The Greek at the Harbour Kitchen Nightmares Update
The Greek at the Harbours was a family owned restaurant located in the picturesque harbor of Ventura, California. The couple, Makis and Lynn, had been running the restaurant since 1994. It was successful back then, but the standards had dropped by the end. The owner was feeble and burned out which caused a terrible decline in profits. Meanwhile, his son Aris was eager to run the restaurant but Makis wasn’t interested in letting him run it.
Gordon arrived by the boat and found the location beautiful and captivating. The owners greeted him and talked about how the restaurant was in decline. Gordon was surprised to learn that Makis had worked 14 hours a day, 7 days a week for 17 years without a break. Makis had no plan for considering his son to take over the restaurant. He thought his son was unable to run it. The restaurant was failing, no matter how hard the owners tried.
Did Gordon turn things around? Find out in our Greek at the Harbours Kitchen Nightmares Update!
Key Takeaways
- Owner Burnout: Makis was exhausted after years of nonstop work, which hurt the restaurant.
- Stale Menu: The food lacked flavor and was often pre-prepared, leading to unhappy customers.
- Family Tension: Makis didn’t trust his son Aris to take over, causing tension and conflict.
- Positive Changes: Gordon modernized the restaurant’s look and refreshed the menu with authentic Greek dishes.
- Successful Relaunch: Aris proved himself in the kitchen during the relaunch, earning his father’s respect.
Table of Content
Ramsay’s Initial Assessment of Greek at the Harbours
As Gordon arrived by the boat, the owners greeted him. He was perplexed about how a restaurant could decline after being located in such a beautiful location. Gordon found the tablecloth on the tables to be vague. The disco balls didn’t fit in, while the chairs and ambiance looked old.
Dimitri served Gordon and was not complimentary about the food at all. Despite all that, he ordered and rated the food as follows:
- Calamari: Ramsay didn’t like the taste of Calamari. It was very greasy and unappetising.
- Cold Sampler Platter: The hummus was so thin, Gordon drank it with a straw. The other dips were unappetising too.
- Hot Sampler Platter: The meatballs were dry and bland. The falafel seemed as if they’d been sat on.
- Beef Moussaka: The eggplants were spongy and raw. The carrots were too mushy. Overall dish was drab and tasteless.
Gordon told Dimitri that the dishes he served were an insult to any Greek isle. He demanded to gather all the chefs and cooks to meet him by his table.
Gordon and the Owners of Greek at the Harbours
The restaurant’s team gathered to talk about the menu. Gordon shared his thoughts, saying the food lacked flavour and wasn’t up to par. Panos, the sous chef agreed with the criticism. He told Ramsay that despite being a Greek himself, he was only allowed to cook what Makis instructed. Makis was unable to accept the criticism and defended himself. He emphasized how much people loved his food, and they still do.
Core Issues and Challenges at Greek at the Harbours
After the criticism about the food, Gordon was anxious to find what was inside the kitchen. He found out that a lot of food was being prepared in advance. According to Makis, this helped them serve food at a rapid pace. Makis’s egotistical behavior disappointed Gordon. Customers at dinner were unhappy with the pre-prepared food being served. Aris entered the kitchen but Makis dismissed him and told him to go dance. Aris and the dancer performed Greek dances.
Gordon was amazed to see Aris entertaining the customers and calming the atmosphere. One of the servers came to the kitchen and complained about the food. Gordon found a piece of calamari that had a pungent smell. Makis insisted Gordon to taste it, as he found it tasted good. Makis’s stubborn behavior didn’t allow him to accept the criticism and he preferred to stay in denial.
Makis preferred to walk out of the kitchen rather than listen to Ramsay. His daughter Marika consoled him, as she seemed to have a better relationship with her father. Gordon tried to discuss the matter with Aris, but Makis refused. It was certain that there was definitely something wrong between the father and the son. Gordon implored Aris and Makis to fix the problems between them, as it was their only chance of saving the restaurant. Aris tried to sort out things but Makis didn’t listen.
Gordon returned to see smiling faces and decided to handcuff Aris and Makis. He challenged Makis and Aris to cook him something. They went with Greek-style pasta. Gordon enjoyed the dish and the commitment the father and son had. Makis vowed to teach his son all about Greek cooking. He also accepted his commitment to the restaurant.
Gordon Ramsay’s Improvement Plan for Greek at the Harbours
Gordon’s team revamped the entire ambiance of the restaurant and modernized it. The walls were painted blue and new chairs were brought in. The ceilings featured Greek-style windmills, adding a touch of classic charm. Meanwhile, the shutters got a fresh coat of paint with the Greek flag on them. As part of the renovation, the old murals were replaced with windows that offered a stunning view of the harbor. Everyone loved the changes. Makis got emotional and hugged Gordon. Gordon gathered the owners and the chefs to reveal the new menu. It had the authentic Greek taste, which everyone loved.
- Tzatziki and Hummus dips.
- Falafel with spicy chickpea dip.
- Home-made Gyros.
- Grilled Lamb Chop with Argula salad.
- Zucchini and egg-plant moussaka.
The Relaunch of Greek at the Harbours
For the relaunch, Gordon assigned Aris to expedite and directed Makis to make the salad. Aris started off well and was confident. The food was leaving at a rapid pace. First batch of food that went out was slightly undercooked. Gordon ordered Aris to keep things under control and focus. Aris took control and everyone in the dining area loved the food. Makis and Gordon were impressed to see how well Aris was handling the kitchen. With the efforts of Aris and the overall teamwork, the re-launch was a success.
Conclusion
In the end, Greek at the Harbours was saved thanks to Gordon’s tough love and guidance. The biggest lesson learned was that success requires teamwork and trust – Makis had to let go of control and trust his son Aris to take the reins. By doing so, they were able to create a modern and delicious menu that wowed customers. The restaurant’s turnaround also showed that sometimes, you need to take a step back and listen to criticism to move forward. Makis and Aris refocused on quality and family, and they served great food and made memories together.
You May Also Like:
- The Burger Kitchen Kitchen Nightmares Update
- Michon’s Kitchen Nightmares Update
- Full Season 5 Updates
- Is Greek At The Harbour Still Open or Closed in 2024?
Take a look at the entire catalogue on our website Kitchen Nightmares Hub.
- Is The Greek at the Harbour Still Open or Closed in 2025? - November 21, 2024
- Is Spin a Yarn From Kitchen Nightmares Still Open or Closed in 2025? - November 18, 2024
- Is Cafe Hon From Kitchen Nightmares Still Open or Closed in 2025? - November 18, 2024
