In Bellmore, a suburb thirty minutes from New York City, The Mixing Bowl eatery has operated for ten years. However, it may soon be time to close up shop. Owner and chef Billy is doing everything including mopping the floors. Lisa, his wife and co-owner, has given up hope that the business will ever rebound. The waitresses don’t like Mike the manager, who spends all his time schmoozing customers or eating -- but not managing. The lack of customers has made the entire staff depressed. And Lisa is worried that their financial woes may even be hurting her marriage.
Gordon arrives at the restaurant. “I’m nervous,” he says. “Because this looks dreadful.” It’s 1:15pm, and there’s not one customer for lunch. Mike explains the menu, and Gordon thinks it sounds like a health food place even though the dishes don’t reflect that. Gordon can tell by the ambiance and décor that The Mixing Bowl is on its last legs.
Overwhelmed by the huge menu, Gordon orders the “award-winning” Maryland crab cakes. Even though he’s the manager, Mike has no idea what award they won. Gordon also orders zucchini pancakes and salmon. While Gordon eats, Mike stands there staring at him. Gordon is surprised that the crab cakes are so fresh for such a dreary place, but the zucchini pancakes are like having a “mouthful of glue.” Gordon smells garlic on the salmon dish but Mike assures him there is no garlic. One check with Billy proves that there is garlic doused in the dish. After lunch, Gordon tells Billy that the crab cakes were the only high point of the meal.
That night, Gordon observes the dinner service. There are only a few tables filled. Yet he is stunned to see customers using a 50%-off coupon that The Mixing Bowl has been handing out for the past eight years. No wonder they are losing money. Mike confesses that he has a bunch of signs made up for holiday specials to entice customers. All of those ideas have bombed. Gordon is appalled by one huge, orange sign offering a free appetizer.
Later after close, Gordon confronts the owners. Billy cannot leave the managing to Mike. He wonders whether Lisa is right about shutting it all down. She admits to wanting a normal life, but Billy is committed to turning the business around. Gordon challenges him to find his passion in food.
The next day, Gordon brings a wood chipper to The Mixing Bowl. He puts all of Mike’s promotional signs in to be destroyed. Then he brings out a map of the area, pointing out that there were only four restaurants in 1997. Ten years later, there are now 41 restaurants. He suggests they reposition The Mixing Bowl to compete. The only style of food missing in Bellmore is a healthy restaurant. “Give the f***ing neighborhood what they want!” Gordon exclaims.
