Say It to My Face

Mark Cammarano says he's about to lose his Simi Valley restaurant because he's being unfairly crushed by negative online reviews. When Mark comes face-to-face with his worst critics, will he opt to stick with his failing business plan or tackle the food and d cor issues head on? Chefs Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa host this explosive restaurant rescue, and they have their work cut out for them when they attempt to help Mark fix the problems before it's too late.

Nick, the owner of Arcadia, CA's Shrimp House restaurant, has been getting into nasty online arguments with angry diners who have trashed his food, his ambience and his service. In an effort to save his struggling business, Nick will come face-to-face with these reviewers. Will he be open to making the necessary changes to his flavorless, brown-colored dishes and cluttered d cor? Or will he insist that keeping costs down as the only way to turn a profit? Chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa will attempt to convince him that mediocrity is a recipe for disaster.

Terry, the owner of Guisseppe's restaurant in West Hills, CA feels her fine-dining Italian restaurant is being destroyed by negative online reviews. She is down to her last dollars trying to keep the place open. When she confronts her harshest critics face-to-face, will she accept their suggestions to change her bland food, tacky d cor and aggressive attitude, or will she battle to keep things the way they are? Chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa have their biggest challenge yet as they try to help Terry's business survive.

Mike and Susie Walsh, husband and wife owners of Redondo Beach restaurant Jimmy's Bar & Grill, are down to their last pennies trying to keep the doors open of their beach-side eatery. They blame their struggles on unfair, negative online reviews. When Mike and Susie come face-to-face with their biggest critics, will they stand by their bland, generic food, depressing decor and inattentive service? Or will they listen to chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa and work to turn this dreary mess into the beach hangout it needs to be.

The mother and son owners of Culver City steakhouse Dear John's are losing tons of money every month, and they believe negative online reviews are to blame. When chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa bring them face-to-face with their online critics, they find that the problems run so much deeper: horrendously outdated food, a dreadful ambience, and a geriatric client base. Can Andrew and Anthony help the owners fix these problems? Or will their business be six feet under?

Julie Peterson, a single mom of two kids, has been running R&J Soul Food in Downey, CA for over 19 years, using Louisiana recipes she created by her grandmother.. But with the advent of social media and trends of modern diners, Julie is in danger of losing her restaurant due to terrible online reviews. They say the interior is run down and the food is just nothing soulful to write home about. Can chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa help Julie turn this restaurant around? Or will her livelihood for the last two decades be shut down forever?

Best friends Nick Velez and Calvin Spencer own "Bastards" sports bar in Downey, CA. They are proud of their military service--so much so they have decorated their restaurant like a combat zone and named the restaurant after their Marine Unit "The Magnificent Bastards". Their restaurant is now receiving terrible online reviews, due to their intimidating d cor, sloppy food and a name that offends some potential customers. Can chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa convince the guys to find a more family-friendly approach to their business? Or will they have to wave the white flag and close their doors forever?

Chef Jen Story is a freelance caterer and owner of "Cooking Thyme" in Lawndale, CA. Even though she has managed to produce a successful catering business all by herself, Jen is quickly finding that running a restaurant is an entirely different beast. With a complicated menu, slow service, and cluttered decor, her new restaurant is already in danger of closing due to negative online reviews. Can chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa convince Jen to make some changes? Or will her ego cause her to lose her dream and both of her business?

Ramy Abdh & Damon Tavis are the owners and best friends of Uncle Red's Pizza in Bellflower, CA. They thought that opening up a pizza place would be the perfect, easy way to lose their corporate identity and find their creativity. But with their off the wall creations, sub-standard food and disregard for cleanliness, these two are finding themselves struggling to keep the doors open due to their negative online reviews. Will chef/hosts Andrew Gruel and Anthony Dispensa be able to talk some sense into these guys, and bring their food past standard greasy pizza? Or will Uncle Reds find itself out of business.

Owner April Gallegos of La Pescadora is at her wits end with online reviewers, saying that the food is bland, confusing, and tastes frozen.

A couple struggles after opening a Brittish/Indian fish and chips shop in Alhambra, Calif. that has received poor reviews on its signature dishes; when the chefs suggest a huge menu change the owner pushes back.

Lenny Bent, the owner of Cookin' with Lenny's Smokehouse, has fashioned his restaurant in his own unique way; tormented by terrible reviews, Andrew and Anthony help Lenny streamline his ideas.

David Chen recently purchased The Black Olive, an Italian restaurant in Lomita, CA that has been around for more than 20 years. But with bland food and an unwelcoming ambience, the restaurant is losing thousands of dollars per month.

Teddy B. is in danger of having to close the doors to his restaurant, due to his confusing and poorly executed dishes, apathetic wait staff and completely offensive choices in artwork.