Suvechha Sarkar
Season 1 of Fox’s ‘Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service’ continues to feature the celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay, as he embarks on missions to rescue struggling restaurants by first observing them undercover. In episode 9, appropriately titled ‘Pretty Girls Cook,’ he visits the titular eatery, a woman-led soul food restaurant now on the brink of collapse. When it first opened, it attracted several eager customers. However, a series of internal structural issues in the kitchen and a dramatic drop in the food standard are now taking a toll on the restaurant. With debt mounting and morale plummeting, they now face the reality that without an immediate change, they may not survive.
The Owner’s Reduced Passion For Cooking is Putting Pretty Girls Cook at Risk
Nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pretty Girls Cook opened in October 2017. It was founded by the passionate chef, Dominique Ryan, who learned to cook at her grandmother’s side since childhood. According to her, the restaurant is her answer to the culinary industry, where men now dominate the kitchen and women struggle to rise. She built the restaurant with her vision of empowerment and culinary excellence, and accordingly had given the business the bold name. From the moment it opened its doors, it became a local sensation with primarily sold-out dishes and continued to ride high till 2019. In the kitchen, Mina is the line cook, who claims that she is everyone’s favorite.
Mina was handpicked by Dominique herself from her previous Executive Chef position. Then there is Ronnie, the Head Cook, who began her culinary journey when she joined the military during college. During that time, she completed her culinary school and joined the team at Pretty Girls Cook with pride and purpose. Aside from that, there is Diamond, a spirited and dedicated Server who tries to keep the front of the house running smoothly. Dominique was once an unshakeable leader, but is now visibly crumbling under pressure since the pandemic. She admitted that she had made bad financial decisions to stay afloat during the hardest times, but they may have backfired. Today, the owner is buried in nearly $170,000 in debt, which has also taken a toll on her spirit.
Mina believes that Dominique is a very genuine person with creative culinary skills. However, she feels abandoned during the restaurant’s busy moments because the owner is usually absent, leaving the staff to fend for themselves. She also notices Dominique has lost her passion for cooking and seemingly “hates” it now. Beyond that, Ronnie and Mina’s relationship is often rocky, and the tensions frequently boil over in the open layout kitchen, where the customers can hear them. Diamond also feels that there are several things that the restaurant can do better. The passion that once filled the space is slowly draining out. Above everything, one thing is clear: if something doesn’t change soon enough, the once-thriving restaurant may be forced to close its doors.
Gordon Uncovers Poor Food Standards and Lack of Leadership at Pretty Girls Cook
The episode begins at night as Gordon secretly enters Pretty Girls Cook to start his undercover inspection. When he walks into the kitchen, he is hit with a foul smell, and upon moving to the fridge, he finds it in a messy state. He discovers chicken soaked in blood that has gone bad and open mussels, indicating that they are already dead and unsafe to serve. Moreover, he uncovers old lamb chops in storage well past their prime. In the dining spot, Gordon notices several one-armed chairs and immediately points out they are uncomfortable for customers like himself. The following morning, he returns in a van undercover near the eatery to watch its operations during service through the cameras, which are already set up. The staff believe the cameras are there because they are participating in a show named ‘Restaurant Refresh.’
As customers begin arriving, Gordon instantly notes that Mina and Ronnie, the two key kitchen members, are not getting along. What’s worse is that their friction spills into the open kitchen, where customers can easily watch it unfold. He also catches a glimpse of the kitchen floor littered with spilled fries. The chef observes that it can easily become a root cause for a pest problem since he noticed dead mice in the alley at the back of the restaurant. Gordon is baffled when he notices a customer order mussels since he already knows that some are dead. Meanwhile, Dominique is nowhere to be found in the kitchen, which prompts him to remark that she is uninvolved and unmotivated. Instead of leading the team by cooking herself in the line, she has left them to run things on their own. Gordon identifies three major issues at the restaurant: (i) a fractured team, (ii) a lack of leadership, and (iii) poor food standards.
Gordon sends in two undercover diners to assess the food quality: ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ season 21 winner and barbecue expert Alex Belew, and ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ season 3 winner and restaurant entrepreneur Rock Harper. The latter struggles with the one-armed chair, and as their food arrives, Gordon asks explicitly not to eat the lamb chops, informing them that they have been stored for a long time. Alex expresses disappointment over the use of plastic silverware and the overall low morale in the dining room. He also remarks that the mac and cheese fails to meet the standards of flavor and consistency. The tipping point for Gordon comes when he notices the dead mussels from the night before are being served to customers, which can cause a serious health hazard. He rushes into the restaurant and asks the customers to leave, shutting down the service immediately.
Gordon Ramsay Transforms the Eatery by Reuniting the Staff and Reigniting the Owner’s Passion
After shutting the restaurant down, Gordon gathers the staff for a much-needed conversation. Without wasting time, he informs them that an insider has been giving him information, and he has been watching them secretly. He turns his attention to point out how they have been serving dead mussels, something Ronnie admits can lead to serious food poisoning, apart from nausea and vomiting. Gordon then brings out the blood-soaked chicken from the fridge and questions their food safety standards. He also calls out the toxic behavior of the chefs in front of customers and bluntly states that everyone has given up. Shortly after, Gordon asks everyone to leave to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Dominique. She gets emotional after admitting she is $170,000 in debt and confesses that, although she loved cooking, the burden of running a business has snuffed out her creative fire.
Gordon does not sugarcoat it when he tells Dominique that the restaurant is not a charity, and if she wants to keep her dream alive, she has to step up and lead. However, when the chef returns to the van to observe everyone again, he gets disappointed to see them arguing. It prompts him to storm back inside and tell them they have completely lost their way and sense of unity. The following day, he takes them to a team-building yoga session to help them rediscover their shared purpose. Dominique becomes happier and calmer after the women smile together and share a good session. When she steps out, Gordon speaks with the staff, especially to Ronnie and Mina, and points out that it feels like they are running different kitchens. He explains they need to reconnect and work as a team. The staff thinks that Dominique is exceptionally kind and always tries to help.
Meanwhile, Gordon’s team transforms the restaurant with new equipment, fresh produce, and an elevated menu. His team provides the restaurant with an intimate vibe, which impresses everyone. The chef also cooks side by side with Dominique, reigniting her passion for cooking. The time for the insider reveal finally arrives, and everyone is shocked when they learn that it was Mina. She confesses that being the insider sometimes felt like she was betraying Dominique. However, Dominique thanks her instead of getting upset because of the help they received. The relaunch night turns out to be a success as the eatery is filled with happy customers, including Rock and Alex, praising the taste of the food. When the grill malfunctions mid-service, Gordon teaches the owner how to finish a dish by charring it directly on the stove. With everything in order, he offers his final words of encouragement before bidding goodbye.
Pretty Girls Cook Is Thriving Again, with Dominique Back at the Helm
Tucked away in 1016 N Marshall St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pretty Girls Cook has blossomed into a native staple with a legacy rooted in resilience, flavor, and community. Besides showcasing their services and menu on their website, they proudly share their journey and dishes across platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The customers can easily explore their hours, usually on all these platforms. They are open from Thursday to Sunday, leaving three days from Monday to Wednesday for preparation and rest. Stepping inside the restaurant feels like a dream as the ambience is warm and perfect for celebrating with family or sharing a meal with friends. They also take pride in using fresh, high-quality ingredients along with their really attentive service.
The eatery provides options for takeout, delivery, and reservations, catering to the needs of everyone who walks through their doors. In September 2018, they were featured on Essence Magazine and Visit Philly. In June 2022, the restaurant received a generous $50,000 funding from the Barstool Fund. Their reach continues to grow beyond Philly, and in March 2023, the team traveled to Chicago, Illinois, to provide catering services to Chicago Excel Academy. The eatery was also featured on a Good Day Philadelphia Weekend segment hosted by the journalist, Bill Anderson. The singer-songwriter and classical pianist, Alicia Keys, also fell in love with their food. They have even provided catering service for her show at the Met at the Wells Fargo Center in July 2023.
In March 2024, Pretty Girls Cook catered a high-profile event at the World Trade Center in partnership with GQ magazine and Hennessy. A year later, they collaborated with food and lifestyle blogger Josh, followed by further promotions with digital creators Danielle and Brittiny in April 2025. In July 2025, the eatery designed a custom menu for the guests at an event by the non-profit organization, Black Camp. In the same month, they hosted their signature Social Wednesday and even welcomed the DJ, who uses the username instanwetrust on Instagram. Currently, Pretty Girls Cook boasts a 4.3-star rating on TripAdvisor and a 4.2-star rating on Google, backed by 736 written reviews. The customers continue to praise their bold and comforting flavors and the exceptional service. What started as Dominique’s dream is now a proud reality, which continues to flourish.
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