In this Restaurant Impossible episode, Robert Irvine visits T. Phillips Alehouse in Glendora, California.
T. Phillips Alehouse is owned by Jennifer Kerzey.
They have a full bar with 68 different beers on tap.
There is a new executive chef, who has only been working there for five days.
Jennifer says there isn’t any consistency in the food or service.
She thinks that the restaurant runs better when she is there.
Over the years, there have been quite a few disrespectful staff members.
People take advantage of Jennifer’s niceness.
She says that she gets overwhelmed a lot.
She is currently in around $130,000 of debt.
The power got shut off at her house because she couldn’t pay the bill.
Jennifer filed for bankruptcy to save her house.
Jennifer says she needs help and she hopes it’s not too late.
Robert arrives and isn’t impressed with the restaurant.
Robert points out that there are so many peanut shells on the floor.
Everything in the restaurant is dark.
Robert says it looks like a dive bar to him.
He calls Jennifer to the front of the house for a brief about the restaurant.
Jennifer bought the restaurant ten years ago and she paid $530,000.
She doesn’t own the building.
Jennifer was a server/bartender for most of her life.
She paid this much money because she loves taking care of people.
Jennifer got her liquor license suspended for serving alcohol to a minor.
She hasn’t been able to pay her mortgage for a year.
Everything she has is invested in the restaurant.
Robert says he wants to see the service.
Jennifer says that if this doesn’t work, then she loses everything.
They are supposed have 68 beers on tap, but they only have around 30.
They ran out of the beer and Jennifer is supposed to be ordering more.
It’s been a while since they have had all 68 beers.
The staff doesn’t check IDs and is also disrespectful to Jennifer as an owner.
Instead of policing her staff, Jennifer is distracted by printing menus.
There are handheld systems for taking orders but the staff don’t use them.
A waitress says they don’t work but Robert finds out that they do work.
The POS systems would help out a lot but the staff are ignoring procedures.
Robert uncovers that the staff don’t keep up with cleaning either.
The staff is completely undisciplined.
Robert says he has seen enough and closes the restaurant.
He wants to sample the food and isn’t impressed.
The chicken is overcooked and the shrimp smells rotten.
The bread is stale and the dip tastes like dish water.
Robert tells Jennifer and the staff that the food is all garbage.
He tells the chef that if this doesn’t change, he’s going to get fired.
Robert meets with his design team of Lynn and Tom to discuss the concept for remodel.
The staff and the volunteers begin taking everything out of the restaurant.
Robert says he wants to get Jennifer’s confidence back.
Jennifer opens up about her divorce from four years ago.
Robert meets with the staff to stress the importance of checking ID when serving alcohol.
Robert says he is surprised the restaurant is still open.
Robert tells them they need to follow the rules he will put in place and if they can’t follow, they are fired.
Robert checks in with Tom and Lynn.
They want to spray the wood but if they do that they can’t do any other work in the restaurant until tomorrow.
Robert says he thinks this is the only way to go.
They have to lighten up the space and will paint the wood a nice tan color.
They will keep the natural wood at the bar but refinish it.
Robert says he needs to get to the bottom of Jennifer’s confidence issues.
Jennifer says she is happiest when everything is working in harmony.
Jennifer admits that instead of making her staff do certain things, she does it herself.
Robert sets up an exercise for Jennifer.
He wants her to pick up a sledgehammer and kit a keg to release some anger.
Jennifer says it was hard to let her guard down.
She knows she needs to work on herself or else she isn’t going to have a business.
Robert gives Jennifer homework.
She must write down everything she thinks is wrong with the restaurant.
The next morning, Robert walks into a completely different looking restaurant.
Jennifer tells Robert what she thinks is wrong with the restaurant.
She admits the staff don’t do their jobs properly because Jennifer doesn’t make them.
Robert tells her that he wants her to be a leader.
He meets with the staff and Jennifer.
He has instructed the staff to do things wrong in this exercise to see if Jennifer will do anything about it.
Jennifer doesn’t catch many of the mistakes straight away.
Robert tells her that she has to stop being so nice.
Robert goes into the kitchen with Jennifer and the cook, Chris.
Robert asks Chris to create a dish to prove that he is capable of doing better.
Robert shows Chris better ways to make the dishes he tried earlier.
Jennifer says she can’t believe that this food is going to come out of the restaurant.
Robert says that he can’t save the restaurant if Jennifer can’t assert herself.
He is going to give her one last chance to prove herself.
Jennifer tells the staff they are going to be focused on service, food, cleanliness and accountability.
Jennifer tells them she expects the staff to use the handheld devices and to check IDs.
Jennifer says they are going up and not turning back.
They begin making finishes touches to the restaurant.
Jennifer says she has been emotionally and financially distressed over the last year or so.
She didn’t know how she was going to find a way out and says Robert has saved her.
Robert shows Jennifer her new restaurant.
She is amazed by how great her restaurant looks.
Jennifer invites the customers into her new restaurant.
On relaunch, the customers love how great it looks.
The food looks awesome and the customers love the atmosphere.
The service is much better and the customers promise to return.
What Happened Next at T. Phillip's Alehouse and Grill?
A few weeks later, sales were up over 30%.
Jennifer relished her new role as a strong leader.
During the pandemic, they switched to takeout only.
They’re making enough money to stay afloat.
Jennifer cannot wait to reopen and continue what she learnt from Robert.
T. Phillip's Alehouse and Grill is closed.
They closed in March 2022.
The building was briefly listed as for lease before the listing was removed.
Reviews are mostly positive with some customers noticing the improvement in service and food.
T. Phillip's Alehouse and Grill was Restaurant Impossible season 17 episode 4 and aired on 4th June 2020.
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