Parthenon - Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service

In this Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service episode, Gordon visits Parthenon in Washington.

Parthenon is a Greek restaurant owned by Pete.

Gordon goes undercover at night as they clean up, hearing he is coming.

He lets himself in with a spare key.

Gordon is armed with a black light and he sees dirt everywhere.

The restaurant has been open for 36 years but they have lost their way.

Gordon finds that an oven is still on, with food still inside.

The carpets are old and a meat cutter that has been left out is dirty.

It tests off the charts with a portable bacteria test.

The dining room has mismatched chairs and the decor is dated.

They leave to come back in the morning.

In the morning, the staff are on camera.

They think they are on a show called "Restaurant Refresh."

In daylight, Gordon has control of the cameras and he sees the staff working.

Pete came from Greece and opened the restaurant decades ago.

Susie is Pete's wife and she is often at the restaurant.

Their son Mikey is the kitchen manager.

Mikey complains that he has tried to update the menu for a long time.

He says that his father is resistant to making changes.

Mikey's wife Stella is a server and she also helps in the kitchen.

Their daughter Stephanie also helps out in the kitchen, making it a family business.

Customers arrive at the restaurant.

Gordon reviews footage from a camera he left behind.

In the footage, he sees there are five rats.

The results of a swab Gordon took came back from a lab.

It has tested positive for a high concentration of harmful bacteria.

Gordon sees customers complaining about the food

Mikey has lost his voice and Pete is very complacent.

Gordon has two undercover spies.

He sends them in with body cams and microphones to try food from the menu.

Gordon asks them questions directly and they respond.

The dining space is dated and the menu is far too big.

The lamb is left to thaw in the open.

The appetizer tastes sour and fermented.

The spy tells the server the food is sour.

Pete tells them that's the way it's supposed to taste.

The lamb is served but Gordon stops them from eating it.

He enters the restaurant space, surprising everyone.

Gordon stops the service in the kitchen and lets the customers out.

He confronts Pete, who claims the food is all fresh.

Gordon reveals all he found the night before.

Pete is resistant and Mikey says he is also restricted on what he can do.

Gordon reveals there is an insider and asks to speak to Pete alone.

Pete says he plans to let the place go to his boy but there is no timeframe.

Mikey is in his 40s with his own children.

Gordon listens to them all trying to dicuss the restaurant.

They focus on the wrong things and instead they talk about the insider.

Gordon goes back in to direct the conversation and they tell Pete how they really feel.

The family is desperate for change and Mikey is teary.

Susie says she feels like a restaurant widow.

Gordon's team modernizes the restaurant space.

They also give the kitchen a deep clean.

Gordon meets with Pete and Mikey away from the restaurant.

He points out they have a fractured relationship.

Mikey says he does not hear any feedback from his father.

Pete is never expressive with his son.

Gordon has them express themselves and they connect and hug it out.

Gordon spies on the upgrades and from the surveillance vehicle.

He watches their reaction as they enter the new restaurant space.

The space is brighter with lively colors everywhere.

There are now more uniform chairs and furnishings.

Pete is speechless.

The kitchen is clean, with new equipment and tools ready.

The restaurant also has pictures of Pete's hometown in Greece and he tears up.

Gordon enters and shows them they also have a new menu.

Gordon and Mikey make the dishes from the new menu.

The food is served to the staff and they all love it.

Pete is teary and apologizes to his family for all the suffering he has caused.

Gordon finally reveals his insider - it is Susie!

There is footage of Susie meeting Gordon.

She tells him how her family is at risk and she is scared Pete will divorce her.

The family at present is grateful to Susie for the intervention.

Pete realizes he needs to change and finally go on vacation.

Customers are let in and Mikey is in charge of the kitchen.

Pete is front of house, greeting the guests.

Most importantly, he is out of Mikey's way.

Everything goes smoothly, with everyone sticking to their roles.

Gordon gives Mikey positive feedback and some tips.

The customers love the food and the new decor.

What Happened Next at Parthenon?

Parthenon is open.

The reviews are mostly positive.

Customers praise the service and food.

Regulars like the changes that Gordon made.

There has been the odd complaint about food and service.

Parthenon aired on 21st May 2025.

The episode was filmed in March 2025 and is Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service season 1 episode 1.

All Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service Episodes

Next episode - Caffe Boa