Mystery Diners

                    Sometimes a restaurant can fall apart because of one person.  Often the owners know there is a problem somewhere, but they do not know for certain who or what is causing it.  That is where the show Mystery Diners comes in.  Charles Stiles and his team set up cameras throughout the restaurant and send people in undercover in order to figure out what is really going on when the boss is away.              

                Most often the people calling in Mr. Stiles are owners, but there have been a few managers as well.  They all usually have a suspicion as to who is creating the trouble, and Mr. Stiles directs the attention towards that person.  He sends in team members posing as new employees, customers, and vendors.  They interact with the suspect in an effort to bring out the bad behavior.  As the cameras are rolling, the owner sits in a nearby control room with Mr. Stiles.  They get very uncomfortable with what they witness.  If Mr. Stiles did not keep the owners calm, I think most of them would fly out of the control room and confront the employee before they had all the proof they need.  Not that I would blame them.  Their employees are doing some atrocious things.

                The most common thing that happens is theft.  Of course money is stolen directly, but that is not the only thing or way these people steal.  Some give away food and drinks to customers without any clear reason.  Others give unnecessary discounts.  Then there are those who steal the food.  More than once large pieces of meat have walked out the door with an employee.  This is just what people steal.  Other behavior causes problems as well.  People fall asleep on the job.  Customers have been ignored.  Fellow employees have been treated badly as they are lead with manipulation or threatening.  Those in charge frequently let the power go to their heads.    

                Each show ends with a confrontation.  It is funny how many of the culprits deny doing anything wrong, even when they are faced with the video evidence.  They try to say what they did was misunderstood or that is was in order to help the restaurant.  I have a feeling most would beg to differ.           

                Most of the episodes of Mystery Diners I have seen. I believe there is only a couple I have not. Some I have seen more than once. That is not hard to accomplish since I try to watch every week. Lately the only thing that has truly kept me from watching during the usual scheduled time slot was the Australian Open. For anyone who reads this blog regularly, does that really come as a surprise?