The JuJu Bag in New Orleans is half cafe and half barber salon, and both are in desperate need of makeovers. Chef Robert Irvine has his hands full, with a cafe that looks like a cluttered living room, a kitchen without any commercial equipment, an owner who is stubborn despite her inexperience, and to top it all off -- a barbershop renovation!

Normally, struggling restaurant owners know well in advance when Chef Robert Irvine and his team are coming, but this is not a normal mission. To get a truer picture of the problems facing the restaurant, Robert ambushes the owners of Tornatore's Pizzeria in Orlando, Florida, and no one -- the owners, the design team, the crew, not even Robert himself -- knows what's to come.

Three years ago, Gigi opened Gigi's Music Cafe in Sunrise, Fla., but now, her bad business decisions are bringing down the business and taking her daughter Semone with it. Chef Robert Irvine has his hands full, between the books being a complete mess, the lackluster service, the reliance on the microwave in the kitchen and an owner who doesn't seem to realize that her business is failing. An unexpected boat trip may be what Gigi needs to wake up and turn her sinking ship around.

Chef Robert Irvine is in for a taste of nostalgia when he's challenged to fix an old-fashioned lunch counter located inside a family-owned pharmacy. Purchased by Tony more than 50 years ago, Lyon's Pharmacy of Elkton has been a staple in the tight-knit Maryland community, but Tony's daughter Marybeth, a pharmacist by trade, has been struggling to keep it afloat since her father passed away last year. With old, rotted floors and hours needed to restock the pharmacy shelves, Robert needs the full support of the community to pitch in and save a piece of their town's history.

Chef Robert Irvine's in for a 2-in-1 challenge when he's tasked with fixing the Zest Bistro, located inside the Lemon Tree Grocer in Downers Grove, Ill. Best friends Shaun and Tim opened their gourmet grocery store with a full-service bistro almost five years ago, and now both sides of the business are failing and the debts are climbing high. In just two days, Robert will need to reorganize the grocery store, renovate the bistro and ease the growing tension between the owners.

Ken opened up Cocoamoda, a French Bistro with an event space and chocolate boutique, seven years ago in the small town of Calvert, Texas. After failing to attract a following from the major cities, he's now deeply in debt, but refuses to advertise or cater to the local community. Ken's daughter calls in Chef Robert Irvine, hoping that the fellow Brit can help her stubborn father see how much help his business really needs.

24-year-old Frankie is torn between his family's two Italian restaurants in Summerville, S.C., and he convinces Chef Robert Irvine to help him save both. Tackling twice the work without any extra time, Robert must get the family and the design team to focus on this double-sized mission.

At over 4,000 square feet, WhaBah Steakhouse in Bowling Green, Ky., presents Robert with his biggest challenge yet! The eight-year-old restaurant/music venue made more than a million dollars in its first year, but the owner has hit the wall and is now facing bankruptcy. Robert and his team will have to turn the owner's spirits around and tackle the many challenges of this supersized space in just two days.