Casa Roma Kitchen Nightmares Update: A Chef’s Second Chance
Casa Roma was located in Lancaster, California. It was an Italian restaurant and had been in business since 1958. Nylah and her son Jeremey bought the restaurant. The restaurant was divided into a bar area and a dining area. Casa Roma was mostly empty but the bar received frequent customers.
Nylah changed almost 20 chefs in hopes of making the restaurant profitable. The latest chef, Eric also seemed to be a problem as he was unable to prepare the dishes on time. His food was bland, not prepared well, and cold most of the time. Did Gordon manage to save Casa Roma instead of crumbling to pieces? Find out in our Casa Roma Kitchen Nightmares Update!
Key Takeaways
- Inefficient Chef: The inefficient chef was the main reason behind the downfall of the restaurant.
- Unhygienic Space: The restaurant had a disgusting walk-in fridge and horrible bathrooms, creating a hygiene crisis.
- From Frozen to Fresh: The menu was overhauled and promoted using fresh ingredients.
- Accept the New: The entire restaurant was overhauled to represent the relaunch of the restaurant as the pizzeria.
- Ensuring Quality: The main aim was to ensure that the food was flavourful, vibrant, and of good standards.
Table of Content
Gordon Ramsay’s Initial Assessment of Casa Roma
As he stepped inside, Gordon was greeted by the restaurant’s owners. He noticed that the restaurant had no windows. Ramsay also noted that the bar was busy with customers but the dining area was empty. The carpets of the restaurants were also dirty. To his surprise, Gordon learned that the owners had no prior experience running a restaurant.
When Gordon sat down to order his food, he found his table dirty and seat broken. Ashely, the waitress brought the menu for Gordon to order. He noticed one of the main keywords on the menu was spelled wrong. The food service was painfully slow. He decided to fix his broken seat, while he waited for his food. This gave him something to do while passing the time.
After tasting the food, he rated it as follows:
- Stuffed Mushrooms: The mushrooms were stuffed with crabs but were soggy. They were bland, tasteless, and full of water.
- Monte Cristo: The sandwich was topped with powdered sugar and was filled with oil.
- Medium Casa Roma Deluxe Pizza: The pizza crust was raw and not cooked properly.
After reviewing the food, Gordon gathered the staff to have a meeting. He told everyone that the food wasn’t up to the standards. He asked Eric why his performance was so poor. Eric explained that he was having a bad day. After Ramsay’s private chat with the chef, Eric asked for a second chance to prove himself.
The restaurant received some customers after it opened in the evening. As the orders piled, Eric refused to communicate with the sous chef Drew. This slowed down the process and the customers had to wait a lot. The dishes were returned to the kitchen reportedly due to food being uncooked, bland, or cold. Eric showed a heedless attitude and was indifferent to the chaos in the kitchen and dining room. Gordon ordered to close off the restaurant after the chaotic and frustrating situation.
Gordon and the Owners of Casa Roma
After the disastrous dinner service, Gordon decided to talk with Nylah. He pointed out that Eric was the main reason behind the losses in the business. His bad performance was hindering them from gaining any customers.
Eric wasn’t able to cook any basic dishes and was bad at communicating with other chefs. He had an irresponsible and neglectful attitude towards the restaurant. Gordon asked Nylah to fire Eric to be successful. He advised her to promote Drew to the head chef as he could do much better.
Core Issues and Challenges at Casa Roma
The next day, Gordon decided to inspect the walk-in fridge. The fridge wasn’t in good condition and the food was decomposing. There was old molded cheese, decaying meat, and rotten vegetables.
Next, he decided to inspect the bathroom using UV light. He saw green and yellow stripes which were identified as bodily fluids. This meant that the bathrooms weren’t kept clean. Such circumstances could create hygiene risks. He took the owners to examine the disappointing situation of the restaurant. Gordon ordered to throw out every bit of food in the kitchen and clean out the space.
Gordon then moved on to mentor Drew. He ordered him to make his signature-style pizza with a thick crust. The owners were presented with two pizzas. One was Drew’s, and the other was frozen. After tasting them, Drew’s pizza got the place on the menu. Gordon also made a thin crust pizza which was also going to be a part of the menu.
Gordon Ramsay’s Improvement Plan for Casa Roma
Gordon and his staff decided to give a face-lift to the restaurant. They spent the entire night renovating the space. The outdoor sign was updated and the Italian flags were installed. A complete change greeted the surprised owners. The place now had a vibrant and lively vibe. There was no difference in the bar or the dining room as the space was now merged. After the revamp, there was a single theme in the restaurant. Carpets were removed and new furniture was placed.
Gordon decided to hold a Casa Roma Pizza Eating Challenge to advertise the relaunch of the restaurant. The main purpose was to introduce the restaurant as a pizzeria. Many people came to support the restaurant at the contests. In the end, the competition was a success.
Ramsay then introduced the menu to the staff. It focused on fresh and efficient dishes that went with the pizza-themed restaurant. The menu included chicken wings filled with cherry pepper sauce, stuffed mushrooms, and bruschetta. It also had a variety of sandwiches and pizzas.
The Relaunch of the Casa Roma
As the restaurant opened in the evening, it was packed with customers. The kitchen was ready to win the game under Drew’s leadership. Nylah’s son was also assisting in the kitchen. However, as the orders came in, Drew started to rush them out. Dishes started to come back to the kitchen with complaints that the food wasn’t cooked properly. The sizes of some dishes were also big. Drew was losing control and was under pressure. After a moment, Drew got back into action and the orders started to leave the kitchen. The customers were satisfied and the night was a success.
Conclusion
Casa Roma’s transformation was a big success. The restaurant went from failing to thriving as a pizzeria. Gordon helped with a full makeover, changing both the decor and the menu. Drew took over from Eric and did a great job. Fresh ingredients and quick service brought many customers on relaunch night. Nylah and her son Jeremey saw their dream come true as the restaurant became busy and popular. Casa Roma’s journey from decline to success showed that good leadership and a focus on quality could make a big difference.
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