Aeillo's restaurant is packed once again, but tonight the diners will get more than just five star cuisine. Two mobsters, slick Mike McGlone and heavy Alex Corrado, have come with an offer Aeillo isn't supposed to refuse. Aeillo has also seen to it that a police detective (Walt MacPherson) is dining at the same time. Further intrigue is provided by a mysterious barfly, a bartender trivia expert (Jamie Harris), and a rude self-important customer (Mark Margolis).
How others will see it. Viewers won't care that the bartender should be on "Jeopardy" instead, and they won't spend too much time wondering how meals are prepared in a windowless kitchen when the power is out. They won't wonder why a cop has been brought in to investigate a double mob hit even though it occurs with him in the next room, and even though the man blocking access to the crime scene has spent the evening dining at Aiello's table. Mighty suspicious coincidence?
Not for viewers, who will care more about whether waitress Phoenix will get her paintings displayed at Margolis' gallery, or whether Ballerini will score with The Food Nymph. However, they won't dwell much on whether Acevedo will win his college basketball bet. Clearly, he's going to lose, because it's more cinematic that way.
How I felt about it. We know that Aiello has been a bookmaker all his adult life. But is he a mobster? He has a legitimate business. He says he's never held a gun. But others may be doing the dirty work for him. There's a reason he has the cash on hand to pay off Acevedo's debt.
One subplot involves Acevedo's gambling, which has him down 13K to mobsters. And that doesn't count what he owes Aeillo. But his life is safe, for one reason only. He is the only cook at Aeillo's restaurant willing to prepare traditional Italian meals for the owner, who cares little for its many "signature" gormet delicacies.
A mini-plot involves the romantic allegiance of Vivian Wu, who for some reason prefers an indebted and irresponsible kitchen cook to the owner's wealthy and highly successful son. Maybe Wu believes Acevedo has a life insurance policy.
More instructive are the episodes starring Margolis, a classic "Ugly American" who insults and harangues the staff, who have no choice but to freeze their smiles and bite their tongues. Margolis' young entourage is amused by their leader's bad behavior, ensuring that another generation of jerks will graduate to claim unwarranted privileges. And they will get them, with you and me paying the tab.