The owners of J Willy's Bar & Grille in South Bend, IN, are in $1.2 million in debt and have called in Chef Gordon Ramsay in hopes that he can help give them a fresh start. With no one running the kitchen, most of the fare is straight from the freezer or out of a can. To start fresh, Gordon challenges the staff to spend the night cleaning out the kitchen and throwing away all the rotten food lurking in the coolers. The next morning, Gordon brings in fresh ingredients and teaches the cooks how to make various dishes that will be featured at that night's dinner service. However, when the inexperienced cooks get flustered, the kitchen spirals out of control and brings one customer to tears. Find out if Gordon will be able to bring the restaurant up to his standards or if J Willy's will be forced to close their doors forever.

Chef Ramsay visits St. Clair Shores, MI, where three local body builders have taken over Jack's Waterfront, a popular spot for boaters during the summer months. However, with the imitation seafood and lack of management, this restaurant is slowly going under. With the owners and head chef willing to take Gordon's advice, they hope to turn the restaurant around so that it will prosper year-round. However, things start to flounder when the general manager cares more about drinking and socializing with the clientele than keeping the restaurant in business. Will the body builders be able to command this ship or will Jack's Waterfront sink.