The Restaurant, Season 2, Episode 3: Mamma Knows Best

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of dining at Rocco’s with RNO editor David Bloomberg. We walked into the restaurant, and who did we see right away, but Mamma herself! It was very cool to actually eat dinner in the restaurant that I’ve watched obsessively on TV for so many weeks. For dinner, I had a Caesar salad and spaghetti with Mamma’s meatballs. Those meatballs are legendary for a reason, people. They were fabulous. Mamma came to talk to us after our meal, and she was an absolute delight. She’s much like she is on TV, a very warm and loving person. But she is not just a sweet old lady – Mamma is very, very sharp. And it’s obvious who taught Rocco how to work a room. I also got to meet Uzay, who was very friendly, and, I must say, a good looking guy. If you’re in New York, go to Rocco’s and get some meatballs. You won’t be disappointed.

On with the show! It’s past closing time, and the staff is talking about the turmoil that’s going on. Carrie feels like Jeffrey is a dad who just ambushed his teenage son Rocco. Shane says that Rocco had no idea that Jeffrey thought there were so many problems. Carrie agrees, adding that Jeffrey was never around before. Shane says it’s a power struggle, but it doesn’t matter because, “Mamma runs this place.” Uzay agrees.

Rocco is at his apartment with his girlfriend Yvonne. He says that he doesn’t understand the ultimatum that Jeffrey gave him. “How much more on board can I be?” he wonders. He says he’s put his heart into the place, and Mamma is dedicating her life to it. Well, it sounds like Mamma is on board, perhaps more than Rocco is.

In his limo, Jeffrey lines up a meeting with an up and coming young chef named Ralph. He says that things with Rocco might not work out, so he needs to lineup some alternatives.

Rocco visits Mamma in her apartment, and she has a surprise for him. It’s the video of his graduation day from the Culinary Institute of America. Rocco can’t believe how young and skinny he looked way back in 1986. Mamma watches proudly – both live and on tape – as Rocco wins a special award. They’re both excited to see Rocco’s grandmother in the video. Rocco says that he is giving the graduation speech at the CIA and that Mamma will go to watch him speak. Rocco hopes that Jeffrey doesn’t do anything drastic while he’s gone. Mamma advises him to talk to Jeffrey before he goes. Rocco says he’s really been trying to work things out. Mamma says he may have to compromise, but he shouldn’t give up. That’s good advice.

Jeffrey meets young chef Ralph. He tells Ralph all about the financial problems at the restaurant and about the tension between him and Rocco. Meanwhile, Rocco leaves a message on Jeffrey’s cell phone saying that they need to work things out. Ralph tells Jeffrey that cooking comes naturally to him and that he really loves it. He has an Italian family, and when he cooks, he likes to put on a show every night. Rocco concludes his message to Jeffrey by saying, “This has to stop.” Cut to Jeffrey, telling Ralph he’d like him to cook a trial meal for him.

This scene made Jeffrey look pretty bad, talking to some new chef as Rocco tries to work things out with him. But to be fair, Jeffrey didn’t know that Rocco was calling him to try to make peace. It will be interesting to see how these two men handle the situation.

Back at Rocco’s, Tony the chef has a meeting with Jeffrey’s chef Luke. Luke asks him, “Who do you work for?” Tony says that he works for China Grill Management, but that Rocco hired him. In other words, he’s in the middle. Luke doesn’t want Tony to be torn, so how can they fix this? Tony says that Rocco and Jeffrey need to resolve their differences, and until then, he has allegiances to both of them. Luke advises him to align himself with the restaurant, not with either party. He tells Tony he can work with Luke, or he’ll have to get rid of him. Wait, what? Tony nervously picks at his fingers and says that Rocco is hardly ever there, and that he and Mamma do it all.

Poor Tony. I have a sinking suspicion that if anyone is going to get the short end of the stick in this conflict, it’ll be him.

It’s 6:00, the deadline for Jeffrey’s ultimatum. The two men talk on the phone, and Rocco admits that he’s not sure what Jeffrey wants from him. Jeffrey says that they shouldn’t waste any more energy on the past, and they need to decide if they’re going to do this project together or not. He needs a good faith effort from Rocco. There are some things he wants to change – the wine list and the silverware, for example. Rocco says that’s the kind of thing partners should discuss, but that their partnership has not been a normal one. Rocco says that he feels he’s held up his end of things. The food is great, and he’s done a terrific job of marketing the place. I’d say that’s true. Rocco recognizes that Jeffrey has invested a lot of money in the place and doesn’t want to lose it. Jeffrey suggests that they address the staff together, and Rocco agrees.

Rocco heads to the Culinary Institute of America with his PR manager Ian. Mamma will join them the next day. Rocco wants to inspire the graduates, but he’d also love to find a talented new chef in their midst. He arrives and meets the students. Then, he sees Chef Sonnenschmidt, his mentor. Rocco offers to teach the chef how to make Mamma’s famous meatballs. Chef Sonnenshmidt says that there is a tradition that when the apprentice surpasses the master, the master presents him with a knife. The chef does just that, and Rocco is visibly moved.