Ep 1. Raising The Stakes

In the first episode of Restaurant Startup Season 3, titled "Raising The Stakes," guests Joe Bastianich and Tim Love are back to put their money where their mouth is and invest in new restaurant concepts from budding entrepreneurs.

The episode starts with a familiar scene, with hundreds of applicants from all over the country waiting to pitch their food concepts to the investors. The first to take the hot seat are Jack and Cesar, co-founders of Boil and Bite, a food truck that specializes in seafood boils. They are seeking $150,000 to open their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Los Angeles.

Joe and Tim are impressed with Boil and Bite's seafood concept, but are skeptical about their ability to make the transition from food truck to full-service restaurant. The investors ask the entrepreneurs to showcase their cooking abilities by preparing a tasting menu, which they will present to some of the toughest food critics in the business.

Next up are the founders of Bacon Bites, a fast-casual restaurant chain hoping to revolutionize the way people eat bacon. The founders, a husband-and-wife team, are seeking $200,000 to fund their expansion plans. They present their bacon-inspired menu to the investors, which includes bacon-wrapped shrimp, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, and even bacon-wrapped ice cream.

Tim is skeptical of Bacon Bites' longevity, remarking that while people may love bacon, they will eventually grow tired of the same flavors and crave something new. Joe, on the other hand, sees potential in the chain's bacon-centric approach and asks the husband-and-wife team to provide a financial breakdown of their existing stores.

Lastly, the investors hear a pitch from the founders of Southern Fatties, a comfort food restaurant concept from Memphis, Tennessee. The founders, two best friends, are asking for $125,000 to renovate their current location and expand their menu.

Joe and Tim are impressed with Southern Fatties' unique Southern comfort food offerings, which include deep-fried mac and cheese balls and banana pudding shakes. However, they have concerns about the restaurant's branding and ask the founders to seek out a graphic designer to help them create a more cohesive brand message.

After the pitch sessions are finished, Joe and Tim deliberate on which concept to invest in. They ultimately decide to invest in one of the three concepts, providing the entrepreneurs with the financial backing and guidance they need to achieve their restaurant dreams.

Overall, "Raising The Stakes" sets the tone for another exciting season of Restaurant Startup, showcasing some of the most innovative and mouth-watering concepts from up-and-coming food entrepreneurs. The episode is full of tense moments, hilarious one-liners, and of course, incredible food. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats waiting to see which concept Joe and Tim ultimately decide to invest in.