Kitchen Nightmares (2007) s05e10 Episode Script
El Greco
Tonight on Kitchen Nightmares Gordon visits Austin, Texas for the first time, but this isn't a tale of a classic Western.
It's a disturbing Greek tragedy.
Here's a mother who's at the end of her rope.
I don't know what else I gonna do.
I'm up to here with that.
And a son who has completely lost his passion.
I don't wanna be in here with these two.
The two have become sworn enemies.
Then do it! I don't need you! With a relationship that is completely destroyed Be 10:00 here.
I don't wanna hear that in the morning! And a restaurant that is near death I'd rather be dead.
Chef Ramsay may be walking into a situation That is too far gone to rescue.
Don't come to work! You and her, leave! What is that? Disgusting crap.
You're done! I'm done.
I'm not insane! Yes, you are! Shut the place down! Get out of here! That is amazing.
I can't do it anymore.
I just can't thank you enough.
Sync and correct by dr.
jackson Austin, Texas, home to over 50,000 students that attend the University of Texas.
Located only blocks away is El Greco, an authentic Greek restaurant opened in 2007 by Jake and his mother, Athina.
This is my favorite one.
I always wanna open a restaurant.
I always love to cook.
Let's do this.
You're awesome, guys.
Come on.
So my mother brought her sister down, and we opened up a restaurant.
We got a hummus appetizer.
I'll get that going.
I was so excited to open.
The first half a year was very, very busy.
Thank you.
Welcome.
Let's get this.
Come on, guys.
Those were good times.
I mean, it was busy all day long.
It was thriving.
I mean, every day, just in and out, packed.
But Jake is the big reason why everything is screwed up.
In the last year, I would say, it's really turned around to be pretty disappointing.
Where is Jake? Jake would spend, three, maybe four hours here.
Jake is not here.
Not all in a row.
Smile and wave.
He freaking abandoned us again.
I'm not spending as much time as I used to in the restaurant.
Just tired of coming into work knowing that I gotta deal with my mother.
Come on, guys.
- Athina, it's going.
- No, it's not! Athina, stop it.
Get to work.
Stop yelling.
Nag, nag, nag.
She nags constantly.
Come on, let's do it.
Athina, stop.
Come on.
I have to yell at him.
Hey! Athina, if you come in here one more time, we're gonna have problems.
If I tell you once and I tell you twice, the third time, I'm gonna fire it up, yes.
Mom, get the out of my kitchen.
Jake does not speak to his mother like a mother should be spoken to.
Day before, we peeled two buckets of potatoes.
Where did the buckets of potatoes go? Did we sell that many potatoes? I don't think so! This restaurant getting between us.
I see my son and I say, "this is not my son.
" He used to spoil me, like, to death, and now, he hates me.
Mom, get out of my line.
The turmoil between Jake and Athina You can get the hell out of here.
Has just been bad vibes, and it's really affecting the restaurant.
The food quality is really low.
They said their moussaka and orzo was way too mushy.
What? That was nasty.
It was bad.
The morale is really low.
I'm to the threshold of how much I can handle, period, bro.
Without chef Ramsay's help, El Greco is doomed.
Sucks.
I put up everything, whatever I had.
All of my money.
This restaurant, if it doesn't work, I gonna be in the street.
I wish I was dead.
A Greek restaurant in Austin.
Okay.
- How you doin'? - Good to see you.
It's good to see you too.
It's a pleasure.
Gordon.
Dustin.
- Dustin.
- Good to see you, buddy.
- And you are? - The waiter.
Okay, great.
Are the owners in back? - Yeah.
- Jake and Athina? Love to meet them.
Thank you.
Jake, Athina.
Hey! Hi.
How are you doing? Very well, thank you.
How are you? Jake.
I'm doing good, sir.
Thank you.
Jake Yeah, yes, sir.
Okay, great.
Hey, can I give you hug? A hug? I was waiting for that moment.
Okay, nice a little hug.
Oy.
Always nice.
- Welcome to my restaurant.
- What a warm welcoming.
Well, nice to see you.
And your name is Athina.
Athina is your My mother.
And you guys are partners, right? Yeah.
Yes.
Good.
Let's spend a couple of minutes catching up, and give me a little insight into what's been happening.
You got it.
Shall we? Yeah.
Things have gone bad with me and my mother since the restaurant has opened.
My first priority is getting the restaurant fixed.
And if that gets fixed, I think our relationship will get fixed.
- And so mother and son.
- Yes, sir.
And who does what? You're obviously the chef.
Yes, sir.
And I'm just the mother and the cook back there with my sister.
You cook as well? Yes.
I try my best.
I try to do it like my mother and my grandmother.
So authentic It's authentic, uh, ancestral recipes.
How old were you when you first started cooking? I've been cooking all my life, but I I went to culinary school about eight years ago.
My mom always wanted to open up a restaurant and get her sister down here from Greece.
I said, you know what? Let me go to culinary school and see what we could do.
So, that's that's what I did.
Really?- Damn.
Are they always I'm very good, uh You're great at catching flies? Yes.
I am.
Where are you going? I gonna kill that one.
No, no.
Come over here.
I'm gonna kill one.
One second.
Maybe maybe not in front of the customers.
No, no.
Mom.
There you go.
There you go.
Okay.
There you go.
Well caught, by the way, That's, uh, that's lightning.
Of course.
I'm good about flies.
Great reflexes.
Yeah.
So let's go back to the beginning, when you first opened What was that like? It was great.
Beautiful.
The first eight months were great.
We were busy all day long.
There wouldn't be a lull in service at all.
What time did you start in the morning? We have to come here at 6:00.
We'd be here at 6:00.
Naturally, yeah.
But on an average not my son.
Don't say "we'd be here," because you are not here.
Yeah, I haven't been here in a while, yeah.
But you're the chef.
Surely, you're here at the same time? No.
No, sir.
So, what time do you come in the morning? Probably 11, 11:00.
Hold on your mum comes in at 6:00 and you come in at 11:30, Yes.
So, if your mum and your auntie does all the prep, what do you actually do? Yeah, I cook, uh, food for customers, you know.
You cook for customers? Yeah, and that's about it.
Are you tired? He is always tired.
He's always tired? I'm always tired.
You're still yawning.
What do you think the biggest problem for the restaurant is right now, today? I don't know what the reason is.
It's Jake.
It's Jake? Exactly.
I seen my son how he used to be and how he is now.
Don't tell me you are not, because you are.
No, I'm not.
My son is changed.
He doesn't care not about his life, not about the restaurant, not about anything.
How much was the investment for this restaurant? How much did it cost? I came here with $300,000, plus another $500,000.
$8 $800,000 for this? Almost, yeah.
$800,000.
And everything's gone.
Not only I'm losing all my money, I lost my son too.
Very dramatic.
He doesn't wanna hear my voice.
Why? You're his mother.
She's nagging all the time.
He says constantly, he says I'm yelling at him, even if I 'm talk with him nicely.
I can't take it anymore.
To hell with the money.
To hell with the restaurant.
But losing my son too on top of everything.
Shut up about that, please.
[Bleep.]
, man.
I can't take it anymore.
I'd rather be dead.
I'd rather be dead to have a son like you now.
Within minutes of arriving at El Greco, Gordon quickly realizes that the pressures of the restaurant has ruined the relationship between mother and son.
I'd rather be dead to have a son like you now.
After that gloomy greeting, he's hoping that the lunch is a little more cheerful.
You want me to go grab something to drink? No, I'm just gonna have a glass of water please, Dustin.
And who's that young man in the kitchen there? Who's that? That's Anthony.
Anthony.
May I have a quick word? Yeah, definitely.
Dustin, thank you.
Anthony.
Good to see you.
You're Anthony? Yeah.
Sit down.
And what's your position here? Kitchen manager.
Kitchen manager.
I run the staff So you got Jake, the executive chef, and you're the kitchen manager? Yes.
So I haven't tasted the food yet, but I'm more shocked at the relationship with his mother.
Is that no, that That is the most shocking thing with anybody who works here.
Is it him or her? It all starts with him not showing up in the mornings.
Bloody hell.
He just doesn't like to be here.
He'll come when it gets busy, and then Pkhew! How many hours a day is Jake here? On a an average day, I'd say about three.
Three total hours in one day? Yeah, yeah.
Is he in love? Has he got a girlfriend? It's a video game.
It's unbelievable.
A video game? Yeah he's not playing it right now, but I guarantee you he's thinking about it.
What a disaster.
Okay, well, thank you for the update.
I appreciate it.
Yes.
I wish I could meet you under better conditions.
I really do.
Good, let's get you some food, all right? Okay.
Could I start off with stuffed zucchini, and then gonna go for the lamb shank as well, I saw that.
And then moussaka.
Moussaka? Please.
Cool.
And I think that'll be it for now.
Okay.
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
Bring it up, come on.
Well, obviously, things aren't going right, since chef Ramsley Ramsay came out today, but I'm not gonna let anyone defeat me.
I got it.
Okay.
Zucchini.
Jake likes to just get in and get out fast.
He knows better and I know better than to use a microwave in serving Gordon Ramsay.
And right now, Jake is very lazy.
It's pretty messed up.
Embarrassing, dude.
Stuffed zucchini is delightful.
What is that? That's our stuffed zucchini.
Stuffed zucchini? Yeah.
Look at that.
It's like two grenades about to explode.
My God.
Now it looks like something out of an alienmovie.
When zucchinis attack.
That's badly seasoned.
Bland.
No go? No.
That's disgusting.
I could cry.
What a joke.
It's wow.
Sorry about that.
Hated it.
What? Try this.
He hate it? Yes, he did.
Go on.
Jake's ability at this moment is zero.
He doesn't care anymore.
Lamb shank? It's coming, man.
I'm doomed, completely.
Lamb shank.
Now, that is a very anemic-looking lamb shank.
Look at the presentation.
It's depressing.
Almost like it's, uh, been in the microwave for an hour.
Surely they wouldn't microwave a lamb shank.
I'm a little bit nervous at how gray the meat is.
That is way too salty and badly balanced.
Dustin I mean, it's so salty.
Who cooked that, Dustin? That's "chef mic.
" Chef who? Chef mic.
It's a microwave.
I thought there was the third chef.
He kind of is.
He does a lot of work in the kitchen.
We use chef mic a lot.
Whenever there's lights on in this restaurant, chef mic's working.
He's a dedicated employee.
He, uh, asked about chef mic.
What did say? He asked who cooked it.
I mean, I can't lie to him, so I told him.
He's not happy.
I can't take this.
Hello.
Hi.
I am Kiki.
Kiki? Yeah.
How are you? Nice to see you.
May I finish my lunch first and then No English? No.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
Scottish? French? Spanish? German? Okay.
I don't speak German, but it's good to know you.
Thank you.
This is the one I'm gonna serve? You can serve it to him, yeah.
Go.
God.
It's so embarrassing.
I don't care, man, at this point.
I don't give a about anything.
Moussaka.
Now, you think of Greece, you think of authenticity.
That is not authentic.
It's a non-moving moussaka.
What a disaster.
He went like this, and it stayed on there.
Jake goes, "I don't care.
" He doesn't.
If you saw this food in a dog food bowl, you would not think twice.
Moussaka? When was that made? Whenwas that made? Yeah.
I'm not sure, uh You don't like it, the eggplant or anything? No.
And did chef mic have a hand this one? Chef mic has a hand in a lot of dishes.
Really? How'd you like to try anything else? No.
I gotcha.
It's just too painful.
It's not possible for a restaurant to be so bad.
He asked about chef mic again with the moussaka.
Where is where is everybody? This'll be fun.
I wanna run away and hide.
Hide.
I'm putting out a high-end, quality product and if you don't appreciate it, then get the out.
I've never felt so depressed in my entire life.
That was embarrassing.
The stuffed zucchini You didn't like it? No.
Bland, depressing.
The lamb shank I mean, salty, sad.
And then it was just dumped on a plate like a dog bowl.
And then the moussaka.
That was made this morning, was it? Yeah.
What wasn't fresh about it? It was it was yesterday.
What wasn't fresh about it? You served me yesterday's.
So any chance of it tasting fresh has gone.
It's not even 24 hours old.
So wh what's not fresh about that? Executive chef.
Chef mic.
The frickin' microwave has more qualifications than you.
I think your big problem is, Jake, you don't care.
You don't wanna even be here, do you? I can see it in the body language, the attitude, and just the way you perform.
I've come across a lot of executive chefs in my time.
I've never seen one quite like the sack of That's standing in front of me now.
I feel the same way.
Could I just have two minutes with the owner, please? With her? Yeah.
Damn.
I'm really sorry.
Sorry is not a help for us.
Will you try to help me? Yeah, I'm sorry.
Listen, I need to be really honest with you.
The hardest restaurants to fix, ever, are the ones where the passion is gone.
And his passion has gone way before you thought about asking me here.
I'm sorry.
I don't know what else to say.
I'm gonna be here tonight and I'm gonna see how this place functions.
I need to see everything as it is.
Yeah, I just hope it's not too late.
Okay? All right.
I'll see you next time.
Okay, thank you.
Nightmare.
After a depressing afternoon with Jake and Athina You all right? Gonna be a long night.
Rummour spread that chef Ramsay is at El Greco, and the restaurant is fully booked.
How you guys doing? Now, Gordon hopes to get some more insight into how El Greco operates in a dinner service.
This is Diego.
Diego what's your role? Pretty much a grade-a line cook.
Line cook? Yeah.
Okay, and what your training, what have you done? Well, I've been cooking in Austin in various different restaurants okay.
Since I was 18, I'm 32 now.
So 14 years experience on the line? Let's go.
Braised lamb shank.
Okay.
I'll take the kabobs as well, except with shrimp.
Here come peas orzo for the second order.
Let's go.
We got green beans.
There you go.
Microwave food.
Chef mic.
Twelve gas ring burners there, and not one of the chefs is using them.
They're all in the microwave.
It's like we've forgotten there was a kitchen here.
What is that? Look like someone's selling a football.
But it's moussaka from it's moussaka.
Chef Mike you'd be Without the microwave, wouldn't you? Unbelievable, Diego.
We'd love nothing more than to see both of these go in the dumpsters.
It's really humiliating.
I feel like a little kid, heating stuff up in a microwave.
It kind of messes with my passion for cooking.
Like I don't feel like a cook the way we're doing things with the microwave.
As chef Ramsay watches plate After plate After plate being zapped in the microwave, it becomes clear that Jake doesn't really care about his food.
There we go again, waiting in line for chef mic.
We got a cue from the microwave.
This is incredible.
The minute you walk into a restaurant with an open kitchen, and all the chefs are facing out as opposed to standing in front of the stove, get out.
That's what's happening here.
Unbelievable.
Dustin.
Is this normal, this? I have nothing to say.
That's just how we do it.
I've seen a diaper look more appetizing than that.
I agree.
Greek restaurant? More like a Greek tragedy.
It pisses me off.
What I think about my food is, it's healthy, it's fresh, it's it's good.
It's damn good.
Yeah, reheated microwave food.
Listen, it's not microwave food.
I mean, how else am I gonna reheat it? You're breaking my balls about getting Reheating it in a microwave.
He's been cooking 14 years.
There's a whole stove there.
It's not even being used.
And this guy is like this.
Come on, Jake.
Me.
I don't use the word microwave.
I'm not cooking it in the microwave.
I'm reheating it in the microwave.
Big difference.
There's a big difference.
I don't think it compromises the food, reheating it that way, but I mean Say that again? You don't think it compromises the food? I don't think so.
My God.
They're gonna have a big fight.
My God.
Please, God.
It doesn't compromise the standard of food? No.
Yeah, you off.
How's that? There we go.
Go.
Get out of my line.
Jake.
Yeah.
Jake.
I gotta Look, I'm trying to put out food.
Yeah.
Jake I'm not here to talk about Take your head out your And just start acting like a man and start taking responsibility for something, will you? I am taking responsibility for it.
You are? And you think it's smart, telling me to off? I don't want you around.
So how about showing a little bit of respect for what you're doing? Go Get off my line and let me do my job.
Get out of here.
Jake.
Jake, I'll go, with pleasure.
It's an hour and a half into dinner service at El Greco.
Reheated.
Microwave food.
And while chef Ramsay has had enough with the microwave Yeah, you off.
How's that? Here we go.
Jake has had enough of chef Ramsay.
Go get out of my line.
You think it's smart telling me to off? I don't want you around.
So how about showing a little bit of respect for what you're doing? Go.
Get off my line and let me do my job.
I'll go, with pleasure.
Yeah.
I need table 20.
I know it's a mess.
A mess? You can fix us, and you can tell him whatever we have to do, and we will do it.
I've never seen a kitchen function with a microwave as much as here.
Okay.
All right.
That's number one.
Number two? Your son doesn't care.
It's depressing.
There's three chefs standing on the line, and not one person is cooking.
Okay.
If you have passion and love for food You don't zap it.
You don't microwave it.
I'm really sorry.
I'm sorry too.
Greek restaurant? A nuclear power station.
He's right, Mr.
Ramsay.
My son change.
He doesn't even care about himself.
It makes me feel sad.
Honestly, seriously, I'm in shock.
Let me tell you why.
The busiest chef tonight is chef mic, and how dare you tell me that food cooked in the microwave It's not cooked in the microwave.
It's reheated.
Are you honestly saying there's no difference in food that's been reheated than cooking something fresh? I mean, I don't think it tastes that much different.
There's no love, no care, no passion.
He doesn't care.
Athina, please.
But he has to care.
Athina! You have to take in charge Hey, quiet.
And you are not.
Quiet.
Quiet.
Okay? Get out of my restaurant.
Right now.
Out! It's not your restaurant! Yeah, it is my restaurant out.
I'm not listening to your , okay? I wouldn't be alive right now if I talked to my mother the way Jake does.
My mom would murder me.
Shut up.
Athina, you know what? I'm sick and tired of nag, nag, nag, nag every day.
Leave me alone.
Yeah, leave you alone.
I need to go and have a good think.
I got you.
I'll see you in the morning.
Good night.
Good night.
My son gave up.
Jake should be more committed to this restaurant.
You have to change, James.
I hope my son comes to his senses, and chef Ramsay will bring the old Jake back.
I can give my life for that.
Come and prep.
I'm gonna be here at 10:00.
Athina and her sister Kiki arrive early to begin the daily ritual of prepping for lunch and dinner.
But in spite of promising to be there at 10:00, Jake is nowhere to be seen.
She tell you 10:00! Be 10:00 here! I don't wanna hear your.
That's why I don't come down here.
Now, Kiki, I really This is exactly why I don't come down, 'cause they yell at me, they gang up on me.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay, okay.
There's nothing left of me in here.
I'm sick of it.
God.
After spending the morning doing research around Austin, Gordon is ready to put some changes into effect.
Morning.
Morning.
But the real question is, is Jake ready to change his attitude? Morning.
Good morning.
How are you? I'm okay.
Yeah? You don't look okay.
What's going on? I just had an argument with my son.
This is what happens every day.
If he tells me he's gonna come at 10:00, he comes 12:00.
This is crazy.
What did she say? Excuse me? I don't understand.
This is ridiculous.
Get in here, please.
Two minutes.
Yes, sir.
The atmosphere in here is horrific.
What's going on? I don't wanna be in here with these two.
I really don't.
Every time I walk in here, they look for something to complain at me, and then they both gang up on me.
And I don't need you to me coming in here and you guys yapping and yapping and yapping.
I don't wanna hear that in the morning.
No.
Yeah, whatever.
Why is she so upset? What was that bit? They say I don't come down on time.
No, you're not gonna do and I don't.
I don't.
You never do.
This is the reason.
No! All you do is yell and nag, Athina.
No, I don't create it.
Yes.
Athina, who the hell wants to come down early in the morning and listen to people yelling at them? I don't know what else I gonna do while I'm up to here with that.
I get very upset! That's what I gotta put up with every morning.
He doesn't give a damn He must give a damn, come on.
He can't be that cold-hearted.
Yeah.
And sometimes I don't.
I mean, I don't wanna deal with this.
If you put up with this for two years, you're not gonna give a damn about it either, you won't.
They're not your friends.
It's your mum and your aunt.
Yeah.
He doesn't give a damn about that.
No, but that's why we Why I should I give a damn when you're swearing at me? You're cursing me, you're calling me names all day long? This is what I gotta put up with every morning.
Everymorning.
You know what? You don't need to be here.
You and her do not need to be here.
I don't need this stress.
Hey.
Hey! Excuse me, Kiki, please.
Please.
You two need to just go home.
Go home.
Yeah.
No, I'd better off with both of you staying home and let me do what I need to do.
Then do it! I will! Don't come to work! You and her, leave! After years of pain and suffering at El Greco The family has finally reached its breaking point.
Don't come to work! You and her, leave.
Don't come! Well, is that what you really want? No, I don't really want that, no.
What the are we doing? We didn't do this in the beginning! All this arguing has brought our restaurant down and brought our relationship to a halt.
This fighting has got to stop.
Yes.
This is insane.
He has to commit to getting in here earlier, and you have to stop beating him with a stick.
What do you want me to do? Wipe the board clean.
Are you willing to change? I am willing to change.
'Cause it's got to stop today.
It's stopped right now.
I'll start all over again, like it's the first day.
And that is a commitment that will save you.
If my son can change, I think I'm gonna be the most happiest mother in this earth.
We've forgotten the importance and the advantage of having a family-run restaurant.
Because when it works brilliantly, it's amazing.
And we have to get back.
And it's not gonna get any better unless you change, all three of you.
Okay.
I got my mom and aunt back.
I really love both of them.
You know what I'm saying? I don't like arguing with them.
I love my aunt like she ismy mom.
Now that the family has made a commitment to work together as opposed to fighting each other Right, I just need all of you for two minutes outside, please.
Chef Ramsay has made a commitment of his own that he hopes will have a major impact on the dining experience at El Greco.
They're gonna run us over.
Yeah, a car.
Bam! It's a firing squad! I have fixed the problem in the restaurant.
I ran over everybody.
Chef mic, you've been so busy.
It's time that you took a little vacation.
What's going on? I don't know.
Hey, guys.
I've got something to to show you.
What are you doing? The microwave.
It's time to say goodbye That's gonna be so awesome.
To a very busy chef mic.
Chef mic! Yes! Later, chef mic! Chef mic is gone.
Good riddance.
Chef mic, it was good knowing you, but we're better off without you.
Chef mic Nice shot! Has left the building.
Has left the building.
A beginning of a new era.
Yes, sir.
Because we are relaunching this restaurant tomorrow, and you do not need a microwave to cook in your restaurant.
You know, it's a family business.
By losing my passion, I've hurt the restaurant, I hurt my employees, I hurt my customers.
And I need to get back to the basics and cook food the way it needs to be cooked.
And that's what I'm gonna do.
With a microwave no longer the essential piece of equipment in the kitchen Chef Ramsay begins to put his plan into effect Cooking fresh Greek food.
We're gonna do a grilled salmon.
Nicely seasoned salt and pepper, okay? Extra touch of salt on the skin.
And getting Jake passionate about cooking again.
Nicely marked all the way around.
Literally, 90 seconds on each side.
You got it.
I'm not in here to precook food.
I'm here to cook it.
That's why I went to school.
That's why I'm in here.
We'll take a spoon of tzatziki just on the plate.
The salmon sits on there.
That's beautiful.
Jake's passion, I think, is coming back for cooking.
I think I'm gonna have my son back.
Now, start tasting.
Yeah, it tastes really good.
It's wonderful.
I'm excited for Jake and Athina.
I feel a huge weight has been lifted here.
I feel like I can actually be a chef now.
Thank you, chef.
Let's go.
Whoo-hoo! Coming up With you people? It's relaunch night, and El Greco gets a new lease on life.
Jake, you can't do everything.
But will Jake be able to lead his kitchen to a successful remake - What are you doing, man? - You don't listen to.
Because I don't got nothing for you to do yet! Or will he be only cook standing when dinner service ends? One more lip from you, you're done.
Now that the family at El Greco is focused on moving ahead instead of looking behind, chef Ramsay's renovation team works through the night to give El Greco its own unique identity.
Good morning.
Are you ready to see We're ready.
The new restaurant? Yes, I'm ready.
I wanna go in.
I wanna see it.
Right! Let's go.
Ladies first.
All right.
It's great! Yeah, it's nice.
It's very light.
It is beautiful.
Yes.
When you walk through these doors, you think of Greece.
That is awesome.
The restaurant was soulless.
It was dull, it was drab, no identity.
Now, when you walk in, it's clean.
It's mediterranean.
I love it.
Keeping with the classic Greek flag with the blue and white, chairs blue and white.
The silhouettes on the walls beautiful.
Yeah, yeah.
This is awesome.
I'm I notice something different every time I look.
And you have a centralized table here.
And look at it.
It's got the right height.
We got new stalls, brushed stainless steel.
Beautiful.
I love it.
This is perfect, the pictures.
Everything's perfect.
Words can't describe how I feel about the restaurant.
This is like a new place.
This is a new beginning, a fresh start.
That's that's what we want.
It's awesome.
With the excitement of the new dinning room still in the air, chef Ramsay's carefully designed menu is ready to be revealed.
Welcome to the most amazing, vibrant Greek menu here in Austin, Texas.
And guess what Chef mic didn't touch a thing! He didn't touch a thing! We're going to start off with the lamb chop, lightly seasoned, lightly marinated, and grilled to perfection.
Half a roasted chicken.
Amazing.
Grilled octopus, braised slowly and served with a little Greek marinas.
Now, that's very classy.
Additional entrees Pressed eggplant moussaka.
Yeah? And the beef moussaka running on the side there.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
Okay.
Get some knife and forks.
Dig in.
Yeah? Grab me one of these.
Very nice.
Dude, that's killer.
Amazing.
That was phenomenal.
My dream came true.
This is a new start for us For me and my son and my sister.
It's a new beginning.
Opa! Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Hello.
Welcome to El Greco.
What can I start you off with? It's relaunch night at El Greco.
I'm gonna get the beef moussaka.
Beef moussaka? Yeah.
This is all gonna feel really weird and awkward, but of course it's gonna feel weird 'cause they're laying down the foundation again.
And for the first time in a long time, everything will be cooked fresh to order.
Here we go.
We got a crispy feta and we got a grilled octopus.
Let's do this, dude.
It feels awesome to finally be able to cook again.
I wanna hit the road running.
Drop the feta, please.
I'm ready to go.
Drop the feta please.
I got it, dude.
I got it.
I should be doing it.
I should be saying I'm dropping the feta.
Go ahead.
Come on.
Finish.
As stunning, fresh food makes its way out to the diners This is fantastic.
The demand on the kitchen continues to grow.
Drop the falafel, okay? I'll get that.
But just as importantly, so does Jake's enthusiasm.
I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it.
Jake.
Jake, you can't do everything.
Yes, sir.
I am now plating a veggie.
Falafel falafel.
Falafels.
These are the falafels? I got it.
Jake.
Jake, talk to us, come on.
"Talk to us.
" Okay.
I need you to, uh Start getting me two tickets out right here.
Call 'em out for me.
Okay.
Walking in No, no, no, no.
That's a bad idea.
Let me put these up.
Unbelievable.
When I first arrived here, Jake was just a lazy chef doing nothing Now he's the other extreme.
He's doing everything and delegating nothing, which is just as dangerous.
Unbelievable.
Hey, what's this lamb doing here, man? Are we selling this? With Jake unwilling to accept help from anyone The kitchen is completely stalled, and a relaunch that started off so well is now in jeopardy.
What else can I be doing? Argh! Jake, can you answer me? What? - What are you doing, man? - You don't listen to Because I don't got nothing for you to do yet! To either work with us better, or the whole thing will go down.
Don't give me attitude, Diego, please.
We have a chance, starting today, to do things completely different, and we should work together.
With you people, man? Yeah, yeah.
Every and nobody else.
Hey dude, one more lip from you, you're done, both of you.
Come on, Jake.
Listen to what I'm telling you.
God.
It's re-launch night at El Greco.
I got it.
I got it.
And with Jake trying to run the entire kitchen solo - What are you doing, man? - You don't listen to Because I don't got nothing for you to do yet! Dinner service is on the verge of disaster.
With you people, man? Yeah, yeah.
Every and nobody else.
Hey, dude, one more lip from you, you're done, both of you.
This is ridiculous.
You got two seconds.
Anthony! Anthony, come here! Diego, Jake.
Yes, sir? Two seconds.
You have got to start delegating.
We're about to go down.
Stop running around and delegate these to them.
You got it.
Stay as a team, guys.
Don't start arguing.
There was a lot of mistakes that shouldn't be happening at this point.
Chef Ramsay is totally right.
I need to delegate more because this it's gonna stop.
Green beans, green beans.
We got 'em, right? Right here, chef.
I need an orzo, a penne, and a pilaf ready.
Right here, chef! Good.
With Jake finally working in tandem with his team in the kitchen Good.
This is number 28.
Thank God! Stunning, delicious Greek dishes are once again leaving the kitchen.
Gorgeous, That is some intense moussaka.
Everybody had smile to their face, everybody in the dining room.
Happy? Very.
Definitely.
They think it took a little bit time, but they love the food.
Eat! Please.
Make me a steak plate, please.
That's it.
That's all I want.
That's it.
That's all you got.
I'm happy with the results of what we were pushing out tonight.
We made a few mistakes, but we made good food, and it actually felt good to smell the smells and hear the sounds and actually, really be cooking.
That's it.
I don't we have no Think we don't have any more tickets.
They're done.
They're done.
My ticket is done.
Take care.
Thank you.
Thanks for being patient.
Okay.
In a matter of days, we've come a very, very a long way.
Let me tell you that.
And the atmosphere in here tonight in comparison to when I first walked through those doors, the difference is night and day.
Very good guys.
Well done, you.
Ramsay, he's the man.
No one else could've done it but him.
Jake's a hard cookie to crack, and he he bashed it.
It was a major, and I mean majortransformation.
I think we've been given kind of a golden ticket to either bring this restaurant to the brink of greatness or to flush it down the toilet.
And it's totally up to Jake and Athina at this point.
Here's to El Greco.
Let's go! Well done.
Well done.
Breaking the plates is like breaking the old habits.
And we can wipe this clean New start, new beginning.
Jake, you were under pressure tonight.
I can give you a one piece of advice You need to show respect to your team.
Yes, sir.
You're their leader.
You're their inspiration.
I was very proud of him.
It's a good feeling, man.
I'm so happy for that.
Not a lot of people get second chances.
And we're definitely not gonna squander it.
We're gonna move forward and make something of it.
Athina You need to respect him, and he needs to respect you.
Exactly.
Give me a hug.
Opa! That was a big, wet smudgy one.
Chef, it was pleasure.
Thank you.
Look after yourself and look after your team.
Yes, sir.
Team first.
Good night.
Goodnight.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
For nearly two years, this restaurant was microwaving everything.
So the fact that we had a successful relaunch is amazing.
But the biggest And I mean the biggest miracle of all, is the fact that we brought Athina and Jake together.
And, quite honestly, I didn't think that was gonna happen.
Chef mic, rest in pieces.
Yes.
In the months that followed Welcome to El Greco.
Let's do this.
El Greco received positive feedback from the locals.
This is fantastic.
Has a really good flavor.
And it appeared as though the restaurant was gonna be turned around.
But Jake and Athina's insurmountable debt was too much to overcome.
Man.
And the mother and son were forced to close El Greco.
It's a disturbing Greek tragedy.
Here's a mother who's at the end of her rope.
I don't know what else I gonna do.
I'm up to here with that.
And a son who has completely lost his passion.
I don't wanna be in here with these two.
The two have become sworn enemies.
Then do it! I don't need you! With a relationship that is completely destroyed Be 10:00 here.
I don't wanna hear that in the morning! And a restaurant that is near death I'd rather be dead.
Chef Ramsay may be walking into a situation That is too far gone to rescue.
Don't come to work! You and her, leave! What is that? Disgusting crap.
You're done! I'm done.
I'm not insane! Yes, you are! Shut the place down! Get out of here! That is amazing.
I can't do it anymore.
I just can't thank you enough.
Sync and correct by dr.
jackson Austin, Texas, home to over 50,000 students that attend the University of Texas.
Located only blocks away is El Greco, an authentic Greek restaurant opened in 2007 by Jake and his mother, Athina.
This is my favorite one.
I always wanna open a restaurant.
I always love to cook.
Let's do this.
You're awesome, guys.
Come on.
So my mother brought her sister down, and we opened up a restaurant.
We got a hummus appetizer.
I'll get that going.
I was so excited to open.
The first half a year was very, very busy.
Thank you.
Welcome.
Let's get this.
Come on, guys.
Those were good times.
I mean, it was busy all day long.
It was thriving.
I mean, every day, just in and out, packed.
But Jake is the big reason why everything is screwed up.
In the last year, I would say, it's really turned around to be pretty disappointing.
Where is Jake? Jake would spend, three, maybe four hours here.
Jake is not here.
Not all in a row.
Smile and wave.
He freaking abandoned us again.
I'm not spending as much time as I used to in the restaurant.
Just tired of coming into work knowing that I gotta deal with my mother.
Come on, guys.
- Athina, it's going.
- No, it's not! Athina, stop it.
Get to work.
Stop yelling.
Nag, nag, nag.
She nags constantly.
Come on, let's do it.
Athina, stop.
Come on.
I have to yell at him.
Hey! Athina, if you come in here one more time, we're gonna have problems.
If I tell you once and I tell you twice, the third time, I'm gonna fire it up, yes.
Mom, get the out of my kitchen.
Jake does not speak to his mother like a mother should be spoken to.
Day before, we peeled two buckets of potatoes.
Where did the buckets of potatoes go? Did we sell that many potatoes? I don't think so! This restaurant getting between us.
I see my son and I say, "this is not my son.
" He used to spoil me, like, to death, and now, he hates me.
Mom, get out of my line.
The turmoil between Jake and Athina You can get the hell out of here.
Has just been bad vibes, and it's really affecting the restaurant.
The food quality is really low.
They said their moussaka and orzo was way too mushy.
What? That was nasty.
It was bad.
The morale is really low.
I'm to the threshold of how much I can handle, period, bro.
Without chef Ramsay's help, El Greco is doomed.
Sucks.
I put up everything, whatever I had.
All of my money.
This restaurant, if it doesn't work, I gonna be in the street.
I wish I was dead.
A Greek restaurant in Austin.
Okay.
- How you doin'? - Good to see you.
It's good to see you too.
It's a pleasure.
Gordon.
Dustin.
- Dustin.
- Good to see you, buddy.
- And you are? - The waiter.
Okay, great.
Are the owners in back? - Yeah.
- Jake and Athina? Love to meet them.
Thank you.
Jake, Athina.
Hey! Hi.
How are you doing? Very well, thank you.
How are you? Jake.
I'm doing good, sir.
Thank you.
Jake Yeah, yes, sir.
Okay, great.
Hey, can I give you hug? A hug? I was waiting for that moment.
Okay, nice a little hug.
Oy.
Always nice.
- Welcome to my restaurant.
- What a warm welcoming.
Well, nice to see you.
And your name is Athina.
Athina is your My mother.
And you guys are partners, right? Yeah.
Yes.
Good.
Let's spend a couple of minutes catching up, and give me a little insight into what's been happening.
You got it.
Shall we? Yeah.
Things have gone bad with me and my mother since the restaurant has opened.
My first priority is getting the restaurant fixed.
And if that gets fixed, I think our relationship will get fixed.
- And so mother and son.
- Yes, sir.
And who does what? You're obviously the chef.
Yes, sir.
And I'm just the mother and the cook back there with my sister.
You cook as well? Yes.
I try my best.
I try to do it like my mother and my grandmother.
So authentic It's authentic, uh, ancestral recipes.
How old were you when you first started cooking? I've been cooking all my life, but I I went to culinary school about eight years ago.
My mom always wanted to open up a restaurant and get her sister down here from Greece.
I said, you know what? Let me go to culinary school and see what we could do.
So, that's that's what I did.
Really?- Damn.
Are they always I'm very good, uh You're great at catching flies? Yes.
I am.
Where are you going? I gonna kill that one.
No, no.
Come over here.
I'm gonna kill one.
One second.
Maybe maybe not in front of the customers.
No, no.
Mom.
There you go.
There you go.
Okay.
There you go.
Well caught, by the way, That's, uh, that's lightning.
Of course.
I'm good about flies.
Great reflexes.
Yeah.
So let's go back to the beginning, when you first opened What was that like? It was great.
Beautiful.
The first eight months were great.
We were busy all day long.
There wouldn't be a lull in service at all.
What time did you start in the morning? We have to come here at 6:00.
We'd be here at 6:00.
Naturally, yeah.
But on an average not my son.
Don't say "we'd be here," because you are not here.
Yeah, I haven't been here in a while, yeah.
But you're the chef.
Surely, you're here at the same time? No.
No, sir.
So, what time do you come in the morning? Probably 11, 11:00.
Hold on your mum comes in at 6:00 and you come in at 11:30, Yes.
So, if your mum and your auntie does all the prep, what do you actually do? Yeah, I cook, uh, food for customers, you know.
You cook for customers? Yeah, and that's about it.
Are you tired? He is always tired.
He's always tired? I'm always tired.
You're still yawning.
What do you think the biggest problem for the restaurant is right now, today? I don't know what the reason is.
It's Jake.
It's Jake? Exactly.
I seen my son how he used to be and how he is now.
Don't tell me you are not, because you are.
No, I'm not.
My son is changed.
He doesn't care not about his life, not about the restaurant, not about anything.
How much was the investment for this restaurant? How much did it cost? I came here with $300,000, plus another $500,000.
$8 $800,000 for this? Almost, yeah.
$800,000.
And everything's gone.
Not only I'm losing all my money, I lost my son too.
Very dramatic.
He doesn't wanna hear my voice.
Why? You're his mother.
She's nagging all the time.
He says constantly, he says I'm yelling at him, even if I 'm talk with him nicely.
I can't take it anymore.
To hell with the money.
To hell with the restaurant.
But losing my son too on top of everything.
Shut up about that, please.
[Bleep.]
, man.
I can't take it anymore.
I'd rather be dead.
I'd rather be dead to have a son like you now.
Within minutes of arriving at El Greco, Gordon quickly realizes that the pressures of the restaurant has ruined the relationship between mother and son.
I'd rather be dead to have a son like you now.
After that gloomy greeting, he's hoping that the lunch is a little more cheerful.
You want me to go grab something to drink? No, I'm just gonna have a glass of water please, Dustin.
And who's that young man in the kitchen there? Who's that? That's Anthony.
Anthony.
May I have a quick word? Yeah, definitely.
Dustin, thank you.
Anthony.
Good to see you.
You're Anthony? Yeah.
Sit down.
And what's your position here? Kitchen manager.
Kitchen manager.
I run the staff So you got Jake, the executive chef, and you're the kitchen manager? Yes.
So I haven't tasted the food yet, but I'm more shocked at the relationship with his mother.
Is that no, that That is the most shocking thing with anybody who works here.
Is it him or her? It all starts with him not showing up in the mornings.
Bloody hell.
He just doesn't like to be here.
He'll come when it gets busy, and then Pkhew! How many hours a day is Jake here? On a an average day, I'd say about three.
Three total hours in one day? Yeah, yeah.
Is he in love? Has he got a girlfriend? It's a video game.
It's unbelievable.
A video game? Yeah he's not playing it right now, but I guarantee you he's thinking about it.
What a disaster.
Okay, well, thank you for the update.
I appreciate it.
Yes.
I wish I could meet you under better conditions.
I really do.
Good, let's get you some food, all right? Okay.
Could I start off with stuffed zucchini, and then gonna go for the lamb shank as well, I saw that.
And then moussaka.
Moussaka? Please.
Cool.
And I think that'll be it for now.
Okay.
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
Bring it up, come on.
Well, obviously, things aren't going right, since chef Ramsley Ramsay came out today, but I'm not gonna let anyone defeat me.
I got it.
Okay.
Zucchini.
Jake likes to just get in and get out fast.
He knows better and I know better than to use a microwave in serving Gordon Ramsay.
And right now, Jake is very lazy.
It's pretty messed up.
Embarrassing, dude.
Stuffed zucchini is delightful.
What is that? That's our stuffed zucchini.
Stuffed zucchini? Yeah.
Look at that.
It's like two grenades about to explode.
My God.
Now it looks like something out of an alienmovie.
When zucchinis attack.
That's badly seasoned.
Bland.
No go? No.
That's disgusting.
I could cry.
What a joke.
It's wow.
Sorry about that.
Hated it.
What? Try this.
He hate it? Yes, he did.
Go on.
Jake's ability at this moment is zero.
He doesn't care anymore.
Lamb shank? It's coming, man.
I'm doomed, completely.
Lamb shank.
Now, that is a very anemic-looking lamb shank.
Look at the presentation.
It's depressing.
Almost like it's, uh, been in the microwave for an hour.
Surely they wouldn't microwave a lamb shank.
I'm a little bit nervous at how gray the meat is.
That is way too salty and badly balanced.
Dustin I mean, it's so salty.
Who cooked that, Dustin? That's "chef mic.
" Chef who? Chef mic.
It's a microwave.
I thought there was the third chef.
He kind of is.
He does a lot of work in the kitchen.
We use chef mic a lot.
Whenever there's lights on in this restaurant, chef mic's working.
He's a dedicated employee.
He, uh, asked about chef mic.
What did say? He asked who cooked it.
I mean, I can't lie to him, so I told him.
He's not happy.
I can't take this.
Hello.
Hi.
I am Kiki.
Kiki? Yeah.
How are you? Nice to see you.
May I finish my lunch first and then No English? No.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
Scottish? French? Spanish? German? Okay.
I don't speak German, but it's good to know you.
Thank you.
This is the one I'm gonna serve? You can serve it to him, yeah.
Go.
God.
It's so embarrassing.
I don't care, man, at this point.
I don't give a about anything.
Moussaka.
Now, you think of Greece, you think of authenticity.
That is not authentic.
It's a non-moving moussaka.
What a disaster.
He went like this, and it stayed on there.
Jake goes, "I don't care.
" He doesn't.
If you saw this food in a dog food bowl, you would not think twice.
Moussaka? When was that made? Whenwas that made? Yeah.
I'm not sure, uh You don't like it, the eggplant or anything? No.
And did chef mic have a hand this one? Chef mic has a hand in a lot of dishes.
Really? How'd you like to try anything else? No.
I gotcha.
It's just too painful.
It's not possible for a restaurant to be so bad.
He asked about chef mic again with the moussaka.
Where is where is everybody? This'll be fun.
I wanna run away and hide.
Hide.
I'm putting out a high-end, quality product and if you don't appreciate it, then get the out.
I've never felt so depressed in my entire life.
That was embarrassing.
The stuffed zucchini You didn't like it? No.
Bland, depressing.
The lamb shank I mean, salty, sad.
And then it was just dumped on a plate like a dog bowl.
And then the moussaka.
That was made this morning, was it? Yeah.
What wasn't fresh about it? It was it was yesterday.
What wasn't fresh about it? You served me yesterday's.
So any chance of it tasting fresh has gone.
It's not even 24 hours old.
So wh what's not fresh about that? Executive chef.
Chef mic.
The frickin' microwave has more qualifications than you.
I think your big problem is, Jake, you don't care.
You don't wanna even be here, do you? I can see it in the body language, the attitude, and just the way you perform.
I've come across a lot of executive chefs in my time.
I've never seen one quite like the sack of That's standing in front of me now.
I feel the same way.
Could I just have two minutes with the owner, please? With her? Yeah.
Damn.
I'm really sorry.
Sorry is not a help for us.
Will you try to help me? Yeah, I'm sorry.
Listen, I need to be really honest with you.
The hardest restaurants to fix, ever, are the ones where the passion is gone.
And his passion has gone way before you thought about asking me here.
I'm sorry.
I don't know what else to say.
I'm gonna be here tonight and I'm gonna see how this place functions.
I need to see everything as it is.
Yeah, I just hope it's not too late.
Okay? All right.
I'll see you next time.
Okay, thank you.
Nightmare.
After a depressing afternoon with Jake and Athina You all right? Gonna be a long night.
Rummour spread that chef Ramsay is at El Greco, and the restaurant is fully booked.
How you guys doing? Now, Gordon hopes to get some more insight into how El Greco operates in a dinner service.
This is Diego.
Diego what's your role? Pretty much a grade-a line cook.
Line cook? Yeah.
Okay, and what your training, what have you done? Well, I've been cooking in Austin in various different restaurants okay.
Since I was 18, I'm 32 now.
So 14 years experience on the line? Let's go.
Braised lamb shank.
Okay.
I'll take the kabobs as well, except with shrimp.
Here come peas orzo for the second order.
Let's go.
We got green beans.
There you go.
Microwave food.
Chef mic.
Twelve gas ring burners there, and not one of the chefs is using them.
They're all in the microwave.
It's like we've forgotten there was a kitchen here.
What is that? Look like someone's selling a football.
But it's moussaka from it's moussaka.
Chef Mike you'd be Without the microwave, wouldn't you? Unbelievable, Diego.
We'd love nothing more than to see both of these go in the dumpsters.
It's really humiliating.
I feel like a little kid, heating stuff up in a microwave.
It kind of messes with my passion for cooking.
Like I don't feel like a cook the way we're doing things with the microwave.
As chef Ramsay watches plate After plate After plate being zapped in the microwave, it becomes clear that Jake doesn't really care about his food.
There we go again, waiting in line for chef mic.
We got a cue from the microwave.
This is incredible.
The minute you walk into a restaurant with an open kitchen, and all the chefs are facing out as opposed to standing in front of the stove, get out.
That's what's happening here.
Unbelievable.
Dustin.
Is this normal, this? I have nothing to say.
That's just how we do it.
I've seen a diaper look more appetizing than that.
I agree.
Greek restaurant? More like a Greek tragedy.
It pisses me off.
What I think about my food is, it's healthy, it's fresh, it's it's good.
It's damn good.
Yeah, reheated microwave food.
Listen, it's not microwave food.
I mean, how else am I gonna reheat it? You're breaking my balls about getting Reheating it in a microwave.
He's been cooking 14 years.
There's a whole stove there.
It's not even being used.
And this guy is like this.
Come on, Jake.
Me.
I don't use the word microwave.
I'm not cooking it in the microwave.
I'm reheating it in the microwave.
Big difference.
There's a big difference.
I don't think it compromises the food, reheating it that way, but I mean Say that again? You don't think it compromises the food? I don't think so.
My God.
They're gonna have a big fight.
My God.
Please, God.
It doesn't compromise the standard of food? No.
Yeah, you off.
How's that? There we go.
Go.
Get out of my line.
Jake.
Yeah.
Jake.
I gotta Look, I'm trying to put out food.
Yeah.
Jake I'm not here to talk about Take your head out your And just start acting like a man and start taking responsibility for something, will you? I am taking responsibility for it.
You are? And you think it's smart, telling me to off? I don't want you around.
So how about showing a little bit of respect for what you're doing? Go Get off my line and let me do my job.
Get out of here.
Jake.
Jake, I'll go, with pleasure.
It's an hour and a half into dinner service at El Greco.
Reheated.
Microwave food.
And while chef Ramsay has had enough with the microwave Yeah, you off.
How's that? Here we go.
Jake has had enough of chef Ramsay.
Go get out of my line.
You think it's smart telling me to off? I don't want you around.
So how about showing a little bit of respect for what you're doing? Go.
Get off my line and let me do my job.
I'll go, with pleasure.
Yeah.
I need table 20.
I know it's a mess.
A mess? You can fix us, and you can tell him whatever we have to do, and we will do it.
I've never seen a kitchen function with a microwave as much as here.
Okay.
All right.
That's number one.
Number two? Your son doesn't care.
It's depressing.
There's three chefs standing on the line, and not one person is cooking.
Okay.
If you have passion and love for food You don't zap it.
You don't microwave it.
I'm really sorry.
I'm sorry too.
Greek restaurant? A nuclear power station.
He's right, Mr.
Ramsay.
My son change.
He doesn't even care about himself.
It makes me feel sad.
Honestly, seriously, I'm in shock.
Let me tell you why.
The busiest chef tonight is chef mic, and how dare you tell me that food cooked in the microwave It's not cooked in the microwave.
It's reheated.
Are you honestly saying there's no difference in food that's been reheated than cooking something fresh? I mean, I don't think it tastes that much different.
There's no love, no care, no passion.
He doesn't care.
Athina, please.
But he has to care.
Athina! You have to take in charge Hey, quiet.
And you are not.
Quiet.
Quiet.
Okay? Get out of my restaurant.
Right now.
Out! It's not your restaurant! Yeah, it is my restaurant out.
I'm not listening to your , okay? I wouldn't be alive right now if I talked to my mother the way Jake does.
My mom would murder me.
Shut up.
Athina, you know what? I'm sick and tired of nag, nag, nag, nag every day.
Leave me alone.
Yeah, leave you alone.
I need to go and have a good think.
I got you.
I'll see you in the morning.
Good night.
Good night.
My son gave up.
Jake should be more committed to this restaurant.
You have to change, James.
I hope my son comes to his senses, and chef Ramsay will bring the old Jake back.
I can give my life for that.
Come and prep.
I'm gonna be here at 10:00.
Athina and her sister Kiki arrive early to begin the daily ritual of prepping for lunch and dinner.
But in spite of promising to be there at 10:00, Jake is nowhere to be seen.
She tell you 10:00! Be 10:00 here! I don't wanna hear your.
That's why I don't come down here.
Now, Kiki, I really This is exactly why I don't come down, 'cause they yell at me, they gang up on me.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay, okay.
There's nothing left of me in here.
I'm sick of it.
God.
After spending the morning doing research around Austin, Gordon is ready to put some changes into effect.
Morning.
Morning.
But the real question is, is Jake ready to change his attitude? Morning.
Good morning.
How are you? I'm okay.
Yeah? You don't look okay.
What's going on? I just had an argument with my son.
This is what happens every day.
If he tells me he's gonna come at 10:00, he comes 12:00.
This is crazy.
What did she say? Excuse me? I don't understand.
This is ridiculous.
Get in here, please.
Two minutes.
Yes, sir.
The atmosphere in here is horrific.
What's going on? I don't wanna be in here with these two.
I really don't.
Every time I walk in here, they look for something to complain at me, and then they both gang up on me.
And I don't need you to me coming in here and you guys yapping and yapping and yapping.
I don't wanna hear that in the morning.
No.
Yeah, whatever.
Why is she so upset? What was that bit? They say I don't come down on time.
No, you're not gonna do and I don't.
I don't.
You never do.
This is the reason.
No! All you do is yell and nag, Athina.
No, I don't create it.
Yes.
Athina, who the hell wants to come down early in the morning and listen to people yelling at them? I don't know what else I gonna do while I'm up to here with that.
I get very upset! That's what I gotta put up with every morning.
He doesn't give a damn He must give a damn, come on.
He can't be that cold-hearted.
Yeah.
And sometimes I don't.
I mean, I don't wanna deal with this.
If you put up with this for two years, you're not gonna give a damn about it either, you won't.
They're not your friends.
It's your mum and your aunt.
Yeah.
He doesn't give a damn about that.
No, but that's why we Why I should I give a damn when you're swearing at me? You're cursing me, you're calling me names all day long? This is what I gotta put up with every morning.
Everymorning.
You know what? You don't need to be here.
You and her do not need to be here.
I don't need this stress.
Hey.
Hey! Excuse me, Kiki, please.
Please.
You two need to just go home.
Go home.
Yeah.
No, I'd better off with both of you staying home and let me do what I need to do.
Then do it! I will! Don't come to work! You and her, leave! After years of pain and suffering at El Greco The family has finally reached its breaking point.
Don't come to work! You and her, leave.
Don't come! Well, is that what you really want? No, I don't really want that, no.
What the are we doing? We didn't do this in the beginning! All this arguing has brought our restaurant down and brought our relationship to a halt.
This fighting has got to stop.
Yes.
This is insane.
He has to commit to getting in here earlier, and you have to stop beating him with a stick.
What do you want me to do? Wipe the board clean.
Are you willing to change? I am willing to change.
'Cause it's got to stop today.
It's stopped right now.
I'll start all over again, like it's the first day.
And that is a commitment that will save you.
If my son can change, I think I'm gonna be the most happiest mother in this earth.
We've forgotten the importance and the advantage of having a family-run restaurant.
Because when it works brilliantly, it's amazing.
And we have to get back.
And it's not gonna get any better unless you change, all three of you.
Okay.
I got my mom and aunt back.
I really love both of them.
You know what I'm saying? I don't like arguing with them.
I love my aunt like she ismy mom.
Now that the family has made a commitment to work together as opposed to fighting each other Right, I just need all of you for two minutes outside, please.
Chef Ramsay has made a commitment of his own that he hopes will have a major impact on the dining experience at El Greco.
They're gonna run us over.
Yeah, a car.
Bam! It's a firing squad! I have fixed the problem in the restaurant.
I ran over everybody.
Chef mic, you've been so busy.
It's time that you took a little vacation.
What's going on? I don't know.
Hey, guys.
I've got something to to show you.
What are you doing? The microwave.
It's time to say goodbye That's gonna be so awesome.
To a very busy chef mic.
Chef mic! Yes! Later, chef mic! Chef mic is gone.
Good riddance.
Chef mic, it was good knowing you, but we're better off without you.
Chef mic Nice shot! Has left the building.
Has left the building.
A beginning of a new era.
Yes, sir.
Because we are relaunching this restaurant tomorrow, and you do not need a microwave to cook in your restaurant.
You know, it's a family business.
By losing my passion, I've hurt the restaurant, I hurt my employees, I hurt my customers.
And I need to get back to the basics and cook food the way it needs to be cooked.
And that's what I'm gonna do.
With a microwave no longer the essential piece of equipment in the kitchen Chef Ramsay begins to put his plan into effect Cooking fresh Greek food.
We're gonna do a grilled salmon.
Nicely seasoned salt and pepper, okay? Extra touch of salt on the skin.
And getting Jake passionate about cooking again.
Nicely marked all the way around.
Literally, 90 seconds on each side.
You got it.
I'm not in here to precook food.
I'm here to cook it.
That's why I went to school.
That's why I'm in here.
We'll take a spoon of tzatziki just on the plate.
The salmon sits on there.
That's beautiful.
Jake's passion, I think, is coming back for cooking.
I think I'm gonna have my son back.
Now, start tasting.
Yeah, it tastes really good.
It's wonderful.
I'm excited for Jake and Athina.
I feel a huge weight has been lifted here.
I feel like I can actually be a chef now.
Thank you, chef.
Let's go.
Whoo-hoo! Coming up With you people? It's relaunch night, and El Greco gets a new lease on life.
Jake, you can't do everything.
But will Jake be able to lead his kitchen to a successful remake - What are you doing, man? - You don't listen to.
Because I don't got nothing for you to do yet! Or will he be only cook standing when dinner service ends? One more lip from you, you're done.
Now that the family at El Greco is focused on moving ahead instead of looking behind, chef Ramsay's renovation team works through the night to give El Greco its own unique identity.
Good morning.
Are you ready to see We're ready.
The new restaurant? Yes, I'm ready.
I wanna go in.
I wanna see it.
Right! Let's go.
Ladies first.
All right.
It's great! Yeah, it's nice.
It's very light.
It is beautiful.
Yes.
When you walk through these doors, you think of Greece.
That is awesome.
The restaurant was soulless.
It was dull, it was drab, no identity.
Now, when you walk in, it's clean.
It's mediterranean.
I love it.
Keeping with the classic Greek flag with the blue and white, chairs blue and white.
The silhouettes on the walls beautiful.
Yeah, yeah.
This is awesome.
I'm I notice something different every time I look.
And you have a centralized table here.
And look at it.
It's got the right height.
We got new stalls, brushed stainless steel.
Beautiful.
I love it.
This is perfect, the pictures.
Everything's perfect.
Words can't describe how I feel about the restaurant.
This is like a new place.
This is a new beginning, a fresh start.
That's that's what we want.
It's awesome.
With the excitement of the new dinning room still in the air, chef Ramsay's carefully designed menu is ready to be revealed.
Welcome to the most amazing, vibrant Greek menu here in Austin, Texas.
And guess what Chef mic didn't touch a thing! He didn't touch a thing! We're going to start off with the lamb chop, lightly seasoned, lightly marinated, and grilled to perfection.
Half a roasted chicken.
Amazing.
Grilled octopus, braised slowly and served with a little Greek marinas.
Now, that's very classy.
Additional entrees Pressed eggplant moussaka.
Yeah? And the beef moussaka running on the side there.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
Okay.
Get some knife and forks.
Dig in.
Yeah? Grab me one of these.
Very nice.
Dude, that's killer.
Amazing.
That was phenomenal.
My dream came true.
This is a new start for us For me and my son and my sister.
It's a new beginning.
Opa! Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Hello.
Welcome to El Greco.
What can I start you off with? It's relaunch night at El Greco.
I'm gonna get the beef moussaka.
Beef moussaka? Yeah.
This is all gonna feel really weird and awkward, but of course it's gonna feel weird 'cause they're laying down the foundation again.
And for the first time in a long time, everything will be cooked fresh to order.
Here we go.
We got a crispy feta and we got a grilled octopus.
Let's do this, dude.
It feels awesome to finally be able to cook again.
I wanna hit the road running.
Drop the feta, please.
I'm ready to go.
Drop the feta please.
I got it, dude.
I got it.
I should be doing it.
I should be saying I'm dropping the feta.
Go ahead.
Come on.
Finish.
As stunning, fresh food makes its way out to the diners This is fantastic.
The demand on the kitchen continues to grow.
Drop the falafel, okay? I'll get that.
But just as importantly, so does Jake's enthusiasm.
I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it.
Jake.
Jake, you can't do everything.
Yes, sir.
I am now plating a veggie.
Falafel falafel.
Falafels.
These are the falafels? I got it.
Jake.
Jake, talk to us, come on.
"Talk to us.
" Okay.
I need you to, uh Start getting me two tickets out right here.
Call 'em out for me.
Okay.
Walking in No, no, no, no.
That's a bad idea.
Let me put these up.
Unbelievable.
When I first arrived here, Jake was just a lazy chef doing nothing Now he's the other extreme.
He's doing everything and delegating nothing, which is just as dangerous.
Unbelievable.
Hey, what's this lamb doing here, man? Are we selling this? With Jake unwilling to accept help from anyone The kitchen is completely stalled, and a relaunch that started off so well is now in jeopardy.
What else can I be doing? Argh! Jake, can you answer me? What? - What are you doing, man? - You don't listen to Because I don't got nothing for you to do yet! To either work with us better, or the whole thing will go down.
Don't give me attitude, Diego, please.
We have a chance, starting today, to do things completely different, and we should work together.
With you people, man? Yeah, yeah.
Every and nobody else.
Hey dude, one more lip from you, you're done, both of you.
Come on, Jake.
Listen to what I'm telling you.
God.
It's re-launch night at El Greco.
I got it.
I got it.
And with Jake trying to run the entire kitchen solo - What are you doing, man? - You don't listen to Because I don't got nothing for you to do yet! Dinner service is on the verge of disaster.
With you people, man? Yeah, yeah.
Every and nobody else.
Hey, dude, one more lip from you, you're done, both of you.
This is ridiculous.
You got two seconds.
Anthony! Anthony, come here! Diego, Jake.
Yes, sir? Two seconds.
You have got to start delegating.
We're about to go down.
Stop running around and delegate these to them.
You got it.
Stay as a team, guys.
Don't start arguing.
There was a lot of mistakes that shouldn't be happening at this point.
Chef Ramsay is totally right.
I need to delegate more because this it's gonna stop.
Green beans, green beans.
We got 'em, right? Right here, chef.
I need an orzo, a penne, and a pilaf ready.
Right here, chef! Good.
With Jake finally working in tandem with his team in the kitchen Good.
This is number 28.
Thank God! Stunning, delicious Greek dishes are once again leaving the kitchen.
Gorgeous, That is some intense moussaka.
Everybody had smile to their face, everybody in the dining room.
Happy? Very.
Definitely.
They think it took a little bit time, but they love the food.
Eat! Please.
Make me a steak plate, please.
That's it.
That's all I want.
That's it.
That's all you got.
I'm happy with the results of what we were pushing out tonight.
We made a few mistakes, but we made good food, and it actually felt good to smell the smells and hear the sounds and actually, really be cooking.
That's it.
I don't we have no Think we don't have any more tickets.
They're done.
They're done.
My ticket is done.
Take care.
Thank you.
Thanks for being patient.
Okay.
In a matter of days, we've come a very, very a long way.
Let me tell you that.
And the atmosphere in here tonight in comparison to when I first walked through those doors, the difference is night and day.
Very good guys.
Well done, you.
Ramsay, he's the man.
No one else could've done it but him.
Jake's a hard cookie to crack, and he he bashed it.
It was a major, and I mean majortransformation.
I think we've been given kind of a golden ticket to either bring this restaurant to the brink of greatness or to flush it down the toilet.
And it's totally up to Jake and Athina at this point.
Here's to El Greco.
Let's go! Well done.
Well done.
Breaking the plates is like breaking the old habits.
And we can wipe this clean New start, new beginning.
Jake, you were under pressure tonight.
I can give you a one piece of advice You need to show respect to your team.
Yes, sir.
You're their leader.
You're their inspiration.
I was very proud of him.
It's a good feeling, man.
I'm so happy for that.
Not a lot of people get second chances.
And we're definitely not gonna squander it.
We're gonna move forward and make something of it.
Athina You need to respect him, and he needs to respect you.
Exactly.
Give me a hug.
Opa! That was a big, wet smudgy one.
Chef, it was pleasure.
Thank you.
Look after yourself and look after your team.
Yes, sir.
Team first.
Good night.
Goodnight.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
For nearly two years, this restaurant was microwaving everything.
So the fact that we had a successful relaunch is amazing.
But the biggest And I mean the biggest miracle of all, is the fact that we brought Athina and Jake together.
And, quite honestly, I didn't think that was gonna happen.
Chef mic, rest in pieces.
Yes.
In the months that followed Welcome to El Greco.
Let's do this.
El Greco received positive feedback from the locals.
This is fantastic.
Has a really good flavor.
And it appeared as though the restaurant was gonna be turned around.
But Jake and Athina's insurmountable debt was too much to overcome.
Man.
And the mother and son were forced to close El Greco.