Sebastian’s Kitchen Nightmares Update: Chaos Everywhere
Sebastian’s was a pizzeria in Burbank, California that is home to major Hollywood studios. The restaurant was named after its owner Sebastian who was also a part-time actor. It was started a few years ago. The restaurant was not benefitting from the location and was in financial hell. It seemed like it was going to be closed soon. Sebastian was confident that he could cook anything and had an endless ability. But it was merely his misconception. Most of the staff were actors, models, and rappers.
Sebastian was not cooperative. His behavior was rude and aggressive towards employees. He was abrasive at times. The staff was scared of him. He even fired 49 people last year. The situation was exhausting and overwhelming for employees too.
Sebastian designed the menu making it unique on his own. The menu was spaced out with 21 different gourmet combinations. His wife invested $300,000 in the restaurant. But Sebastian was ashamed he had no money and did not get any profit either. Chef Gordon Ramsay decided to visit and help Sebastian.
Did the fate of Sebastian’s change with Chef Ramsay’s help? Find out in our Sebastian’s Kitchen Nightmares update!
Key Takeaways:
- Restaurant Issues: Sebastian’s pizzeria struggled with poor food quality, an overcomplicated menu, and unprofessional management practices.
- Gordon Ramsay’s Intervention: Ramsay simplified the menu, improved food quality, and upgraded the restaurant’s decor and equipment.
- Owner’s Resistance: Sebastian initially resisted changes but eventually acknowledged the need for improvement.
- Outcome: The relaunch showed promise with positive customer reactions, though Sebastian’s full commitment remained uncertain.
Table of Content
Ramsay’s Initial Assessment of Sebastian’s
Ramsay entered, and Sebastian came to greet him. Soon after entering, he sat on a table in the middle. Sebastian asked him what he wanted to order. Ramsay questioned whether he served, and Sebastian replied that he only greeted every customer. He also sat with customers for almost 10 minutes and spent some time. Gordon took a look at the menu and said that the pictures on the menu looked ghastly.
The menu was unusual and unique in the variety, with 20 combinations of toppings, marinades, and seasonings. The staff was also confused by the reaction of Gordon. It seemed like his head was going to explode. Gordon said it was the most complex menu he had ever seen. He ordered a small portion of calamari, New York strips, and a little fresh pizza. He tasted the food and discussed it.
- Calamari: It was not fresh. Items were frozen and shocking.
- Pop-eye Pizza: It was the specialty of the restaurant, but the base was soggy and watery. The dough was not fresh.
- New York Strip: It seemed like a can of dog food. It looked like a shame to New York strips. Everything was underseasoned.
Before ordering he asked Sebastian whether the food was fresh or not but he lied. Gordon asked the waitress Sonia but she said that everything was frozen. Gordon was angry about the Chef’s lie. Sebastian explained that within the minimum budget, they have to manage frozen items. Sebastian was hopeful for the success of his restaurant and another franchise.
Gordon and the Owner of Sebastian’s
Sebastian was shocked by Gordon’s response and felt that he lacked respect while talking to him. Sebastian was freaking out by Gordon’s comments. Both of them argued. Gordon observed that day’s dinner service. He observed that nothing was homemade. They were heating the frozen items and were even using processed mashed potatoes.
Gordon visited the fridge and said that the key to their decline in progress is processed food. The fridge was stacked with pre-packed frozen items, even pizza dough. Sebastian switched duties with staff to prove his abilities to Gordon. The use of microwaves instead of pizza ovens was also a point to be noticed.
Core issues and challenges at Sebastian’s
Gordon observed that the carelessness of Sebastian was affecting customers. A hair was found in the salad which made the customers angry. Sebastian sat and drank with customers which was unprofessional and was affecting the progress.
The quality of food was compromised. The use of processed and frozen items was affecting the taste and freshness of food. The food didn’t taste good so they had to throw it away. The food worth $300,000 was comped that night which had a bad effect on the business.
That day the total profit was $300. Sebastian said that the over-efficiency of Sebastian and his misconception about himself were beyond reach. The major flop dinner was the painful truth. Sebastian was not ready to accept the criticism. He had two options; either to accept what Gordan said or to ask him to leave.
Gordon Ramsay’s Improvement Plan for Sebastian’s
Ramsay changed the menu at the very first and advised them to use pizza ovens instead of a microwave. They got rid of the old complex menu and the new menu included pizza, margarita, salami, vegetarian, grilled New York steak, and wood-burning oven-cooked chicken.
On the second day, he came with two expert pizza tossers. They taught the employees of Sebastian’s to make a perfect pizza. Ramsay also decided to change the interior. Sebastian carved success but he was resistant to the changes. It was overwhelming for Sebastian. According to him the size of the menu wasn’t the concern but the uniqueness was.
Relaunch of Sebastian’s
On the third day, he transformed the decor and the setting of the restaurant. Everybody was excited about the changes. New chairs, new coaches, linen, and a little bar for serving cocktails were added. Another extraordinary piece of equipment, a mixer, was bought to make the perfect dough. The next day was the relaunch night and the Oscar night. Sebastian’s was fully booked. They had to serve 100 people in 20 minutes.
Sebastian was still not happy with the new menu. The whole place was filled, so he started cleaning on his own. The customers liked the new menu. Gordon’s new made-to-order entree impressed the customers. Employees were excited, but Sebastian was pressured and disturbed. He didn’t fully support the change.Both of them started arguing as Sebastian felt disrespected by Gordon. He thought the attempt to change Sebastian’s was a failure. But in the end, Sebastian acknowledged that he was twisted with ideas and goals. The ideas of Gordan were right, and he accepted them.
Conclusion
The transformation of Sebastian’s taught a big lesson that teamwork and the willingness to improve can change the situation. The change was hard to accept but it worked out well. Ramsay’s help made a big difference. Sebastian’s got a second chance. The best results showed that hard work always pays off. To improve one had to let go of his ego. At last, Sebastian was happy with the positive change.
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