Jack's Waterfront - Kitchen Nightmares Update - Open or Closed?

In this Kitchen Nightmares episode, Gordon Ramsay visits Jack's Waterfront in St Clair Shores, Michigan.

Jack's Waterfront is a lakeside seafood restaurant.

It is owned by three body builders Bill, Tammer and Scott.

St Clair Shores is a popular summer resort community not far from Detroit.

Jack’s is known for entertainment for the young holiday crowd.

It is empty during winter when only the locals remain.

They believe their reputation for bad food is what is killing their business.

Tammer's father, AJ, was brought in to hopefully improve the kitchen.

It didn’t work and he was made General Manager so they wouldn’t have to fire him.

He has become problematic and flirts with female customers.

AJ also has a habit of getting drunk to the annoyance of Bill and Scott.

Scott is also terrifying the customers with his presence.

Due to the amount of complaints, Tammer and Bill had to make him a silent partner.

Aaron is the new Chef brought in to replace AJ in the kitchen.

He isn’t being given enough space or freedom with the menu.

They are currently pumping more money in than they are getting out.

Scott has put the most money in with $500,000 invested.

They owe different taxes and are currently in over $500,000 of debt.

Gordon arrives during winter and snowmobiles across the frozen lake to Jack’s.

A.J greets Gordon and he later meets Scott and Bill.

Gordon talks to them all individually.

Bill is first and tells Gordon he puts in 65 hours a week.

Scott was pushed out because he intimidated staff and customers.

AJ mirrors Bill's response to Gordons questions.

Scott says he wants to be more involved in the restaurant.

Bill believes the problem with the restaurant is the food.

AJ thinks the food is good.

Scott lays the blame on AJ, who is drinking right in front of them at the bar.

Gordon sits in the restaurant to try the food they serve.

He orders a ‘Krab’ Omelette, Pecan Salmon and Fish and Chips.

Scott stares at Gordon whilst he is ordering and eating, making him feel uncomfortable.

The Krab Omelette comes and the server speaks to Aaron about the K for Crab.

He finds out from the chef crab is spelt with a K because the meal is made with artificial crab meat.

Aaron didn’t want to mislead people that it was real crab meat.

Gordon is baffled that a seafood restaurant located beside the water would serve artificial seafood.

The Krab Omelette is rubbery and horrible.

AJ says he has no idea the crab meat was fake.

He says that he is allergic to shellfish so he never tasted the dish.

Next, the Fish and Chips are rubbery, greasy and very obviously made with frozen fish.

The Salmon is too sweet.

Gordon says it is one of the worst salmon dishes he has ever eaten.

Gordon enters the kitchen to speak with staff.

Aaron tells him the fake crab meat is inventory the restaurant had before he got there.

He says that he is not in charge of the food.

Aaron has no control over shopping for produce or the menu.

AJ deflects blame, as well as Scott, for the menu management.

Gordon observes the night’s dinner service.

Tammer comes in after working a full day and meets with Gordon.

He informs Gordon that AJ is supposed to be in charge.

Gordon begins the kitchen inspection and watches Aaron work.

It takes 45 minutes before the first orders of the night leave the kitchen.

Chef Aaron is struggling to control the staff.

They ignore him when he is calling orders and go out to smoke whenever they please.

Customers start complaining almost immediately about the food.

The complains about the food are that it is too chewy, too raw and basically bad food.

While all this is going on, AJ is smoking and socializing with the guests rather than dealing with issues.

Bill is comping meals and drinks and lots of food is being thrown away.

The biggest issue with the restaurant is that there is no clear leader and no one is in charge.

Gordon tells Tammer that he has to separate family from business.

It is the only way to be able to turn the restaurant around.

AJ had 44 years of restaurant experience but it doesn’t show.

He is the only one getting paid an astounding $100,000 a year.

Gordon inspects the kitchen early in the morning.

He sees salmon marinating in Italian spices, tuna dyed pink and solid mushroom risotto stuck to a pan.

When the staff come in, he takes them on a tour of the fridge.

They see spoiled condiments and rotting produce.

There is beef sat in a tray of blood and old, grey chicken.

AJ says he is not at fault.

Scott is angry, and they all come together to deep clean the kitchen.

Gordon meets with a local fisherman and catches a fish himself.

The fisherman says he hates the food at Jack’s as their fish is buried in sauces.

Gordon gets a promise from the fisherman to come by to taste a chowder made with their catch of the day.

Gordon shows Aaron and AJ how to make a chowder served in a bread bun.

He shows them a poached salmon that's simple enough not to put too much pressure on the kitchen staff.

Scott is made to work a section.

He will take orders and serve for the evening with a challenge not to stare at customers.

He flounders but Gordon gives him a pep talk.

Aaron tries to give instructions but his staff are not listening to him.

The customers are left waiting 45 minutes to 1 hour for their meals.

The kitchen staff don’t respect him.

Gordon had to give them all a pep talk to get them to listen to Aaron.

The specials are going down well but everything else is being sent back.

AJ is lost and waddles around the restaurant, unsure what to do.

The evening service is a disaster.

There is a staff meeting afterwards.

Gordon tells Aaron he has to command respect in the kitchen.

He also says that A.J. is at fault for creating that culture and he is being overpaid.

Gordon’s design team works overnight for the relaunch.

The new Jack’s has an aquarium and fish tanks on the walls.

Corrugated iron is used as accents to brighten up and modernise the place.

There are ropes on the tables for customers to occupy themselves.

They are for practicing tying knots from the backs of the menus while waiting for their food.

The menu is changed to incorporate fresh seafood and fresh produce.

On relaunch night, there is a snowstorm but customers still turn up for the service.

Scott is pleasant to customers and Aaron tries to take control of the kitchen.

He loses control soon after the restaurant is at capacity.

AJ is not doing enough to help in the kitchen and makes it worse.

Scott is forced to speak up in support of Aaron and restores order in the kitchen.

Food then goes out faster and customers enjoy the new food.

Aaron holds his kitchen staff accountable.

The relaunch night overall is a success and customers are happy.

Gordon has a final meeting with the owners and they are happy and pleased.

All except for AJ, who is made to cut back on hours and pay.

What Happened Next at Jack's Waterfront?

In the weeks that followed, Aaron was given full control over the kitchen menu and staffing.

Two cooks were fired and two new experienced sous chefs were hired.

AJ was eventually fired, making space for a new General Manager.

Jack's Waterfront closed in December 2010.

Yelp reviews after the episode filmed were mostly positive.

The handful of negative comments were on service.

Jack's reopened as Dockside Jack's in March 2011.

Yelp reviews were good but it closed after just a month.

They sold the restaurant back to the previous owners.

It became Brownies on the Lake in April 2011.

Yelp reviews are mixed.

Jack's Waterfront aired on November 06 2008, the episode was filmed in March 2008 and is Kitchen Nightmares season 2 episode 7.

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