Last night's episode of “Restaurant Stakeout” is titled "Barbeque With Attitude."
Willie Degel heard from Anthony & Toby Sibona. They have been married for thirteen years and operated "Hot Rods Real Pit BBQ" for eleven of those years. Back when they started, there were no BBQ restaurants in northern New Jersey. Besides the struggling sales, the toll has been extremely rough on their ten-year-old daughter, because when one parent is home, the other is always working.
In came Willie and his staff. Once the cameras and microphones were installed, Willie's strategy was to; identify the key staff, observe their behavior, test the systems and confront the staff.
As Anthony and Toby observed the daily operation. They observed Chris, their beer guru. He is very knowledgeable about what beer to have with the food selections. Kelly is the bartender; Steve is the cook and Anthony's right-hand man, Tiffany the newest waitress has come a long way since she was hired, and Jessica is a waitress with one year at the restaurant, who they saw eating behind the bar and talking to guests with her mouth full of food and never noticed customers come to the front door awaiting to be seated.
Two customers asking for pulled pork without sauce, were denied by Mike the bartender. When Willie questioned why they don't have this item, Anthony told him that they tried to do it when they opened, but that was a decade ago before people were more diet conscious. Mike seemed to be working alone, while the chef rang the bell that food was ready, and was texting on his phone; rather than bring the food to the only person working in the front. When the guys at the bar got their food, it was cold.
When Kelly started her bartending shift, Willie sent in a picky customer who asked several questions, and then she went into the kitchen and loudly complained to the chef; first test was a failure.
Another customer who wanted the pulled pork without barbeque sauce annoyed the person behind the bar. Willie pointed it out that people should get what they want, not what is handed to them, because they can go elsewhere.
The next test was for the newest waitress, Tiffany and her knowledge of the menu. Two guys sent by Willie came in and asked her tons of questions. The chicken they ordered was pink inside; however, it is the smoke ring and chef Chris came outside to tell the customers that it is by no means, undercooked. Serious training needs to be done before going further in this restaurant.
On the third day, during lunch service, a take-out order was called in and customer asked for all the items to be separate. When Kelly brought the order to the chef, he had a fit and both proceeded to say negative things about the customer. When she arrived and checked the order, all was perfectly done to her specifications. When the lady left, Kelly asked why the chef did not punch her, as he promised he would do, and she proceeded to complain to other customers about the lady.
Willie told them to call a staff meeting after closing. Willie came in to let the cat out of the bag, and the employees were shocked. They denied what they did, but Willie and the owners saw everything.
The next day, Willie sat with individual members of the staff. Kelly understood where Willie was coming from. Chris and Mike B. were superstars; Willie thanked them for their dedication, and they will be rewarded.
Willie came into the kitchen and laid down the law to the staff. The first thing, was to create a skinny version of the pulled pork, even the grouchy chef was smiling. Willie made sure all orders came to the table at the same time.
After six weeks, Willie returned to "Hot Rods Real Pit BBQ" and found Kelly smiling and having a great time. The place was humming; the staff was trained and knew the menu inside out. Mike B. and Chris were running the place in the owners' absence, and their daughter was happy to have her parents around more often all thanks to Willie and his staff of "Restaurant Stakeout."
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