Kitchen Nightmares (2007) s06e10 Episode Script
Nino's Italian Restaurant
Viewer discretion is advised.
Tonight on Kitchen Nightmares, Chef Ramsay heads to Long Beach, California, to save a 54-year-old family restaurant Hello, my name's Nino! That is under the misguided leadership of the oldest son, Nino, who refuses to listen to anyone.
I'm living in a fantasy world.
I think you're in a fantasy world by the way you act here.
Not his brother - Stop being angry at everyone.
- I'm not being angry.
- Just please stand up.
- Not his sister - You need to be in charge.
- That's not true.
or even Chef Ramsay.
You're just trying to act like a fucking idiot? You sound like a fucking idiot yourself.
I sound like an idiot? His 78-year-old mother is desperate for Nino to step up.
Nino tells me he has no power - because you won't let him.
- That's not true.
And when Chef Ramsay points out the problems You are not in a position to take responsibility for anything.
Nino has an excuse for everything.
They're frickin' liars.
Find out tonight if Chef Ramsay can get through to the stubborn manager It doesn't even feel like it's family-run.
You are being entirely unfair and dishonest.
and save this feuding family - I'm not scared of you.
- You threatening me? I'm not a person that's scared.
What do you want, a fight? from closing the doors of the restaurant for good.
- You can lie about anything.
- Don't talk to me like that.
He's going out the door.
What is that? You're serving rotten food.
- You could possibly kill them.
- Then wake up! You wake up! - Shut the place down.
- Get out of here! That is amazing.
I can't take any more.
Thank you, Chef.
Long Beach, California, an oceanside community located 20 miles south of Los Angeles.
Nestled in the heart of this vibrant city is Nino's, a family-run restaurant opened in 1958 by immigrants Inge and Vincenzo.
When we got to America, Vincenzo wanted to open a restaurant.
And that was his thing.
- How you doing tonight? - Very well.
And yourself? Welcome to Nino's.
I ran the outside, he ran the kitchen.
It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun too.
- We had a great time.
- Oh, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
My dad ran the restaurant with an iron fist, and we were the best that you could be.
It's hard now because he's 88.
He's on the onset of dementia, and in the last several years, has separated himself from the restaurant.
- Who's taking table 11? - I have no idea.
Do you have table 11? Ever since my dad retired, my brother Nino is supposed to be restaurant manager.
All I can say is he's the worst employee here.
He loves to run to tables and go, "hi, I'm Nino!" Thinks he owns this place, I think it's 'cause it's named "Nino's.
" However, my dad has told him, "Jack in the box, the owner no be named Jack.
" Pickup, table six, please.
I'm really quite tired.
I didn't sleep last night.
Terrific.
Thank you.
Nino works here, we pay him, but basically, he does really little.
He sits in the office and watches TV.
If he wouldn't be our son, he wouldn't be working here.
- How's table 11 coming along? - They're almost ready.
Because my brother sits around a lot and doesn't do anything, my sister Carina and I have helped throughout the years substantially.
And you must have put it there! I don't have any hair! Nino, you're making it worse.
- They're liars.
- No, they're not! My brother's 60 years old, and he acts like he's 12.
That was inappropriate, what you just did.
This is my parents' legacy, and he's gonna run this restaurant into the ground.
You're a lying sack of shit! I've got a brother and sister that think they've got better ideas.
My brother and sister asked Chef Ramsay to come without consulting me.
And I have an ill feeling about it.
- We are so leaving, forever.
- We'd just like to pay our bill.
I mean, is he that detached from reality that he doesn't see how much mom is suffering? They're frickin' liars.
This is a woman who always pays her bills on time, and she's having to take money out of their retirement to pay for this restaurant to keep it going.
I made a promise to my husband Vincenzo that I would keep this restaurant going.
But some nights you have That doesn't do it.
The last thing I want to do is close the doors.
We put a lot of love We put a lot of love in this place.
I'm at Nino's Italian Restaurant, which is owned by one family for 54 years.
And in the restaurant business, that is unbelievable.
Sadly, things have gone horribly wrong over the last couple of years.
I'm about to find out why.
My God.
Wow, I feel like I'm back in 1958.
- Hello.
- Hi.
How you doing? I'm well.
Nice to see you.
- My name is Inge.
- Inge.
Not very Italian.
- No, I'm from Germany.
- From Germany.
My husband is the Italian.
I see.
Your husband's Nino.
Nino is actually the son.
So there's you and your son, all running the business? And Carina and Mike.
They're also my kids, and they are here many times.
- And how about your husband? - He is kind of retired.
It'd be nice to meet the family.
Can we get everybody together? - Oh, sure! - Have a chat? - Everybody is in the back.
- Play catch-up? - There's Mike - This is the baby, right? - No, Carina is the baby.
- Oh, you're - Hi, I'm Carina.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
Likewise.
- Gordon, I'm Nino.
- Nino, good to see you.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Likewise.
- So you're the oldest.
- Yes, I am.
I'm the one that's gonna be 60 pretty soon.
- I'd like to catch up with all of you now.
Let's - Okay.
Go somewhere a bit quieter.
My brother Nino tells everybody how hard he works and that he runs this restaurant.
I'm sorry, Nino, he's not gonna swallow your BS for one second.
So how good is the food? How would you rate it out of ten, Nino? - Ten.
- A ten? - Wow.
- Yes.
Carina.
- I would have to rate it as a seven.
- Seven.
Michael, what would you give the food? I would give it an eight.
So the food's good.
That's great.
- And what's your role? - I really don't work here all the time.
I have my own career.
- Right.
- As my sister does.
I help out whenever my mom calls.
I'm Johnny on the spot.
Nino, the restaurant is named after you, what's your role? The person that's always been in charge was my dad.
And then, when he developed his Alzheimer's, - I stepped up in this business.
- Wow.
What do you mean? I get here early.
I do the remedial things, as janitorial, vacuuming, cleaning of all these plates and cleaning the restrooms, scrubbing the toilets, washing the patio.
That's just from 8:00 until about 4:00, maybe.
Weekends, usually I'll come in for extensive cleaning.
Sounds like you do a lot of cleaning.
Cleaning? What are you talking about? The restaurant is a mess.
Take away the cleaning, what else do you do? - Carina, help me out.
- There's no key person.
There's no one really directing the kitchen on how the portions should be, how the quality needs to be consistent.
You know, you need to be working in the kitchen.
When I worked here and Mike worked here, - we jumped in the kitchen.
- They don't want me in there.
- Who? - The chefs.
The chefs? They're very adamant about keeping that kitchen to themselves.
It sounds like you're put over a barrel now.
It's like everybody's kinda running the restaurant.
I thought Nino was running it.
Not really.
No.
- That's not true.
- But Nino's here.
Nino isn't here.
He's here at lunch.
So he doesn't run dinner.
- Are you here for dinner? - Yes.
I don't understand why you're not here lunch and dinner.
It's something my mom and I are constantly frustrated with, Nino doing everything half-assed.
And so Mike and I have to come in and help the family.
Wow.
I mean, it doesn't make sense.
- It doesn't make sense.
- Irritates the crap out of me.
He spends a lot of time sitting down with customers.
I mean, not just visiting, promoting the business, sitting down and talking for long periods of time, in the middle of lunch.
And he's the only restaurant manager I think you'll find anywhere that has lunch at lunchtime.
He spends a lot of time in the office watching TV.
This is not even true.
- He's not here - It's not true? He's not here at 8:00 in the morning when I get here.
Why would I come here at 8:00 in the morning - That's a fantasy.
- to watch TV! The television here is 40 years old, and I have hi-def at home with all the channels I need.
Why wouldn't I just stay there? - I get here at 8:00.
- So you can tell people you're working.
Because nobody is here, so you can say whatever you're doing, right? - Stretching the truth.
- It is not! - My brother never tells the truth.
- Ha! Coming from a pathological liar, I take that as a compliment.
He thinks I'm some kind of nut because I'm in a recovery program, but I'm not.
That has nothing to do with it.
You're just a liar.
He thinks we're all living in a fantasy world, - according to him.
- I never no! I think you're in a fantasy world by the way you act here.
My honest feeling is he doesn't do crap here.
He does a lot of si I'm talking.
He makes everybody believe he does crap.
Just like last night, he ran up to every table and said, "hello, my name's Nino!" That's not true.
Nino, please, would you let me talk, Mr.
Always-talking? I see that all the time, and that's why I kinda stay back from here because I love this damn restaurant.
And to see it just being run down drives me frickin' crazy.
To my opinion, he doesn't do crap.
My mom will admit it, my dad will admit it, my sister will admit it.
But I will come out and say it passionately.
Doesn't do crap.
While the family and Nino are in complete disagreement over his effectiveness as a manager - Wow.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
They were all in agreement that the food at Nino's is good.
- How are you? - Hi.
Good.
How are you? Nice to see you.
Are those brothers always butting heads like that? - Are they always arguing? - Yes, they are.
Wow.
Um, is that a spelling mistake on there? "Egg plant," as in two separate words? - Yeah.
- It is.
Shouldn't they be sort of joined? Yes.
And I noticed this one as well down here.
"One meat ball.
" Do they not know they're gonna be like, it's one word, "meatball"? Honestly.
Do you know what? I'll go for one "meat ball," one "egg plant," and chicken piccata.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
- Got it.
- Excellent.
- Michael, um, listen.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah? I appreciate your honesty.
And I know it's hard, but I feel like someone's blowing smoke up my ass.
My brother's full of shit.
I'd be surprised if he worked two hours a day.
And that's pushing it.
Would you not feel guilty, your mom working twice as hard as you? Yeah, she works day and night.
See what I'm saying, why is he not here helping her? He doesn't have another job.
He complains about not having money, not taking a vacation.
You either come here at night or get another job.
- Sure.
- Right? No.
No.
- You okay? - Yeah, I'm okay.
I'm okay, Gordon.
- You sure? - I just ask, before you make any judgments I'm not making any judgments on you at all.
I'm I'm listening.
Nobody's here at 8:00 in the morning when I'm here.
And there is a job that's in I mean, all the way you know, I get back behind here, you know.
I get underneath there, I get the place, I get up there.
And it doesn't take that long.
- It takes about an hour or so.
- I just my knee's just and then I start doing the prep work.
What is that? It's stuck to my jeans.
Oh.
Oh, my God.
Have a look at that under there.
Oh, my gosh! How many bits of gum are there? There is four pieces of gum.
So you do all this cleaning.
I haven't looked down there.
I don't think you should do that during the business hours in front of customers.
What time would you like me to do it? Uh, come here at 8:00 in the morning with me.
You sure you'll be here? We'll do it tomorrow morning.
And I wouldn't do that in your restaurant either.
You wouldn't find gum under my tables.
Nino is a ball of excuses.
He's just wacko! God, it's full of cobwebs.
Bloody hell.
- Didn't get to that one.
- Bloody hell.
Definitely didn't get to that one.
Everything else was done, right? - Yep.
- Right.
Have you seen the size of that cobweb there? - Have you seen that? - That's dust.
- No, that's the cobweb.
- Didn't see it without the lighting.
- Really? - Yeah.
Oh, God.
How often do you clean? Every day? You know, this is something that takes a lot of consideration.
I you know, you can be on this here for months.
I start at one end and then finish at the other end, and then I come back.
And this one? Oh, God.
This is the 8:00 in the morning effect.
Five days a week for years.
Bloody hell, is there a bathroom nearby? - Can I wash my hands? - Yes, sir.
He should have shut up about cleaning.
I don't know what he's cleaning, but I wouldn't hire him at my house, I promise you that.
Oh, what are the pictures of? These are me cleaning and pulling down all the bottles.
Every single bottle.
I've never seen pictures of cleaning.
That's a first for me.
Well, that's because my brother's always questioning that I do it.
I don't know in the first place why he took pictures.
If it's clean, you don't have to prove it with pictures.
You see it, right? This is the chicken piccata, - the lemon, with capers and mushrooms.
- Thank you, darling.
You're welcome.
- How do you like this one? - Dreadful.
- No? - The chicken's all floury, slimy.
- Okay.
- Come over, Nino.
So I just said to Megan that's just just touch that is all.
I'm not gonna touch it with my finger.
No, what I'm trying to say is it's all soggy and floury.
I mean, I'll do something like that in the kitchen, but not in the dining area.
That wouldn't be appropriate.
- I wouldn't touch my food.
- Listen, listen.
You sit me on the table full of gum, I've got cobwebs coming out of my earlobes, and now I'm asking you to touch something floury, and you said, "I wouldn't do this in the dining room.
" All of a sudden, you've got this level of concern.
Yes, I do, because that's food right there, and you want me to touch it.
This is food that you've given ten out of ten.
What am I supposed to what am I supposed to I want you to be honest with yourself and stop fucking around.
I'm not fucking around.
Really? Then get real.
The chicken is slimy and furry.
It's got raw flour on the outside.
You refuse to accept it 'cause you're in the land of nod.
Chef Ramsay's sounding like an ass.
Too much flour, and it has no flavor and it's a very delicate chicken, and it's delicious.
He said the piccata was disgusting.
This guy's disgusting.
Oh.
And that's my one meatball.
- This is your one meatball.
- Excellent.
Thank you.
That tastes 54 years old.
Mush, disgusting, and just dreadful.
Nino, come over.
You rated the food on a ten.
So far, what I've tasted I'm embarrassed.
That's too bad.
The meatball soggy, bland, and just hideous, - with a salty marinara sauce.
- It's a matter of taste.
- Say that again? - It's a matter of taste.
That's not a matter of taste.
When was that made? - Two days ago.
- Really? - I saw him make it.
- Right.
Can you have a word with the chef? I know you're scared of them, but ask him I'm not scared of them.
And I'm not scared of you.
What's that supposed to mean? You threatening me? I'm not a person that's scared, so don't use that word, please.
I ask you to step up, take some form of responsibility, and go in there and ask him.
So are you gonna let me continue to eat, or do you wanna what do you want, a fight? You want a confrontation? If you're talking about something physical, no.
Can you leave me alone, let me finish my lunch? Yes, I will.
And if you find the balls to go and ask your chef when he made the meatballs, I'd be greatly appreciative.
By the way, there's dirty bottles above the fish tank.
Wow.
Valentino, when did you make those meatballs? That's unbelievable.
I find that hard to believe 'cause today is Tuesday.
That couldn't possibly be.
Thank you.
And this is the This is the eggplant.
Wow.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
He made 'em this weekend, on Friday.
- He made them on Friday? - Yes, he did.
- And today's Tuesday.
- Yes, it is.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday unbelievable.
We've been selling this sauce for 54 years.
Yeah.
And we couldn't possibly have this restaurant and have all the success if we didn't make a good sauce and a good meatball.
You are in denial.
No I'm not.
You're bullshitting me and blowing smoke up my ass telling me you're working here eight hours a day cleaning, telling me the food is great, people love it.
I am gonna shit myself.
Then you need to wear diapers.
The You shouldn't be shitting on yourself.
- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm fine.
You're just trying to act like a fucking idiot - to make yourself sound better? - No, I'm not.
I'm not a fucking idiot.
Well, then stop sounding like one.
You sound like a fucking idiot yourself.
- I sound like an idiot? - You used the word fucking, so I brought it back to you.
- Okay.
- I think that's kind of gross.
All right, Nino, we need to calm it down.
Unbelievable.
- Now I know the problem in this restaurant.
- Yeah? - I'm staring at it.
- I'm staring at it as well.
To be honest, I really don't know what's in Nino's head.
Are we done? It's almost like he's completely mentally unstable.
I'd like to have a quick catch-up with you, mom, Carina, and your brother.
Okay.
Let's, uh let's go next door.
Um, I'm lost for words.
Honestly I'm depressed.
Dish after dish was a disappointment.
And then you rate the food ten out of ten.
Perfect.
It's the best Italian food I've ever had.
I have a lot of friends that come here and eat.
Your circle of "friends" isn't keeping the business afloat.
Let's get that right.
And let me tell you something.
The chicken piccata chicken was furry and slimy.
The meatball, we discovered, was made five frickin' days ago.
But for some bizarre reason, you're convincing yourself that everything's fine.
What you have proven to me is that you are not in a position to take responsibility for anything except cleaning.
For the first 40 minutes of meeting you, all you told me about was the cleaning.
You're in denial.
You're refusing to listen to the negative feedback regarding the food.
And yet, you've got pictures of yourself cleaning the place.
- Hello? - I didn't take those pictures.
You were happy to show 'em to me.
Well, you were indicating that I don't do anything.
Cleaning is basic, like drinking water and breathing air.
And that is not management.
Nino, there's the lady there that's got all the weight on her shoulders.
And I don't know when you're thinking of getting responsible, but let me give you some piece of advice.
Hurry up, will you? Um, I'm just saddened, I think, really.
Because it doesn't even feel like it's family-run.
Uh, I'm gonna go for a walk.
I'm sorry.
I really got the sense that he came in here, and I'm his target.
He's 100% right.
You're the biggest problem here, and if mom could initiate your early retirement, - it would be the best thing.
- Okay You are being entirely unfair and dishonest about this I can't stand seeing this place run like crap.
This fighting has to stop.
Okay, well, then I can't come because I can't stand watching it.
It's not just Maybe you're taking nerve pills or something, I don't know.
- I can't take it.
- I don't take nerve pills.
- Okay, but I can't take it.
- Never.
Why are you yelling at your mother? Because you're saying the fighting - like I come in here just to fight.
- No.
I come in here, "you two fighting.
" - You need to talk.
You need to talk.
- Yes.
So maybe we stop saying the word "fighting.
" Like we're just a couple cats and dogs.
- We - That's what it sounds like to me, Chef Ramsay, he said this is not a family.
- And I know it's not a family.
- Okay.
Ciao.
Arrivederci! Chef Ramsay has quickly identified the two biggest problems of the restaurant Nino and the food.
But he's about to learn a whole lot more as he watches how this kitchen functions during a dinner service.
What what is that? - Lasagna.
- That's lasagna? Well, if that's lasagna, then I'm the Pope.
Fuck me.
When was it made? Last Friday.
Last Friday.
Wow.
It's really weird.
Very weird, indeed.
Oh, man.
What is that? - This is chicken.
- I thought it was lard.
- It's not.
It's chicken.
- Wow, it's all dry.
Bloody hell.
Can you get me Nino, please? Nino That's chicken.
Can we have a little taste? - All right, all right.
- It's dry, bland, and it's just being reheated now for your pasta dishes.
Yeah, sure.
I like the taste.
That is not the way to cook.
I believe Chef Ramsay may have exaggerated.
It almost sounded like it was unsalvageable.
Throw that away, please, yeah? I don't even want that saved for a dog.
Okay.
Do you have the cauliflower pancakes? As the dishes leave the kitchen reasonably quick And the pasta mostaccioli.
Complaints from customers are almost immediate.
Look at this, though.
Like, this is supposed to be the breading, I think.
This is no good.
I think I'm gonna send this back.
I'm sorry for the It's way too much grease.
Oh, no.
What's wrong with that? - That has - Oh, fuck.
You are kidding me.
What is that? Come on, guys.
This is an example of Nino not knowing how to manage this restaurant.
He should be in the kitchen making sure that our food quality is consistent.
Okay, where's Nino? I haven't eaten anything all day.
Are you kidding me? Nino's eating dinner with my mom and dad out front.
- He should be working, but - Yeah.
If he had the initiative, the assertiveness to take over, we wouldn't be in this situation.
Okay, so Nino just continually stands there, and that's the frustrating thing right now, 'cause I look, and he's, like, in my right peripheral at all times.
And you've got your poor 78-year-old mother standing out in the front, clinging on.
Look at the mess in here.
Ugh.
Mushrooms and my God.
- Are they the meatballs? - Yeah.
When are they from? - Uh Friday.
- Friday.
What are they? - These are from Friday as well? - Uh-huh.
Look.
Look at that.
How old is that to go that color? I have a feeling if I asked somebody, they'd say, no doubt, from Friday.
When was it made? How old is that? It's, uh, from Friday.
Friday again.
Busy day, Friday.
Have you seen inside your refrigeration? Yes.
Absolutely.
We actually do a full, thorough cleaning every night.
- Have you got two minutes? - Yes, sir.
Just look down there.
The back there.
Yeah, there's some product on the ground.
Some what on the ground? Mushrooms.
Yeah, there is.
And have you any idea this is here? This is just left there.
My God, what's that? It's a pepper.
You've been serving this all night.
It's not even scaled.
You're the man that gave me ten out of ten! Come on, then.
I don't know what to say.
While Nino says he takes great pride in the cleanliness of the restaurant What's this? Chef Ramsay discovers another horror story in the walk-in.
That is rancid.
How long does a red pepper take before it goes that rotten? Just smell that.
It can go fast.
It can what? It can go faster than you expect.
How would you feel if your customers saw that? That's what I'm trying to say to you.
All right.
That I mean, I'm sorry it's there, but we wouldn't take that and serve it to somebody.
No, but what I'm trying to say is that signifies how this whole business is run.
I'll give him on that refrigerator.
I'm horribly disappointed about it.
But it's impossible to do everything properly.
You're not doing your job to the best of the ability that's necessary to run this business.
If you want to say that, I mean, I'm sure that's your prerogative.
It's not my prerogative.
I'm watching it.
I'm watching you doing it by the minute.
God.
I don't have the authority to assert myself.
- And when I ask somebody - You do, Nino.
You do.
You just never have.
Your mom wants you to step up.
I'm so confused.
She wants you to do it.
Uh You're nearly 60.
Is that true, what he just told me he has no power 'cause you won't let him? That's not true.
That's not the way it is, Nino.
Why do you tell stories like that? How many times have I gone in there - and tried to assert myself? - When is it? When is it, two or three years ago I had to go to the hospital.
You were completely out drunk.
I I had a relapse and ended up in the hospital.
What I saw was so disgusting.
I had to hold him down in the emergency room.
You know, they had to put him in restraints.
I made a bad decision.
She still has a resentment about it, and I don't know what I can do about it.
- Do me a favor.
- Yeah? I need to spend two minutes with your mother now.
- All right.
- Yeah? I'm feel for you.
I'm I'm sorry.
- I didn't realize - Mm-hmm.
He almost died.
- I'm sorry.
- Yeah.
Well, are you holding it against him? Or is it down to the actual work and commitment? I think it's the work and commitment.
- Is he lazy? What is it? - Yeah.
I am here to help you.
You must understand that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Can we meet first thing tomorrow morning? Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
As Chef Ramsay has made a commitment to Inge to help save the restaurant Good morning, my darling.
Good morning.
He knows his next step is to make sure that Nino is committed to changing his ways.
So this morning, he fills Inge in on his plan.
Right now, Nino thinks, every day, that this restaurant's not gonna close - 'cause you're gonna continue funding it.
- Mm-hmm.
If he starts to understand that you've had enough, that may wake this guy up.
- Mm-hmm.
- So here's the plan.
I'm gonna board up the whole front of this restaurant, so it looks like the business is closed.
I'll be hiding around the corner.
I'll be around there, and I want to hear what he has to say to his mother when you say, "I'm shutting it down.
" It's about him showing you hunger.
What he can do that he can do it.
What he can do.
Exactly that.
- You with me? - Yeah.
Perfect.
Hi, mom.
What's going on? I talked to Gordon this morning, and I decided to close the business.
I cannot do it anymore.
It doesn't work.
- Is that what you think? - Yeah.
All right.
Fine.
Fuck.
Is that all you have to say? Well, mom, it's your restaurant.
You're the one that has the decision on this.
But I think we should keep it open.
That's my personal opinion.
I I don't want to give up.
I know we can hold out and do it.
I cannot put any more money in this place.
I'm willing to fight to keep this restaurant open.
Do you have some suggestion how we can do that? We have an expert in the restaurant business.
We can ask him.
Do you really want to do it? Yes! Absolutely.
Hi Chef Ramsay.
Hi.
How you doing? - So 54 years in the making.
- Mm-hmm.
.
And the business is on the brink of closure.
You're part of that failure.
- Yeah.
- Do you understand what that means? - Yes, I do, Chef.
- It's gotta come from you, Nino.
I'm willing to commit.
Take control, Nino.
I shall.
No more excuses.
Just be on top of everything.
I'm willing, mom.
The business is gonna have to become - a new priority.
- Number one.
Number one.
At this point, I believe Nino really wants to turn his life around, and he wants to do what's best for the restaurant and the family.
While Nino says he's committed to change How are you, darling? Chef Ramsay feels it's important that he shares this news with his brother and his sister.
Okay the lack of commitment with Nino has been going on for far too long.
And your mother stepped up and told him, "I've had enough.
" And Nino, to his credit, turned around and said, "mom, I want to do this.
I'm committed.
" Yes.
I don't believe that.
Nino, you've been in denial for a long time what your responsibilities have been.
You've made so many promises to all of us over your life, and this time, you need to be in charge.
He's committed to that this morning, and this is the new Nino.
Maybe, for three, four weeks.
But then he'll revert back to the old Nino.
I I'm asking let's get out of the past what is it we can do from this point to move forward and treat each other with decency and walk away shaking each other's hands? Okay, no more excuses, no more denial.
I need you to be the big brother that you're supposed to be to this family.
I'm going to be much more focused on doing things that make the business more successful.
- And that's the truth.
- Michael? - Let's go for it.
- Thank you.
I am willing to give Nino another chance.
For God's sake, he's my brother.
I believe he can change, but I'm not gonna make any bets on it.
Now that Nino is willing to take the reins and the family is ready to move forward, Chef Ramsay gives this restaurant its first facelift in over half a century.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Chef Ramsay.
- Are you excited? - Yes.
- Very.
- A lot.
A lot.
Right.
Take off your blindfolds.
- Oh, my God.
- Oh, my God.
- This is so incredible.
- Wow! - Unbelievable.
- Are we in Nino's? I know there's a sign that says "Nino's.
" Welcome to the new Nino's.
I love the lights.
I love it.
54 years in the making.
Oh, my gosh.
We got rid of the drab brown color, and we lightened the walls up.
- Yes? - Yes.
- Thank God.
Yeah.
Gone are the chianti bottles cluttering the ceiling and gathering dust.
Now, we have brand-new light fixtures made from old apple baskets.
That is awesome.
I think it's hot! I'm speechless seeing all of this.
It's very crisp and clean-looking.
- Welcome.
- Oh, my gosh.
Wonderful! This is amazing.
Oh, my God, I love this.
First of all, we have de-cluttered this room Yay! Painted it fresh.
And these beauties here are handmade family tables.
Oh, they're beautiful.
- Inge, what do you think? - This is the greatest thing because this reminds me of Germany.
The people, they all sit on tables together, and they have a wonderful time.
I think it looks great.
We had the old Nino's for 54 years.
It was time to freshen it up.
I think, with this change, we can be here for many more years.
Oh, you kept our old picture up.
Of course I did.
Do you like it, darling? - I do.
- Oh, no, don't get upset.
- Come on.
- I'm so grateful.
I don't know how to say thank you.
I want you to be happy.
I'm so happy.
I'm so thankful to you.
Please.
This is like a dream come true.
I don't know how to thank you.
Fall back in love with this amazing restaurant.
Definitely.
I'm speechless.
And I'm really, really great.
Thank you.
Thank you, Gordon.
To match the new contemporary design of the restaurant Take one menu, and pass them along, please.
Chef Ramsay has created a rustic menu to complement it.
It looks delicious.
It looks like it should be in a painting.
Very authentic.
Everything is perfect.
Now, enjoy the food.
Dig in.
- Okay.
- Delicious.
- Oh, my God.
- Wow.
Mmm.
Tastes good.
Chicken parmigiana.
Bravo.
It's relaunch night, and Chef Ramsay has a new, important job for Nino running the kitchen.
- You ready? - Yes, sir.
- You're gonna be expediting.
- Absolutely.
And stay on top of it.
We are not gonna argue in front of the team.
Yeah? Yes.
This is it.
Hi.
Welcome.
On a rainy summer night.
- It's so much brighter.
- So much I'm getting so much everything, yeah.
I love it.
I do.
I'll try the ricotta cavatelli.
Sounds good.
- Fire up number 15.
- 15.
At this point, it's time to step up and finally convince Chef Ramsay that I can do this job, that I can expedite.
Okay, veal's up, chef.
- Nice and gentle, let's go.
- Linguine's coming up right behind this.
With Nino managing the kitchen All right, here we go.
Bam, pasta.
Food is coming out at a steady pace.
- We have a veal.
- Yes.
- The sauce is excellent.
- Yeah.
But as more orders come in Okay, we need to slow it up back out there.
Nino is starting to get overwhelmed.
Nino.
- Is that another one? - Yeah.
Nino, is that right? Somebody's having - a minestrone for an entree? - Yes, it is.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Then how can there be five entrees? All I want to do is make sure we check in, so we don't screw the kitchen.
Well, I can I can check back.
He's at table 12.
He'll be right back.
Let's go.
Nino started getting backed up and overwhelmed, so I would do everything I could to stop it.
This check just disappeared.
Okay, so we've got issues with the ticket.
I got it.
I got it.
They want all they want all this at the same time.
- Just check in.
That's all, just check in.
- Yeah, I found out.
Actually, Mike, I got this under control.
If both of us are up here, we can't Shh! I need a margherita pizza, Valentino, - and a cheese tortellini.
- Hold on one second.
Mike just kind of asserted himself into the line, and I can see that's gonna be very combative.
I feel like there's, you know, a war brewing at the pickup window.
We're really falling behind.
Excuse me, I can't see over your stomach.
What table's this? Lasagna? Nino, please, don't sleep on the counter.
Stand up like this.
I can't see the checks.
- Just relax, all right? - You're like you know? - Please! - Just stop being angry at everyone.
I'm not being angry.
Just please stand up.
You have been yelling at everybody around here.
- You have to be calm.
- Yeah, yeah.
Right.
I need a calamari appetizer, then a veal.
You gotta give me table numbers, man.
Sorry, you really do.
You gotta help me out.
- And you're clearly not.
- Table 12.
I can't even take this, man.
Pickup, table five cavatelli, spaghetti and meatballs.
I need a calamari pickup appetizer and a minestrone.
- Shut up.
- Don't talk to me like that, or we'll come back there and have a nice talk! - You got it? - Fuck me.
He talks to me like that again, he's going out the door! It's relaunch night at Nino's.
I need a calamari pickup appetizer.
I don't need fucking And Michael has pushed Nino out of the way and is trying to lead the kitchen.
- Mike, I got this under control.
- Shh! But unfortunately, he's putting the relaunch in jeopardy.
- Shut up.
- Don't talk to me like that, or we'll come back there and have a nice talk! - You got it? - Fuck me.
Mike.
Come here.
Come here.
Come here.
Don't blow up.
There's no point in blowing the whole No, I don't blow up.
I was coming up to try to clear the mess.
Let's let's keep it calm.
Okay, very good.
I'm calm as a cucumber right now.
Sure.
Why don't you go outside and get some fresh air? You got it.
Nino, table's fired.
- Yeah.
- Yeah? Brilliant.
Right now, I'm going to need you here on the hot plates.
- Exactly.
- Yeah, head chef, expeditor.
- Right.
Exactly.
- You gotta stay like that.
I need a calamari for five.
I need a calamari for eight.
Excellent.
Let's go.
Order up! - Michael.
- Yeah? Can I have a word, please? Don't let this spoil tonight.
Just take a big, deep breath.
I can't turn off my emotions like that.
- I'm not asking you to.
- It's not a light switch.
But you're letting that just spoil the whole fucking thing.
And when I'm not here and your brother pisses you off, you've gotta show some form of control.
That's all, control.
Don't let it spoil the night.
- Yeah, okay.
- I appreciate it.
I'm waiting for table two, whenever ready.
Here we go.
Fire the lasagna I'm gonna take this to table 12.
You got it.
Thank you.
- Here's your calamari you needed.
- Thank you.
All right, calamari.
Everything's going well right now, you're doing good.
And the steak.
- It's really good.
- It's very good.
This is everything I'd ever wanted for our restaurant and hoped for.
I'm so overjoyed.
It's surreal right now.
Did you already get that, number seven? Spaghetti and meatball? They all finish.
Finish.
I can't remember the last time Nino worked that hard.
I hope we gonna be here many more years.
Including me.
Just with a little less work.
That's the last ticket out.
- Good.
Well done.
- Thank you.
- Cheers, guys.
- Love the food.
Cheers.
Let me tell you, that wasn't a perfect evening, but thinking that nothing's been changed for 54 years, it was never gonna be perfect.
- Let's be honest.
- Yeah.
Nino, you didn't disappear.
You stood there and took it.
- Well done.
- Thank you.
I think you did a remarkable thing for us, and I want this to work 100% with all my fiber.
You stick with it.
And, Michael, how would you sum up tonight? It was just very confusing.
You know, it's a new look, - new menu.
- Mm-hmm.
You know, we'll see what our regular customers think too.
But I can't speak for them.
Sure.
Do you want it to work? - Yes, I do.
- Yeah? I'm unconvinced you actually want to change, let me tell you.
Well I gotta go.
Tragic.
This has been the best day of our family's life, and Mike is being a complete jerk.
It's really disappointing to see him walking out and being so ungrateful.
I hope my family can get behind all this change - and really support it.
- I'm hoping too.
Look after yourselves, will you, please? And look after each other.
Good night.
Thank you so much.
Bye, mom.
Thank you.
Bye.
Good night.
When this restaurant started, there was no internet, man had not landed on the moon, and there was no such thing as a color TV.
But there was Nino's.
And the only way this restaurant can continue is if the family put the past behind them.
I'm not sure if they can, but I'm really hoping they can do so.
Wow, Nino he can clean and take photographs as well.
In the weeks that followed, although Michael distanced himself from the restaurant, the rest of the family has stepped up.
- Fire up nine - Yeah.
and seven and the fireplace.
Nino is working harder and is taking on more responsibilities, but the task of running the business on a day-to-day basis still falls on Inge's shoulders.
You enjoy the pizza? - Yes.
- Oh, great.
And despite her full-time job I do want us to just all work together.
Carina has increased her presence at Nino's in hopes that the 54-year-old family restaurant Here's to mama and papa Nino.
Yay! will live on as a legacy for generations to come.
Next time on Kitchen Nightmares Go, go, go, go.
Gordon meets an owner who runs his business like a dictator.
Just do what you do, I don't care what he says.
And his staff are at their wits' end.
The way you treat me is disrespectful, crude Then you need to find another place to work.
Chef Ramsay finds himself in a war with an owner so arrogant You're talking bullshit now.
And so resistant to change - Wake up! - You wake up! This restaurant just might be impossible to save.
- You want me out of here? I'm going to leave.
- Good.
Tonight on Kitchen Nightmares, Chef Ramsay heads to Long Beach, California, to save a 54-year-old family restaurant Hello, my name's Nino! That is under the misguided leadership of the oldest son, Nino, who refuses to listen to anyone.
I'm living in a fantasy world.
I think you're in a fantasy world by the way you act here.
Not his brother - Stop being angry at everyone.
- I'm not being angry.
- Just please stand up.
- Not his sister - You need to be in charge.
- That's not true.
or even Chef Ramsay.
You're just trying to act like a fucking idiot? You sound like a fucking idiot yourself.
I sound like an idiot? His 78-year-old mother is desperate for Nino to step up.
Nino tells me he has no power - because you won't let him.
- That's not true.
And when Chef Ramsay points out the problems You are not in a position to take responsibility for anything.
Nino has an excuse for everything.
They're frickin' liars.
Find out tonight if Chef Ramsay can get through to the stubborn manager It doesn't even feel like it's family-run.
You are being entirely unfair and dishonest.
and save this feuding family - I'm not scared of you.
- You threatening me? I'm not a person that's scared.
What do you want, a fight? from closing the doors of the restaurant for good.
- You can lie about anything.
- Don't talk to me like that.
He's going out the door.
What is that? You're serving rotten food.
- You could possibly kill them.
- Then wake up! You wake up! - Shut the place down.
- Get out of here! That is amazing.
I can't take any more.
Thank you, Chef.
Long Beach, California, an oceanside community located 20 miles south of Los Angeles.
Nestled in the heart of this vibrant city is Nino's, a family-run restaurant opened in 1958 by immigrants Inge and Vincenzo.
When we got to America, Vincenzo wanted to open a restaurant.
And that was his thing.
- How you doing tonight? - Very well.
And yourself? Welcome to Nino's.
I ran the outside, he ran the kitchen.
It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun too.
- We had a great time.
- Oh, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
My dad ran the restaurant with an iron fist, and we were the best that you could be.
It's hard now because he's 88.
He's on the onset of dementia, and in the last several years, has separated himself from the restaurant.
- Who's taking table 11? - I have no idea.
Do you have table 11? Ever since my dad retired, my brother Nino is supposed to be restaurant manager.
All I can say is he's the worst employee here.
He loves to run to tables and go, "hi, I'm Nino!" Thinks he owns this place, I think it's 'cause it's named "Nino's.
" However, my dad has told him, "Jack in the box, the owner no be named Jack.
" Pickup, table six, please.
I'm really quite tired.
I didn't sleep last night.
Terrific.
Thank you.
Nino works here, we pay him, but basically, he does really little.
He sits in the office and watches TV.
If he wouldn't be our son, he wouldn't be working here.
- How's table 11 coming along? - They're almost ready.
Because my brother sits around a lot and doesn't do anything, my sister Carina and I have helped throughout the years substantially.
And you must have put it there! I don't have any hair! Nino, you're making it worse.
- They're liars.
- No, they're not! My brother's 60 years old, and he acts like he's 12.
That was inappropriate, what you just did.
This is my parents' legacy, and he's gonna run this restaurant into the ground.
You're a lying sack of shit! I've got a brother and sister that think they've got better ideas.
My brother and sister asked Chef Ramsay to come without consulting me.
And I have an ill feeling about it.
- We are so leaving, forever.
- We'd just like to pay our bill.
I mean, is he that detached from reality that he doesn't see how much mom is suffering? They're frickin' liars.
This is a woman who always pays her bills on time, and she's having to take money out of their retirement to pay for this restaurant to keep it going.
I made a promise to my husband Vincenzo that I would keep this restaurant going.
But some nights you have That doesn't do it.
The last thing I want to do is close the doors.
We put a lot of love We put a lot of love in this place.
I'm at Nino's Italian Restaurant, which is owned by one family for 54 years.
And in the restaurant business, that is unbelievable.
Sadly, things have gone horribly wrong over the last couple of years.
I'm about to find out why.
My God.
Wow, I feel like I'm back in 1958.
- Hello.
- Hi.
How you doing? I'm well.
Nice to see you.
- My name is Inge.
- Inge.
Not very Italian.
- No, I'm from Germany.
- From Germany.
My husband is the Italian.
I see.
Your husband's Nino.
Nino is actually the son.
So there's you and your son, all running the business? And Carina and Mike.
They're also my kids, and they are here many times.
- And how about your husband? - He is kind of retired.
It'd be nice to meet the family.
Can we get everybody together? - Oh, sure! - Have a chat? - Everybody is in the back.
- Play catch-up? - There's Mike - This is the baby, right? - No, Carina is the baby.
- Oh, you're - Hi, I'm Carina.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
Likewise.
- Gordon, I'm Nino.
- Nino, good to see you.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Likewise.
- So you're the oldest.
- Yes, I am.
I'm the one that's gonna be 60 pretty soon.
- I'd like to catch up with all of you now.
Let's - Okay.
Go somewhere a bit quieter.
My brother Nino tells everybody how hard he works and that he runs this restaurant.
I'm sorry, Nino, he's not gonna swallow your BS for one second.
So how good is the food? How would you rate it out of ten, Nino? - Ten.
- A ten? - Wow.
- Yes.
Carina.
- I would have to rate it as a seven.
- Seven.
Michael, what would you give the food? I would give it an eight.
So the food's good.
That's great.
- And what's your role? - I really don't work here all the time.
I have my own career.
- Right.
- As my sister does.
I help out whenever my mom calls.
I'm Johnny on the spot.
Nino, the restaurant is named after you, what's your role? The person that's always been in charge was my dad.
And then, when he developed his Alzheimer's, - I stepped up in this business.
- Wow.
What do you mean? I get here early.
I do the remedial things, as janitorial, vacuuming, cleaning of all these plates and cleaning the restrooms, scrubbing the toilets, washing the patio.
That's just from 8:00 until about 4:00, maybe.
Weekends, usually I'll come in for extensive cleaning.
Sounds like you do a lot of cleaning.
Cleaning? What are you talking about? The restaurant is a mess.
Take away the cleaning, what else do you do? - Carina, help me out.
- There's no key person.
There's no one really directing the kitchen on how the portions should be, how the quality needs to be consistent.
You know, you need to be working in the kitchen.
When I worked here and Mike worked here, - we jumped in the kitchen.
- They don't want me in there.
- Who? - The chefs.
The chefs? They're very adamant about keeping that kitchen to themselves.
It sounds like you're put over a barrel now.
It's like everybody's kinda running the restaurant.
I thought Nino was running it.
Not really.
No.
- That's not true.
- But Nino's here.
Nino isn't here.
He's here at lunch.
So he doesn't run dinner.
- Are you here for dinner? - Yes.
I don't understand why you're not here lunch and dinner.
It's something my mom and I are constantly frustrated with, Nino doing everything half-assed.
And so Mike and I have to come in and help the family.
Wow.
I mean, it doesn't make sense.
- It doesn't make sense.
- Irritates the crap out of me.
He spends a lot of time sitting down with customers.
I mean, not just visiting, promoting the business, sitting down and talking for long periods of time, in the middle of lunch.
And he's the only restaurant manager I think you'll find anywhere that has lunch at lunchtime.
He spends a lot of time in the office watching TV.
This is not even true.
- He's not here - It's not true? He's not here at 8:00 in the morning when I get here.
Why would I come here at 8:00 in the morning - That's a fantasy.
- to watch TV! The television here is 40 years old, and I have hi-def at home with all the channels I need.
Why wouldn't I just stay there? - I get here at 8:00.
- So you can tell people you're working.
Because nobody is here, so you can say whatever you're doing, right? - Stretching the truth.
- It is not! - My brother never tells the truth.
- Ha! Coming from a pathological liar, I take that as a compliment.
He thinks I'm some kind of nut because I'm in a recovery program, but I'm not.
That has nothing to do with it.
You're just a liar.
He thinks we're all living in a fantasy world, - according to him.
- I never no! I think you're in a fantasy world by the way you act here.
My honest feeling is he doesn't do crap here.
He does a lot of si I'm talking.
He makes everybody believe he does crap.
Just like last night, he ran up to every table and said, "hello, my name's Nino!" That's not true.
Nino, please, would you let me talk, Mr.
Always-talking? I see that all the time, and that's why I kinda stay back from here because I love this damn restaurant.
And to see it just being run down drives me frickin' crazy.
To my opinion, he doesn't do crap.
My mom will admit it, my dad will admit it, my sister will admit it.
But I will come out and say it passionately.
Doesn't do crap.
While the family and Nino are in complete disagreement over his effectiveness as a manager - Wow.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
They were all in agreement that the food at Nino's is good.
- How are you? - Hi.
Good.
How are you? Nice to see you.
Are those brothers always butting heads like that? - Are they always arguing? - Yes, they are.
Wow.
Um, is that a spelling mistake on there? "Egg plant," as in two separate words? - Yeah.
- It is.
Shouldn't they be sort of joined? Yes.
And I noticed this one as well down here.
"One meat ball.
" Do they not know they're gonna be like, it's one word, "meatball"? Honestly.
Do you know what? I'll go for one "meat ball," one "egg plant," and chicken piccata.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
- Got it.
- Excellent.
- Michael, um, listen.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah? I appreciate your honesty.
And I know it's hard, but I feel like someone's blowing smoke up my ass.
My brother's full of shit.
I'd be surprised if he worked two hours a day.
And that's pushing it.
Would you not feel guilty, your mom working twice as hard as you? Yeah, she works day and night.
See what I'm saying, why is he not here helping her? He doesn't have another job.
He complains about not having money, not taking a vacation.
You either come here at night or get another job.
- Sure.
- Right? No.
No.
- You okay? - Yeah, I'm okay.
I'm okay, Gordon.
- You sure? - I just ask, before you make any judgments I'm not making any judgments on you at all.
I'm I'm listening.
Nobody's here at 8:00 in the morning when I'm here.
And there is a job that's in I mean, all the way you know, I get back behind here, you know.
I get underneath there, I get the place, I get up there.
And it doesn't take that long.
- It takes about an hour or so.
- I just my knee's just and then I start doing the prep work.
What is that? It's stuck to my jeans.
Oh.
Oh, my God.
Have a look at that under there.
Oh, my gosh! How many bits of gum are there? There is four pieces of gum.
So you do all this cleaning.
I haven't looked down there.
I don't think you should do that during the business hours in front of customers.
What time would you like me to do it? Uh, come here at 8:00 in the morning with me.
You sure you'll be here? We'll do it tomorrow morning.
And I wouldn't do that in your restaurant either.
You wouldn't find gum under my tables.
Nino is a ball of excuses.
He's just wacko! God, it's full of cobwebs.
Bloody hell.
- Didn't get to that one.
- Bloody hell.
Definitely didn't get to that one.
Everything else was done, right? - Yep.
- Right.
Have you seen the size of that cobweb there? - Have you seen that? - That's dust.
- No, that's the cobweb.
- Didn't see it without the lighting.
- Really? - Yeah.
Oh, God.
How often do you clean? Every day? You know, this is something that takes a lot of consideration.
I you know, you can be on this here for months.
I start at one end and then finish at the other end, and then I come back.
And this one? Oh, God.
This is the 8:00 in the morning effect.
Five days a week for years.
Bloody hell, is there a bathroom nearby? - Can I wash my hands? - Yes, sir.
He should have shut up about cleaning.
I don't know what he's cleaning, but I wouldn't hire him at my house, I promise you that.
Oh, what are the pictures of? These are me cleaning and pulling down all the bottles.
Every single bottle.
I've never seen pictures of cleaning.
That's a first for me.
Well, that's because my brother's always questioning that I do it.
I don't know in the first place why he took pictures.
If it's clean, you don't have to prove it with pictures.
You see it, right? This is the chicken piccata, - the lemon, with capers and mushrooms.
- Thank you, darling.
You're welcome.
- How do you like this one? - Dreadful.
- No? - The chicken's all floury, slimy.
- Okay.
- Come over, Nino.
So I just said to Megan that's just just touch that is all.
I'm not gonna touch it with my finger.
No, what I'm trying to say is it's all soggy and floury.
I mean, I'll do something like that in the kitchen, but not in the dining area.
That wouldn't be appropriate.
- I wouldn't touch my food.
- Listen, listen.
You sit me on the table full of gum, I've got cobwebs coming out of my earlobes, and now I'm asking you to touch something floury, and you said, "I wouldn't do this in the dining room.
" All of a sudden, you've got this level of concern.
Yes, I do, because that's food right there, and you want me to touch it.
This is food that you've given ten out of ten.
What am I supposed to what am I supposed to I want you to be honest with yourself and stop fucking around.
I'm not fucking around.
Really? Then get real.
The chicken is slimy and furry.
It's got raw flour on the outside.
You refuse to accept it 'cause you're in the land of nod.
Chef Ramsay's sounding like an ass.
Too much flour, and it has no flavor and it's a very delicate chicken, and it's delicious.
He said the piccata was disgusting.
This guy's disgusting.
Oh.
And that's my one meatball.
- This is your one meatball.
- Excellent.
Thank you.
That tastes 54 years old.
Mush, disgusting, and just dreadful.
Nino, come over.
You rated the food on a ten.
So far, what I've tasted I'm embarrassed.
That's too bad.
The meatball soggy, bland, and just hideous, - with a salty marinara sauce.
- It's a matter of taste.
- Say that again? - It's a matter of taste.
That's not a matter of taste.
When was that made? - Two days ago.
- Really? - I saw him make it.
- Right.
Can you have a word with the chef? I know you're scared of them, but ask him I'm not scared of them.
And I'm not scared of you.
What's that supposed to mean? You threatening me? I'm not a person that's scared, so don't use that word, please.
I ask you to step up, take some form of responsibility, and go in there and ask him.
So are you gonna let me continue to eat, or do you wanna what do you want, a fight? You want a confrontation? If you're talking about something physical, no.
Can you leave me alone, let me finish my lunch? Yes, I will.
And if you find the balls to go and ask your chef when he made the meatballs, I'd be greatly appreciative.
By the way, there's dirty bottles above the fish tank.
Wow.
Valentino, when did you make those meatballs? That's unbelievable.
I find that hard to believe 'cause today is Tuesday.
That couldn't possibly be.
Thank you.
And this is the This is the eggplant.
Wow.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
He made 'em this weekend, on Friday.
- He made them on Friday? - Yes, he did.
- And today's Tuesday.
- Yes, it is.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday unbelievable.
We've been selling this sauce for 54 years.
Yeah.
And we couldn't possibly have this restaurant and have all the success if we didn't make a good sauce and a good meatball.
You are in denial.
No I'm not.
You're bullshitting me and blowing smoke up my ass telling me you're working here eight hours a day cleaning, telling me the food is great, people love it.
I am gonna shit myself.
Then you need to wear diapers.
The You shouldn't be shitting on yourself.
- Are you okay? - Yeah, I'm fine.
You're just trying to act like a fucking idiot - to make yourself sound better? - No, I'm not.
I'm not a fucking idiot.
Well, then stop sounding like one.
You sound like a fucking idiot yourself.
- I sound like an idiot? - You used the word fucking, so I brought it back to you.
- Okay.
- I think that's kind of gross.
All right, Nino, we need to calm it down.
Unbelievable.
- Now I know the problem in this restaurant.
- Yeah? - I'm staring at it.
- I'm staring at it as well.
To be honest, I really don't know what's in Nino's head.
Are we done? It's almost like he's completely mentally unstable.
I'd like to have a quick catch-up with you, mom, Carina, and your brother.
Okay.
Let's, uh let's go next door.
Um, I'm lost for words.
Honestly I'm depressed.
Dish after dish was a disappointment.
And then you rate the food ten out of ten.
Perfect.
It's the best Italian food I've ever had.
I have a lot of friends that come here and eat.
Your circle of "friends" isn't keeping the business afloat.
Let's get that right.
And let me tell you something.
The chicken piccata chicken was furry and slimy.
The meatball, we discovered, was made five frickin' days ago.
But for some bizarre reason, you're convincing yourself that everything's fine.
What you have proven to me is that you are not in a position to take responsibility for anything except cleaning.
For the first 40 minutes of meeting you, all you told me about was the cleaning.
You're in denial.
You're refusing to listen to the negative feedback regarding the food.
And yet, you've got pictures of yourself cleaning the place.
- Hello? - I didn't take those pictures.
You were happy to show 'em to me.
Well, you were indicating that I don't do anything.
Cleaning is basic, like drinking water and breathing air.
And that is not management.
Nino, there's the lady there that's got all the weight on her shoulders.
And I don't know when you're thinking of getting responsible, but let me give you some piece of advice.
Hurry up, will you? Um, I'm just saddened, I think, really.
Because it doesn't even feel like it's family-run.
Uh, I'm gonna go for a walk.
I'm sorry.
I really got the sense that he came in here, and I'm his target.
He's 100% right.
You're the biggest problem here, and if mom could initiate your early retirement, - it would be the best thing.
- Okay You are being entirely unfair and dishonest about this I can't stand seeing this place run like crap.
This fighting has to stop.
Okay, well, then I can't come because I can't stand watching it.
It's not just Maybe you're taking nerve pills or something, I don't know.
- I can't take it.
- I don't take nerve pills.
- Okay, but I can't take it.
- Never.
Why are you yelling at your mother? Because you're saying the fighting - like I come in here just to fight.
- No.
I come in here, "you two fighting.
" - You need to talk.
You need to talk.
- Yes.
So maybe we stop saying the word "fighting.
" Like we're just a couple cats and dogs.
- We - That's what it sounds like to me, Chef Ramsay, he said this is not a family.
- And I know it's not a family.
- Okay.
Ciao.
Arrivederci! Chef Ramsay has quickly identified the two biggest problems of the restaurant Nino and the food.
But he's about to learn a whole lot more as he watches how this kitchen functions during a dinner service.
What what is that? - Lasagna.
- That's lasagna? Well, if that's lasagna, then I'm the Pope.
Fuck me.
When was it made? Last Friday.
Last Friday.
Wow.
It's really weird.
Very weird, indeed.
Oh, man.
What is that? - This is chicken.
- I thought it was lard.
- It's not.
It's chicken.
- Wow, it's all dry.
Bloody hell.
Can you get me Nino, please? Nino That's chicken.
Can we have a little taste? - All right, all right.
- It's dry, bland, and it's just being reheated now for your pasta dishes.
Yeah, sure.
I like the taste.
That is not the way to cook.
I believe Chef Ramsay may have exaggerated.
It almost sounded like it was unsalvageable.
Throw that away, please, yeah? I don't even want that saved for a dog.
Okay.
Do you have the cauliflower pancakes? As the dishes leave the kitchen reasonably quick And the pasta mostaccioli.
Complaints from customers are almost immediate.
Look at this, though.
Like, this is supposed to be the breading, I think.
This is no good.
I think I'm gonna send this back.
I'm sorry for the It's way too much grease.
Oh, no.
What's wrong with that? - That has - Oh, fuck.
You are kidding me.
What is that? Come on, guys.
This is an example of Nino not knowing how to manage this restaurant.
He should be in the kitchen making sure that our food quality is consistent.
Okay, where's Nino? I haven't eaten anything all day.
Are you kidding me? Nino's eating dinner with my mom and dad out front.
- He should be working, but - Yeah.
If he had the initiative, the assertiveness to take over, we wouldn't be in this situation.
Okay, so Nino just continually stands there, and that's the frustrating thing right now, 'cause I look, and he's, like, in my right peripheral at all times.
And you've got your poor 78-year-old mother standing out in the front, clinging on.
Look at the mess in here.
Ugh.
Mushrooms and my God.
- Are they the meatballs? - Yeah.
When are they from? - Uh Friday.
- Friday.
What are they? - These are from Friday as well? - Uh-huh.
Look.
Look at that.
How old is that to go that color? I have a feeling if I asked somebody, they'd say, no doubt, from Friday.
When was it made? How old is that? It's, uh, from Friday.
Friday again.
Busy day, Friday.
Have you seen inside your refrigeration? Yes.
Absolutely.
We actually do a full, thorough cleaning every night.
- Have you got two minutes? - Yes, sir.
Just look down there.
The back there.
Yeah, there's some product on the ground.
Some what on the ground? Mushrooms.
Yeah, there is.
And have you any idea this is here? This is just left there.
My God, what's that? It's a pepper.
You've been serving this all night.
It's not even scaled.
You're the man that gave me ten out of ten! Come on, then.
I don't know what to say.
While Nino says he takes great pride in the cleanliness of the restaurant What's this? Chef Ramsay discovers another horror story in the walk-in.
That is rancid.
How long does a red pepper take before it goes that rotten? Just smell that.
It can go fast.
It can what? It can go faster than you expect.
How would you feel if your customers saw that? That's what I'm trying to say to you.
All right.
That I mean, I'm sorry it's there, but we wouldn't take that and serve it to somebody.
No, but what I'm trying to say is that signifies how this whole business is run.
I'll give him on that refrigerator.
I'm horribly disappointed about it.
But it's impossible to do everything properly.
You're not doing your job to the best of the ability that's necessary to run this business.
If you want to say that, I mean, I'm sure that's your prerogative.
It's not my prerogative.
I'm watching it.
I'm watching you doing it by the minute.
God.
I don't have the authority to assert myself.
- And when I ask somebody - You do, Nino.
You do.
You just never have.
Your mom wants you to step up.
I'm so confused.
She wants you to do it.
Uh You're nearly 60.
Is that true, what he just told me he has no power 'cause you won't let him? That's not true.
That's not the way it is, Nino.
Why do you tell stories like that? How many times have I gone in there - and tried to assert myself? - When is it? When is it, two or three years ago I had to go to the hospital.
You were completely out drunk.
I I had a relapse and ended up in the hospital.
What I saw was so disgusting.
I had to hold him down in the emergency room.
You know, they had to put him in restraints.
I made a bad decision.
She still has a resentment about it, and I don't know what I can do about it.
- Do me a favor.
- Yeah? I need to spend two minutes with your mother now.
- All right.
- Yeah? I'm feel for you.
I'm I'm sorry.
- I didn't realize - Mm-hmm.
He almost died.
- I'm sorry.
- Yeah.
Well, are you holding it against him? Or is it down to the actual work and commitment? I think it's the work and commitment.
- Is he lazy? What is it? - Yeah.
I am here to help you.
You must understand that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Can we meet first thing tomorrow morning? Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
As Chef Ramsay has made a commitment to Inge to help save the restaurant Good morning, my darling.
Good morning.
He knows his next step is to make sure that Nino is committed to changing his ways.
So this morning, he fills Inge in on his plan.
Right now, Nino thinks, every day, that this restaurant's not gonna close - 'cause you're gonna continue funding it.
- Mm-hmm.
If he starts to understand that you've had enough, that may wake this guy up.
- Mm-hmm.
- So here's the plan.
I'm gonna board up the whole front of this restaurant, so it looks like the business is closed.
I'll be hiding around the corner.
I'll be around there, and I want to hear what he has to say to his mother when you say, "I'm shutting it down.
" It's about him showing you hunger.
What he can do that he can do it.
What he can do.
Exactly that.
- You with me? - Yeah.
Perfect.
Hi, mom.
What's going on? I talked to Gordon this morning, and I decided to close the business.
I cannot do it anymore.
It doesn't work.
- Is that what you think? - Yeah.
All right.
Fine.
Fuck.
Is that all you have to say? Well, mom, it's your restaurant.
You're the one that has the decision on this.
But I think we should keep it open.
That's my personal opinion.
I I don't want to give up.
I know we can hold out and do it.
I cannot put any more money in this place.
I'm willing to fight to keep this restaurant open.
Do you have some suggestion how we can do that? We have an expert in the restaurant business.
We can ask him.
Do you really want to do it? Yes! Absolutely.
Hi Chef Ramsay.
Hi.
How you doing? - So 54 years in the making.
- Mm-hmm.
.
And the business is on the brink of closure.
You're part of that failure.
- Yeah.
- Do you understand what that means? - Yes, I do, Chef.
- It's gotta come from you, Nino.
I'm willing to commit.
Take control, Nino.
I shall.
No more excuses.
Just be on top of everything.
I'm willing, mom.
The business is gonna have to become - a new priority.
- Number one.
Number one.
At this point, I believe Nino really wants to turn his life around, and he wants to do what's best for the restaurant and the family.
While Nino says he's committed to change How are you, darling? Chef Ramsay feels it's important that he shares this news with his brother and his sister.
Okay the lack of commitment with Nino has been going on for far too long.
And your mother stepped up and told him, "I've had enough.
" And Nino, to his credit, turned around and said, "mom, I want to do this.
I'm committed.
" Yes.
I don't believe that.
Nino, you've been in denial for a long time what your responsibilities have been.
You've made so many promises to all of us over your life, and this time, you need to be in charge.
He's committed to that this morning, and this is the new Nino.
Maybe, for three, four weeks.
But then he'll revert back to the old Nino.
I I'm asking let's get out of the past what is it we can do from this point to move forward and treat each other with decency and walk away shaking each other's hands? Okay, no more excuses, no more denial.
I need you to be the big brother that you're supposed to be to this family.
I'm going to be much more focused on doing things that make the business more successful.
- And that's the truth.
- Michael? - Let's go for it.
- Thank you.
I am willing to give Nino another chance.
For God's sake, he's my brother.
I believe he can change, but I'm not gonna make any bets on it.
Now that Nino is willing to take the reins and the family is ready to move forward, Chef Ramsay gives this restaurant its first facelift in over half a century.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Chef Ramsay.
- Are you excited? - Yes.
- Very.
- A lot.
A lot.
Right.
Take off your blindfolds.
- Oh, my God.
- Oh, my God.
- This is so incredible.
- Wow! - Unbelievable.
- Are we in Nino's? I know there's a sign that says "Nino's.
" Welcome to the new Nino's.
I love the lights.
I love it.
54 years in the making.
Oh, my gosh.
We got rid of the drab brown color, and we lightened the walls up.
- Yes? - Yes.
- Thank God.
Yeah.
Gone are the chianti bottles cluttering the ceiling and gathering dust.
Now, we have brand-new light fixtures made from old apple baskets.
That is awesome.
I think it's hot! I'm speechless seeing all of this.
It's very crisp and clean-looking.
- Welcome.
- Oh, my gosh.
Wonderful! This is amazing.
Oh, my God, I love this.
First of all, we have de-cluttered this room Yay! Painted it fresh.
And these beauties here are handmade family tables.
Oh, they're beautiful.
- Inge, what do you think? - This is the greatest thing because this reminds me of Germany.
The people, they all sit on tables together, and they have a wonderful time.
I think it looks great.
We had the old Nino's for 54 years.
It was time to freshen it up.
I think, with this change, we can be here for many more years.
Oh, you kept our old picture up.
Of course I did.
Do you like it, darling? - I do.
- Oh, no, don't get upset.
- Come on.
- I'm so grateful.
I don't know how to say thank you.
I want you to be happy.
I'm so happy.
I'm so thankful to you.
Please.
This is like a dream come true.
I don't know how to thank you.
Fall back in love with this amazing restaurant.
Definitely.
I'm speechless.
And I'm really, really great.
Thank you.
Thank you, Gordon.
To match the new contemporary design of the restaurant Take one menu, and pass them along, please.
Chef Ramsay has created a rustic menu to complement it.
It looks delicious.
It looks like it should be in a painting.
Very authentic.
Everything is perfect.
Now, enjoy the food.
Dig in.
- Okay.
- Delicious.
- Oh, my God.
- Wow.
Mmm.
Tastes good.
Chicken parmigiana.
Bravo.
It's relaunch night, and Chef Ramsay has a new, important job for Nino running the kitchen.
- You ready? - Yes, sir.
- You're gonna be expediting.
- Absolutely.
And stay on top of it.
We are not gonna argue in front of the team.
Yeah? Yes.
This is it.
Hi.
Welcome.
On a rainy summer night.
- It's so much brighter.
- So much I'm getting so much everything, yeah.
I love it.
I do.
I'll try the ricotta cavatelli.
Sounds good.
- Fire up number 15.
- 15.
At this point, it's time to step up and finally convince Chef Ramsay that I can do this job, that I can expedite.
Okay, veal's up, chef.
- Nice and gentle, let's go.
- Linguine's coming up right behind this.
With Nino managing the kitchen All right, here we go.
Bam, pasta.
Food is coming out at a steady pace.
- We have a veal.
- Yes.
- The sauce is excellent.
- Yeah.
But as more orders come in Okay, we need to slow it up back out there.
Nino is starting to get overwhelmed.
Nino.
- Is that another one? - Yeah.
Nino, is that right? Somebody's having - a minestrone for an entree? - Yes, it is.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Then how can there be five entrees? All I want to do is make sure we check in, so we don't screw the kitchen.
Well, I can I can check back.
He's at table 12.
He'll be right back.
Let's go.
Nino started getting backed up and overwhelmed, so I would do everything I could to stop it.
This check just disappeared.
Okay, so we've got issues with the ticket.
I got it.
I got it.
They want all they want all this at the same time.
- Just check in.
That's all, just check in.
- Yeah, I found out.
Actually, Mike, I got this under control.
If both of us are up here, we can't Shh! I need a margherita pizza, Valentino, - and a cheese tortellini.
- Hold on one second.
Mike just kind of asserted himself into the line, and I can see that's gonna be very combative.
I feel like there's, you know, a war brewing at the pickup window.
We're really falling behind.
Excuse me, I can't see over your stomach.
What table's this? Lasagna? Nino, please, don't sleep on the counter.
Stand up like this.
I can't see the checks.
- Just relax, all right? - You're like you know? - Please! - Just stop being angry at everyone.
I'm not being angry.
Just please stand up.
You have been yelling at everybody around here.
- You have to be calm.
- Yeah, yeah.
Right.
I need a calamari appetizer, then a veal.
You gotta give me table numbers, man.
Sorry, you really do.
You gotta help me out.
- And you're clearly not.
- Table 12.
I can't even take this, man.
Pickup, table five cavatelli, spaghetti and meatballs.
I need a calamari pickup appetizer and a minestrone.
- Shut up.
- Don't talk to me like that, or we'll come back there and have a nice talk! - You got it? - Fuck me.
He talks to me like that again, he's going out the door! It's relaunch night at Nino's.
I need a calamari pickup appetizer.
I don't need fucking And Michael has pushed Nino out of the way and is trying to lead the kitchen.
- Mike, I got this under control.
- Shh! But unfortunately, he's putting the relaunch in jeopardy.
- Shut up.
- Don't talk to me like that, or we'll come back there and have a nice talk! - You got it? - Fuck me.
Mike.
Come here.
Come here.
Come here.
Don't blow up.
There's no point in blowing the whole No, I don't blow up.
I was coming up to try to clear the mess.
Let's let's keep it calm.
Okay, very good.
I'm calm as a cucumber right now.
Sure.
Why don't you go outside and get some fresh air? You got it.
Nino, table's fired.
- Yeah.
- Yeah? Brilliant.
Right now, I'm going to need you here on the hot plates.
- Exactly.
- Yeah, head chef, expeditor.
- Right.
Exactly.
- You gotta stay like that.
I need a calamari for five.
I need a calamari for eight.
Excellent.
Let's go.
Order up! - Michael.
- Yeah? Can I have a word, please? Don't let this spoil tonight.
Just take a big, deep breath.
I can't turn off my emotions like that.
- I'm not asking you to.
- It's not a light switch.
But you're letting that just spoil the whole fucking thing.
And when I'm not here and your brother pisses you off, you've gotta show some form of control.
That's all, control.
Don't let it spoil the night.
- Yeah, okay.
- I appreciate it.
I'm waiting for table two, whenever ready.
Here we go.
Fire the lasagna I'm gonna take this to table 12.
You got it.
Thank you.
- Here's your calamari you needed.
- Thank you.
All right, calamari.
Everything's going well right now, you're doing good.
And the steak.
- It's really good.
- It's very good.
This is everything I'd ever wanted for our restaurant and hoped for.
I'm so overjoyed.
It's surreal right now.
Did you already get that, number seven? Spaghetti and meatball? They all finish.
Finish.
I can't remember the last time Nino worked that hard.
I hope we gonna be here many more years.
Including me.
Just with a little less work.
That's the last ticket out.
- Good.
Well done.
- Thank you.
- Cheers, guys.
- Love the food.
Cheers.
Let me tell you, that wasn't a perfect evening, but thinking that nothing's been changed for 54 years, it was never gonna be perfect.
- Let's be honest.
- Yeah.
Nino, you didn't disappear.
You stood there and took it.
- Well done.
- Thank you.
I think you did a remarkable thing for us, and I want this to work 100% with all my fiber.
You stick with it.
And, Michael, how would you sum up tonight? It was just very confusing.
You know, it's a new look, - new menu.
- Mm-hmm.
You know, we'll see what our regular customers think too.
But I can't speak for them.
Sure.
Do you want it to work? - Yes, I do.
- Yeah? I'm unconvinced you actually want to change, let me tell you.
Well I gotta go.
Tragic.
This has been the best day of our family's life, and Mike is being a complete jerk.
It's really disappointing to see him walking out and being so ungrateful.
I hope my family can get behind all this change - and really support it.
- I'm hoping too.
Look after yourselves, will you, please? And look after each other.
Good night.
Thank you so much.
Bye, mom.
Thank you.
Bye.
Good night.
When this restaurant started, there was no internet, man had not landed on the moon, and there was no such thing as a color TV.
But there was Nino's.
And the only way this restaurant can continue is if the family put the past behind them.
I'm not sure if they can, but I'm really hoping they can do so.
Wow, Nino he can clean and take photographs as well.
In the weeks that followed, although Michael distanced himself from the restaurant, the rest of the family has stepped up.
- Fire up nine - Yeah.
and seven and the fireplace.
Nino is working harder and is taking on more responsibilities, but the task of running the business on a day-to-day basis still falls on Inge's shoulders.
You enjoy the pizza? - Yes.
- Oh, great.
And despite her full-time job I do want us to just all work together.
Carina has increased her presence at Nino's in hopes that the 54-year-old family restaurant Here's to mama and papa Nino.
Yay! will live on as a legacy for generations to come.
Next time on Kitchen Nightmares Go, go, go, go.
Gordon meets an owner who runs his business like a dictator.
Just do what you do, I don't care what he says.
And his staff are at their wits' end.
The way you treat me is disrespectful, crude Then you need to find another place to work.
Chef Ramsay finds himself in a war with an owner so arrogant You're talking bullshit now.
And so resistant to change - Wake up! - You wake up! This restaurant just might be impossible to save.
- You want me out of here? I'm going to leave.
- Good.