Nine aspiring restaurateurs arrive in Las Vegas, where they meet Robert Irvine and the Restaurant Express Bus. In order to secure one of the eight spots on board, they must first pitch their dream restaurant concept to Robert.
Robert Irvine arrives in Temecula, CA, a small, upscale town with lots of restaurants. The contestants must propose a new restaurant in the town to Robert and the mayor of Temecula, testing their market knowledge.
The Restaurant Express is in Los Angeles and is inspired by Restaurant Impossible, the teams are given 24 hrs and $5K to save two struggling eateries. Robert Irvine and two critics will dine at each location to discern the winner.
Restaurant Express is at the iconic Balboa Pier in New Beach, CA. The remaining 5 contestants must each open a concession stand with 3 dishes: a burger, dessert and something on a stick and produce a commercial for their stand.
Four contestants face their biggest budget challenge: create a supper club with $1K and an empty restaurant shell. There's an auction with items that could be a big benefit during dinner service, challenging them to spend wisely.
The 3 remaining chefs are given a food truck and are challenged to serve groups of diners at three locations: a zoo, an upscale shopping center and a late night bar scene. The winner gets a big advantage in the final challenge.
Restaurant Express arrives at the final location: The M Resort in Las Vegas. The last two chefs standing will be given a budget of $5,000 and must create a restaurant fit for the resort. The winner gets their own restaurant.
