Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room Kitchen Nightmares Update
Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room was an eatery based in the centre of the old town of Monrovia, California. It was owned and operated by Sam Najjar and his family since 1997. The business flourished initially but experienced a major slowdown over the years. Sam’s wife Alham and his children were the only employees who stayed with him during this tough period.
The siblings had put their lives on hold to keep their father’s dream from crumbling. The failing restaurant tore these siblings apart. They began to slack off at work, and the food service deteriorated drastically. Most customers deserted the place, and Sam was on the verge of losing his only source of income. Chef Gordon Ramsay was brought in to help win back the local support.
Did Gordon manage to reconcile the family and save their restaurant? Find out in our Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room Kitchen Nightmares Update!
Key Takeaways
- Family Unity Was Key: Working together and understanding each other helped save the restaurant.
- Communication Mattered: Open and honest discussions allowed the family to address their issues.
- Embraced Change: Sam learned that adapting and letting go of old habits led to success.
- Quality Food Was Crucial: Improving the quality of the food brought customers back.
- Teamwork Overcame Challenges: The family’s collaboration made the relaunch a success.
- Positive Attitude Brought Results: A better attitude from Sam and his children led to a happier, more successful restaurant.
- Continual Improvement Ensured Success: Hiring new team members and maintaining high standards kept the restaurant thriving.
Table of Content
Gordon and the Owners of Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room
The siblings approached Ramsay at his hotel before he could visit their restaurant. Emad boldly declared his father as the diner’s main problem. Gordon was troubled to hear that they all were forced to work at the eatery full-time as Sam didn’t want to hire a staff. The situation was miserable and Ramsay needed to act swiftly to bring a change in Sam.
Gordon decided to keep the meeting a secret and went to meet Sam at the Kabob Room. Sam proudly shared that his seven children were running the restaurant. None of them were paid a salary due to Sam’s financial constraints. He believed his children were content working at the eatery, but later admitted that they were always in conflict with each other. Business was slow, and the owner was behind $70,000 on his payments. Ramsay’s interest piqued as Sam rated the food a solid nine out of ten.
Ramsay’s Initial Assessment for Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room
The overall decor of the place was depressing. Gordon noticed that most of the chairs in the dining room, including the one he was offered, were damaged. He sat down for lunch and asked Sam for recommendations. Sam suggested the Lamb Shank and claimed that the lamb was bought from New Zealand. Ramsay noted some misspellings in the menu card and placed his order with Liena.
Gordon tasted the food and rated it as follows:
- Vegetarian Combo: The Hummus and Falafel were bland. Ramsay was in utter disbelief when he found out that canned eggplant was used in the dish.
- Gyro: It was stale and turned out to be store-bought.
- Lamb Shank: The meat was overcooked and had become discolored. It was also tasteless and oily. Gordon sarcastically mentioned that it should be sent back to New Zealand.
- Top Sirloin Steak: Ramsay had requested a medium-rare steak. He was annoyed to receive one that was between medium-well and well-done. The meat was tough and dry.
- Shrimp Scampi: The shrimp were floating in a bowl of butter. They were overcooked and rubbery.
Liena updated Sam and the chefs on Gordon’s reviews during lunch. Multiple arguments broke between the Head Chef Emad and Cashier Jamal in the kitchen. Emad refused to take the blame for the substandard food. Sam grew angry and disoriented by the situation. The dispute was audible to Gordon and the customers. As a result, two tables left the restaurant.
After lunch, Ramsay remarked that the food was far from authentic Mediterranean cuisine. He then called the staff to the dining room and inquired about the reasons behind the continuous fighting. This led to another quarrel between the brothers and Gordon had to intervene. Clearly, the siblings lacked mutual understanding, and none of them was ready to step up to the plate.
Core Issues and Challenges at Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room
Gordon observed the kitchen affairs during the dinner service. Emad explained that he, Sam and Wesam used to take turns to handle the grill. Just then, two steaks were returned to the kitchen for being cooked improperly. Sam revealed that he had to discard many steaks everyday due to customer complaints.
Ramsay found rotten tomatoes in the kitchen and decided to check the storage room. Softened cucumbers, moldy salad and lamb shanks were stored in the area. Gordon criticized Sam for chopping up heaps of parsley since not all of it was to be used that day. Back in the kitchen, yet another steak was returned for being raw. The customer refused to take a replacement and Sam’s stress peaked. Ramsay also caught Emad sending out undercooked chicken.
The dreadful night service was coming to an end but Gordon continued to assess the restaurant. More chaos erupted as Jamal bashed Randah for bidding farewell to a diner while sitting. Ramsay heard the noise and went out to witness another major brawl between the siblings. The Najjar family was disorganized and fragmented, much like their food service.
Gordon Ramsay’s Improvement Plan for Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room
Gordon realized that Sam’s children felt trapped in their father’s restaurant. It was necessary to relieve them from this feeling so Ramsay gathered the family in the dining area. He made Sam’s daughters and sons voice their frustrations to their parents. Sam once again attempted to impose his conservative rules on them. Gordon gently convinced him to allow his children to be independent. The family then shared a bittersweet but promising hug.
Ramsay diverted his attention towards the food. He taught the chefs to prepare Shrimp and Chicken Kebabs on skewers. Emad was permanently handed over the responsibility of managing the grill. Sam was ecstatic that Gordon had opened his eyes to the correct methods of cooking. The family sat united at the table and savoured Ramsay’s spin on Middle Eastern food. Afterwards, Gordon captured a memorable family picture.
Next, the restaurant went through a massive overhaul which left the family amazed. Emad still believed that the best change that had occurred was in his father’s attitude. Ramsay then unveiled a contemporary Mediterranean menu. He spent the rest of the day training the chefs for the big night ahead.
The Relaunch of Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room
The Kabob house and its founding family were ready to face a new chapter. A neat signboard replaced the restaurant’s old canopy. The walls were painted charcoal grey, complemented by colourful blocks. A brand-new carpet draped the floor. The dining area was furnished with new chairs and framed illustrations graced one of the walls. These changes gave the restaurant a more open, casual and modern look.
The dinner service began and the chefs were in complete control of the kitchen’s operations. Jamal was unusually helpful and Emad rediscovered his enthusiasm for his job. In the dining room, customers were raving about the Kabob Room’s transformation and food. The relaunch proved to be a tremendous success for the family and Gordon.
Conclusion
Ramsay had a final conversation with the family. He appreciated them for their efforts and harmony. Sam credited him for the restaurant’s success. Gordon then gifted the owners their family portrait as a reminder to stick together in the future. He hoped that Sam would retain his dominance over the restaurant but not his children.
The family had understood that they needed to work together and avoid internal conflicts for the restaurant’s betterment. Sam’s Mediterranean Kabob Room generated great buzz in the months after Ramsay’s visit. For the first time in years, the eatery began to hire new team members. The hectic episode finally wrapped up with a happy ending.
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September 1, 2024 @ 3:20 pm
Such an informative post. A great read.