Suvechha Sarkar
Gordon Ramsay continues his bold mission of rescuing struggling restaurants by going undercover before stepping in with his honesty in season 1 of Fox’s ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service.’ Episode 14, titled ‘Crazy Burger,’ takes the audience inside the titular Cafe and Juice Bar. It has been run by the owner, Michael Maxon, for three decades, who feels proud of serving delicious meals, making the spot a local favorite. However, the tides have turned as the restaurant faces severe debt and loyal customers continue to drift away. The eatery may not survive the summer if things do not change soon enough.
Crazy Burger Fights For Survival Due to the Rising Debt and Loss of Customers
At the heart of Narragansett, Rhode Island, is Crazy Burger Cafe and Juice Bar, which has been a local gem since April 1995. Its proud owner, Michael Maxon, has spent nearly three decades of his life in this place, and his efforts have paid off for a long time. The restaurant quickly took off when the renowned restaurateur, Guy Fieri, stopped by in 2009 for an episode of ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.’ Since then, the eatery’s reputation has skyrocketed, further cementing its status as a community gem. Michael is not just the face of the cafe, but also works in the kitchen himself alongside the staff. Among them is Norma Jean, the Line Cook, who has been working at the cafe for eight years. She began her culinary journey as an intern.
Besides her, there is Kansas, who is the loyal Server and has been handling the front of the house for 10 years. For her, the staff at the restaurant is her second family. Completing the core team is Jermaine, another of the Line Cooks, who dreams of becoming a chef one day. He met Michael long ago, as he is a good friend of the owner’s stepdaughter. Jermaine looks up to Michael and considers him a father figure. Despite its glory in the past days, the pandemic hit the restaurant like a storm, leaving Michael drowning in debt. For months, he did not even take home a paycheck. Instead, he has been borrowing money just to keep the doors open. Irrespective of his best efforts, the losses keep piling up, costing him thousands of dollars monthly.
The eatery has also lost around half of its loyal customer base. Norma Jean believes that Michael is brilliant, creative, and compassionate, and loves helping people and giving others second chances. However, she admits that the eatery is currently a hot mess. Similarly, Kansas is equally worried because she feels Crazy Burger has a lack of structure and management. She is further concerned because Michael confessed to the staff that they might not make it through the summer. Jermaine, who also cherishes the passionate owner like his own father, fears that the latter may have lost his spark. With the debt mounting and the very real possibility of shutting down after decades of service, the cafe faces its biggest battle yet, which is none other than survival.
Gordon Discovers Multiple Unsafe Food Standards in the Crazy Burger’s Kitchen
The episode commences as Gordon sneaks into the restaurant at night. He shockingly discovers that the terrace, which can be an incredible place for the diners to eat, has no roof. Once he enters the kitchen, he is hit with a sudden smell. Upon inspection, he is baffled to find ants crawling across the surfaces. He notices that there are remnants of old food behind the kitchen equipment. What concerns him more is that the refrigerator is set at 46°F instead of the safe 37°F. As Gordon continues his search, he finds ground turkey sitting in a pool of blood. He also sees a mushroom that is covered in fungi. He notes that this contamination can easily send someone to the hospital. He is disappointed to see that the fryer oil is dark and clearly weeks old. Gordon also discovers the grill’s surface is coated with food and grime. When he spots a tofu that has turned slimy with mold, it raises more questions. He is underwhelmed to find the spice rack coated with dirt.
Gordon takes a swab from over the containers to see if they harbor bacteria first thing in the morning. He also hears the sound of mice in the background and sets up a rodent cam to look further. The following morning, he returns outside the restaurant in a van and begins observing the staff during the service hours. He does so through the cameras set up inside, which the staff believes is for a show, ‘Restaurant Refresh.’ Gordon watches in disbelief as the owner cooks barehanded and licks his fingers while handling the ingredients. He is further shocked when Michael drops food on the floor, only to scrape it up with a spatula, which is again used to resume cooking. Later, under the microscope, Gordon confirms that the swabs taken from the spice containers are teeming with bacteria. He also watches two mice caught by the rodent cam. To taste the food, he sends two secret diners- ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ season 22 finalist and renowned private Chef Sammi Tarantino, and ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ season 3 winner and restaurant entrepreneur Rock Harper.
Gordon asks Rock to pose as a pescatarian, but they are surprised when the server admits they don’t have a separate fryer. When the juices are served to Sammi and Rock, the former remarks that it tastes bitter. Gordon focuses on the juice blender, where he discovers that the fruits and vegetables are being put into the machine without washing or removing the stickers. Moreover, Michael can be seen preparing Rock’s burger with the same spatula with which he is flipping beef patties. Once the food arrives, Sammi points out that the pancake tastes like beef and fish. Rock mentions that his burger feels like it was frozen. Meanwhile, Gordon catches Michael and Jermaine sneaking off to a place beside the terrace. The chef quickly sneaks in and finds that it is an office filled with rat droppings. He’s baffled to find another refrigerator filled with frozen burgers. Ultimately, Gordon storms into the kitchen and asks the staff to stop the service. He apologizes to the diners on the owner’s behalf and asks them to leave.
Gordon Helps the Owner Regain Hope, Sparking a Fresh Start For Crazy Burger
Gordon gathers the entire staff and reveals that he has been secretly watching them. He adds that there is an insider feeding him information. He lays out the shocking reality that the bacterial levels in the kitchen can cause food poisoning. Gordon uses Rock’s order as an example, reminding them that the spatula used for the diner’s food had touched meat, although he mentioned he is a pescatarian. Then he called out the way the juice was prepared with components that were not washed and had stickers still attached to them. Gordon is left speechless when Kansas tells him that Michael told her it gets disposed of anyway. The owner begins insisting that the restaurant has been doing fine. The chef then clears the room and sits down for a one-on-one conversation to get through to Michael. Gordon bluntly states it is sad to see 30 years of hard work being reduced to an unhygienic kitchen, frozen burgers, and cross-contamination.
When Michael continues to deny the accusations, Gordon takes him to the kitchen and brings out the turkey sitting in blood. The latter grows more frustrated as the owner goes defensive and remarks that it smells fine. The chef then drags out the tofu covered in mold and points out how the same spatula was used for everything. He tells Michael the latter has given up and lost respect for his customers. Gordon becomes so disappointed that he notes he is unsure if the owner can be fixed. Back in his van, he watches Michael and the staff cleaning the kitchen with bleach and water. Seeing a glimmer of hope, Gordon steps back inside. He urges the owner to take accountability and encourages him to find his inner strength, believing he can rise again. The following day, Gordon and Michael meet at the beach. They begin digging to discover heartfelt messages of support from the owner’s staff. In the meantime, the chef’s team steps in and begins revamping the restaurant.
The restaurant is transformed into a beach-like vibe with a bright, welcoming atmosphere. The terrace now has new seating and a canopy, while the kitchen is deep-cleaned and set up with new equipment. Gordon turns his attention to training Jermaine on preparing vegan burgers and reminds him to maintain the standards. As a touching gesture, he gives Michael his knife set, noting how important it is to him. For the relaunch, Gordon tells Norma Jean and Jermaine to take the helm of the kitchen, while Michael can focus on the customers. He also brings Sammi to help in the front of the house and Rock to assist in the kitchen. It is finally revealed that Jermaine was the insider all along. Once the relaunch night begins, Gordon proudly notices that everyone has taken up their role seriously. The owner is also confidently working in the front of the house. With the restaurant finally back on, Gordon bids goodbye after wishing Michael all the best.
Crazy Burger Shines Again With Rediscovered Love From the Community
Crazy Burger Cafe and Juice Bar is located at 144 Boon Street in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and has been a beloved gem among the local community. The restaurant seems to have regained its former glory after Gordon’s visit. They have kept their momentum alive for the New Year, 2025, with the team embracing tradition and modern convenience. Customers can explore their menu directly on the website and even order online. Moreover, they can also use the platform to reserve a table by selecting their party size, date, and time. Their special events are usually announced right on their website. These include events like the National Cheeseburger Day on September 18 and the National Coffee Day on September 29. The venue has also become a go-to space for celebrations, hosting everything from birthdays and baby showers to office functions and private parties.
Furthermore, Crazy Burger currently offers catering services to its customers. They make sure to reward the loyalty of their guests, who can sign up for their repeat rewards, exclusive deals, or purchase gift cards to treat themselves. For those eager to join the team, job opportunities are directly posted on their site and social media. The restaurant takes pride in its awesome burgers, gluten-free, and vegan options. They also boast about their fresh juice, providing the patrons with the most diverse selection in town. The cafe’s desserts are made from scratch, adding a sweet finishing touch to a creative menu that promises freshness and flavor. The restaurant utilizes Instagram and Facebook to showcase its carefully prepared dishes and creative promotions. In March 2025, Crazy Burger introduced a mystery table, where every 10th table won a meal for free.
Crazy Burger also embraces seasonal festivities with a Green Saint Patrick’s Day menu, a delightful Easter Sunday breakfast, and a colorful Earth Day celebration. In April 2025, they announced a temporary closure from April 5 to April 10 for the restaurant’s revamp. When their doors reopened, they returned stronger, promising something extraordinary. By June 2025, the cafe had once again begun expanding its team and invited new members to join the growing family for the summer. As of writing, they have a 4.4-star rating on Google with over 1.5K written reviews. Additionally, Crazy Burger boasts a 4.3-star rating on TripAdvisor with more than 621 reviews. Their customers consistently praise the delicious menu, welcoming atmosphere, and the friendly, attentive staff who make every visit memorable.
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