fox network, in which chef Gordon Ramsay is invited by the owners to spend a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business. Produced ...
'' and ''
Restaurant: Impossible'', there is rarely a problem with the cuisine, restaurant cleanliness, menu, or decor. The owner's main fault is being much too easy on the staff. ''
Mystery Diners'' is also scripted, but usually about determining who is actively undermining the restaurant and getting them fired (although occasionally, a few employees have been fired on this show).
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2012)
Season 2 (2012)
Season 3 (2013)
Season 4 (2013–14)
Season 5 (2014)
References
External links
*
*
{{Food Network series
2010s American reality television series
2012 American television series debuts
2014 American television series endings
Food Network original programming