Kriti Mehrotra
With Fox’s ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ being the epitome of a Chef Gordon Ramsay-led reality television series, we get drama, food, and swear words galore. After all, this is the production wherein he visits struggling restaurants all across America and spends time with them in the hopes of helping them reach their full potential. Therefore, of course, its season 9 episode 9 – very appropriately titled ‘Leo’s,’ considering the establishment he focuses on here is called Leo’s Italian Grill – is absolutely no different.
A Family Tragedy Led to Leo’s Italian Grill’s Complete Downfall
It was back in 2019 that professional chef Leo Gaertner Jr. and his wife Michelle established Leo’s Italian Grill in Cedar Creek, Texas, unaware they would soon find themselves at a loss. The minute we are introduced to them in this fast-paced episode, we learn that they are not only the owners of their highway-side restaurant but also the Executive Chef and Manager, respectively. Thus, they are responsible for running the ship at all times, which they decided to do upon taking into account the lead’s self-admitted 35+ years of experience in the industry.
However, according to Michelle, who first came across Leo as a single father of two boys and fell head over heels in love with all three of them, their business has been bad since 2023. Everyone is concerned about it, including server Neil and Leo’s son/co-manager Jason, because they realize there has been a significant decline in the entirety of their operations. Michelle says there was a time when food and Leo’s were Chef Leo’s passion, but things began changing once his son, Leo III, whom they lovingly referred to as Bump, sadly passed away.
Michelle briefly explains Bump was born with some medical issues, and he ultimately died of an asthma attack at home two years prior – he was the Head of their Data Management Office. This shattered Leo in a way no one could even begin to imagine, resulting in him shutting down, which gradually began to affect his passion and the quality of food he once proudly put out. Even Neil admits he would rate their dishes a 5 out of 10 because while he is dedicated to the restaurant and his work, he has to be honest so as to really, hopefully, bring about a positive change.
Chef Gordon Ramsay Realizes Leo’s is Facing More Than Just Management and Quality Issues
Almost as soon as Chef Gordon Ramsay steps foot into Leo’s Italian Grill, he begins tearing it apart owing to the fact it looks more like a tire shop than a family-owned and operated eatery. The red decor, as well as the dark furniture, all put him off before Neil even comes to him with the menu and shares his honest opinion of their food with him. The fact Neil can’t remember some of the ingredients of the dishes on their menu also plays a role in his initial impression of the whole restaurant, which further sours when he actually tastes his ordered food.
The appetizer sampler Gordon receives is almost inedible owing to the meatballs in the meatball sliders being dry in the middle yet dark, and his rib-eye steak was also gray and tasted boiled. As for the Carbonara, he couldn’t take more than a couple of bites of it as the pasta was overcooked, the sauce was not authentic, and even the shrimp smelled as if it was going bad. His subsequent conversations with paying patrons reveal they all had similar problems, resulting in them either sending their food back, not eating, or simply deciding never to come back again.
However, despite the fact that everyone at Leo’s knows they were on a decline since there was a time when people praised their food, they couldn’t give Gordon any reason except for a lack of consistency. The fact Leo doesn’t say anything catches Gordon’s attention too, so he lays into him unfiltered before focusing on the chef as well as his kitchen upon his return the next day. But alas, even with the dirty areas, reused pans, and management problems being pointed out, Leo remains quiet, as if there is a wall before him, making the professional realize there is more going on.
Gordon Ramsay Helps Leo See His Passion For Food and His Business Are Missing
Almost as soon as Gordon realizes there is something going on that he can’t comprehend, he approaches Michelle to ask if they could talk privately, to which she immediately agrees. That’s when he learns about Bump, whose passing in 2022 affected his father to such an extent that he essentially lost his spark in every sense of the term – Michelle could see it. She reveals Bump had special needs. He was born without an esophagus, so one had to be crafted for him from his stomach when he was just a newborn, yet he still ended up developing asthma. Leo raised him and Jason as a single father from when they were just toddlers.
Gordon then chooses to speak to Leo alone in his car outside, only to realize there was not just grief but also a lot of trauma that the chef was holding in. It turns out Bump was right at the restaurant doing dishes the night before the fateful day, and it was his father who found him the next morning. He even performed CPR in the hopes of saving his son, but sadly, it was too late. Yet, Leo says, looking back, he doesn’t know what was harder: having to take life-saving measures on his son on his own or having to tell his other son that his brother was gone.
Though, the most shocking thing is when Leo admits he didn’t take any time off. Bump passed away on Sunday, and he was back at work at Leo’s Italian Grill on Monday morning. This is when it all becomes too much for Gordon, making him express his condolences before telling the chef that if he didn’t deal with his emotions, he would be putting himself “six feet under,” forget the business. Leo finally understands he is the most significant reason the restaurant isn’t doing well, so he agrees there must be a change since he knows his son would have wanted that too.
Leo is Finally Ensuring No One’s Hard Work Goes in Vain
Despite Leo’s realization that he wants to keep Leo’s Italian Grill alive to honor Bump, it takes him meeting a fellow family man turned Italian chef in his home state to get back into his groove. During their conversation, set up by Gordon, Ghostline Kitchens’ Chef Cole asks about his background in terms of how he got into cooking in the first place. He was 10 when he was introduced to this world via a cookbook gifted to him by an uncle, after which he never really stepped away from it. Then, his mother decided he should get a job at a restaurant at the age of 14.
They put Leo at the flat-top grill, and he worked his way up until he and Michelle were able to open their own place in 2019. But then, Leo himself admits he hasn’t cooked with a smile on his face or for fun for two years since losing Bump, but Cole’s presence as he learns to make authentic Carborna by him helps a lot. All this is going on while Gordon’s renovation team is breathing new life into Leo’s Italian Grill, which the family knew was necessary, yet they were still afraid it would take away their essence. However, that’s not what happens at all. Not only them but also the entire staff love the new space – simple green walls, checkered mats on tables, new appliances, and a wall honoring Bump with his photo alongside all the photographs he took as a passion.
Their updated menu also gives them hope, which they are able to keep up with a renewed perspective, fresh ingredients, and open communication during their full-house reopening. They have a lull where it seems like Leo will shut down again, but a simple break and direction are all he needs to find his voice. In the Two Month Update, Leo’s Italian Grill is still going great. As for Leo, we learn he has been keeping up with what he needs to do and has truly found his spark back. He has also been going to a therapist to deal with his loss. He and Michelle are proud of what they have established and can’t wait to continue with it.
Update on Leo’s Italian Grill
Located beautifully at 887 Highway 21 West in Cedar Creek, Texas, Leo’s Italian Grill seems to be thriving today. From what we can tell, ever since it got a much-needed revamp of both its home as well as menu and the Executive Chef re-discovered his passion, the place has simply been buzzing. The fact the business doesn’t have much competition right nearby definitely helps, but so does the quality of their food and good service.
We should also mention that Leo’s is actually much more than just a sitting establishment. They have karaoke every single Wednesday, they have an in-house bar, they provide catering services, and they even make specialized menus for different occasions. In fact, for Valentine’s Day 2024, they added Steak Oscar, Tuscan Salmon, Chicken Provence, and Creme Brule to their menu. Honestly, it genuinely appears as if everything is going well for not just the restaurant but also its owners and employees at the moment, so we hope that it continues for them all for years to come.
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