Restaurant Revisited: Windseeker Restaurant by Maria Russo in Shows, January 16th, 2013
For Windseeker Restaurant in The Dalles, Ore., the problems went beyond a tired dining room and lackluster food. They had been battling negative press for years, and owner Veta Bingman and general manager Patty Taylor faced a constant struggle to attract customers to their out-of-the-way location, despite the breathtaking river views that surround them. In just two days and with a $10,000 budget, Robert Irvine and his Restaurant: Impossible team transformed the eatery into a sophisticated space complete with a high-quality menu that would improve Windseeker’s local reputation. We checked in with Patty a few months after Robert left to find out how the restaurant is doing today.
Comparing year-over-year numbers, Patty says that “Business is up by $30,000″ following the renovation, and she adds that the cost of food and wages has increased as well. Since their Restaurant: Impossible experience, the staff has not borrowed money from the restaurant.
Veta has allowed Patty to run the restaurant within her role as general manager, which recently has become more important than ever, as Veta has been in and out of the hospital. Patty is no longer bartending or cooking lunch, but she continues to be a front-of-house server and has also taken on the responsibility of ordering supplies for the restaurant. Despite these demands, Patty tells us that she was able to take a vacation in October.
More From Restaurant Revisited:
Whiskey Creek Steakhouse (January 2)
Rising Sun Bistro (December 19)
Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Missouri (December 9)
Bronk’s Bar and Grill (December 5)
Rohrer’s Tavern (November 28)
Poco’s on the Boulevard (November 21)
Oleander Bar and Grill (October 17)
Valley Inn (October 10)
Whistle Stop (October 3)
The Maple Tree Cafe (September 26)
Michele’s (September 19)
Paliani’s Restaurant (September 12)
Frankie’s (September 5)
Gusanoz (August 29)
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More posts from Maria Russo.
Tags: Restaurant Impossible
Wow. Enough about the pit bull. I think the restaurant looks great and I look forward to eating there. I have in the past and the food wasn't worth going back to. Hope it succeeds!
I ate there last week for lunch and the food and the service was good. I only stopped there on a whim and that the setting looked inviting. Total shock to see this restaurant was picked and this drama had gone on–probably this last summer. I love Robert's show and was riveted to the TV for the entire hour. I was happy for all involved with amazing transformation. I will make a point of stopping again for lunch when in the area.
Agree about the pit bull comments but you are judge mental regarding a woman you have never met. Down right mean.
Pit Bulls maybe "family" dogs and loving towards owners however once outside their home they can become protective and territorial. Sadly the fighting issue has brought out the negative behaviors and insticts of the breed and Pit Bulls are not the only dog breed this happened too, unfortunately.
My wife and I agree that Veta's treatment of her daughter is attrocious. This is the first Retaurant Impossible where we hope that the restaurant FAILS only because of Veta. Now Patty is another story. It is clear that she wants to steal the restaurant away from Tiffany. Veta should just disown her daughter and adopt Patty. It would be the best for all parties and hopefully when the restaurant goes belly up, Veta and Patty can live on the streets together.
As a person that knows the family you could not be more off base. Tiffany, the daughter has some pretty serious issues and Veda has tried, tried, and tried again to support her and help her with her demons. Sometimes love and support are not enough and Tiffany needs to make some changes before she could be a good employee to anyone unfortunately
If you know them so well how come you can't spell her name?
I was just thinking that myself.
lmao
Tiffany does not ever have to be an employee. She was still treated atrociously.
What planet are you living on? Have you had a son or daughter steal from you to support their drugs? You come home and find your television missing, money you had hid in a dresser drawer gone, a stolen credit card of yours they maxed out????. It is hard to TRUST this person after they have repeately done this offense. To include this person into your business……………pretty scarey and a stupid idea. You seem to be really counting on the restaurant going belly up…………Shame on you! Get your head out of the mushroom patch and try supporting them dumbass.
I agree. We have no idea of the family history. I've seen plenty of families like this. Even if the daughter is clean now, sometimes the wounds run too deep to just say it was the "drugs" that made the daughter do whatever she did to her mother. I say let Patty and Tiff go off to other pastures. Veda should get a GM who knows what they are doing from the get-go. Everyone starts fresh and clean. People lick their wounds and move on.
Lets just be honest here…almost everyone in that episode was on something…scripted or illegal. It was almost a game.
Had a situation like that Karen and after 2 years of not talking, we started talking, only for her to break my heart yet again. "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." Never again for me. It is best for Tiffanie to find another job where no one knows about her unfortunate past (if indeed she has one) and she can be judged for her merits and failures from someone not biased. Patty needs to back the freak off and let the family work out their own crap (or not) without her meddling. She is an employee and needs to behave like one. Enough said.
if that's all you have to say is negativity then don't say anything at all. you probably don't even own a restaurant so don't know what you're talking about. if you want to be an ass and downgrade people you don't even know don't leave such a ridiculous reply. idiot.
We had a (reality) tv show do a show in our lounge one week. They took down all of the Valentines decor and put up New Years Eve decorations and the cue cards had things on them like "Call her stupid" So much for reality!!!! I wonder how much of Patty's and Veta's tough attitude was real? I sure got people talking about the restaurant didn't it???? Maybe enough just to come back and watch the fight…
Ruff ruff Amy. Hahaha. Tool!
Very intelligent. Good job.
Only comment you've made that has made any sense Amy.
Again, if you people don't like what I have to say DON"T READ IT. DON"T COMMENT ON IT.
Ruff Ruff Ruff
Take your own advice – if you don't like people's comments, don't read them.
Wow! Everyone is worked up over Pitbull comments!!! Grow up! It is a figure of speach only, not meant to offend anyone. As far as the restaurant goes I am 2 1/2 hours away and we plan on a weekend trip to try it out. We never knew there was anything great past the Cousin's Restaurant we see passing by on our way to Portland. I sincerely hope that Tiffany gets her act together, stays off drugs and make her mother proud. A very hard thing to do if you are constantly critized and have no self esteem. Tiffany needs to leave the Dalles, get away from all of the "old drug friends" and start new. As far as Patty…..hmmm??? I'm torn on whether she is sincere or a gold digger. Time will tell.
Try another trip, across the river on Hwy 114 to Klickitat! My sister and her husband own Huntington's, an historic saloon and steakhouse. They are open everyday but Wednesdays and from 4 pm to about 9 or so for the greatest steak dinner ever! Hundred year old saloon, full bar, over 21. I know I sound like an ad, but I live in Phoenix AZ and return as much as I possibly can!
Get a grip lady, try not complaining, try something good. For goodness sakes!!
Think we all realized why Amy's husband joint the army…It's cheaper then a devorce
The design was amazing!!!!!!!!!!! Excellent job!!!
I totally agree with Tim Shehan! Robert can't tell a pair of passive aggressive weirdos from a hole in the wall. Poor Tiffany.
There is no way I would eat there. I would not eat anywhere where employees are allowed to be treated badly by Patty. I would not do business with anyone who treats her own daughter the way Veta treated Tiffany. I felt sorry for Tiffany. Tiffany may have some problems but who wouldn't being treated that way. Allowing someone like Patty to come between her and her daughter is sickening! Patty needs to be gone! She's playing mind games with Veta and Veta is too stupid to see it. I agree with Terry… Patty does not want anyone working there that is smarter then she is. It wouldn't take much to be smarter or have more class then her. I really hope something good happens to Tiffany. I hope Tiffany meets someone who can help her be successful. She is a talented gardner. The designers did a great job by the way.