Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment – very few of us choose to go to Hooters for the quality of the food. Sure, the wings, fries and onion rings are tasty enough but as far as memorable culinary experiences go… well, that’s not really the point is it?
Image credits: ViralHog
However, what you do expect from any restaurant are cleanliness, food safety and good hygiene. All of these things were called into question recently after a video of a Hooters kitchen, secretly filmed by a customer, went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Image credits: ViralHog
“I proceeded to sit at the far end of the bar next to where servers receive food and drinks from behind the bar,” Kurt Fortner said when sharing the video to ViralHog. “My intentions were to have a few adult beverages and possibly some of their wings. To my surprise, I noticed multiple health and safety violations. Ranging from raw chicken on the floor, dirty drinks left on the counter. Even cleaning out the bottom of the fryer with the same utensils used for food service.”
Image credits: ViralHog
“I witnessed three managers on duty two in the front of the house and one in the back of the house. That is the time I took the video discreetly without being noticed. I end up leaving without ordering any food.”
Image credits: ViralHog
You can’t really blame him for leaving, can you? The video has been viewed almost 75k times since the incident took place back in November 2017 at a Hooters in Hampton, Virginia. We can only hope that steps have been taken to rectify the situation!
Speaking to Bored Panda, Kurt said that he’s never gone back to the restaurant, and doesn’t intend to in the future. “There was too much cross-contamination, food was being cooked with the same utensils used to clean out the bottom of the fryer,” he told us. “They would quickly transition from chicken wing prep to plating with no glove change or washing of their hands.”
“It was disgusting and I worked at Ruby Tuesdays so I have seen shady and understand what service should be. Too many people are focused upon attractive females instead of good work practices, which is unfortunate because Hooters itself has OK food.”
Image credits: ViralHog
Kurt and his wife Lisa run Poseidon Aquatic Services, a swimming pool and hot tub business based in Virginia. He knows what it takes to instill good business practices in order to run a successful team. “Coming from a business owner, problems start at the top,” he said. “If you watch the video the employees are programmed to do bad practices it’s been neglected for so long it’s normal now.”
“Hooters focus is more on the girls and their appearance, they have some of the oldest equipment around, for example, a tennis ball and string with receipts. We have one left in our area and this is it. Before long this will be shutting down.”
“Like I said it starts with leadership, it starts at the top.”
Image credits: ViralHog
Since the very first Hooters opened in Clearwater, Florida in 1983, the chain has gone on to open over 400 ‘breasterants’ in 28 countries. The main feature has always been the scantily clad servers with their low-cut tops and tight orange shorts, who are meant to represent the “All-American Cheerleader” and the “Girl Next Door.”
“Much more than just a pretty face, Hooters girls have game,” the franchise website says. “They’re intelligent and attentive, using their energy, experience and personalities to serve guests everywhere to live in the moment and take a break from the outside world.”
However, the brand has become outdated and increasingly irrelevant in this day and age, with the younger generation less sold on the blatant objectification of women. Business Insider reported that the number of Hooters restaurants have decreased and sales stagnated, forcing the chain to change its marketing strategy. Perhaps they could start by cleaning their kitchens a little better?
Watch the shocking video for yourself below
Image credits: ViralHog
What do you think? Would you still eat at a Hooters? Is the franchise still relevant for the easygoing atmosphere and no-frills fun they provide? Or is it outdated, seedy and increasingly out of touch with the younger generations? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
Here’s what people had to say about the incident
What kind of comment is that that if I want to eat in a restaurant with a clean kitchen I should learn to cook for myself and that most working kitchens look like this??. Maybe that is the what it is like where Shaun Hicks lives but thankfully not everywhere. My Brother used to be a head chef if several hotels and restaurants and had a degree in food science and preperation and he would have a major meltdown if he saw this. He gave me a serve one day when we were doing the dishes in my mother's kitchen and I scratched my head and then picked up a plate to dry. And I can happily say that about most restaurants. Even the Mc Donald's I worked in years ago was meticulous about hygene. This place is disgusting and should be shut down. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't cause an outbreak of food poisoning.
I quit a job after 3 hours in a kitchen (I was the dish pig) they only gave me 3 tea towels to use for a full lunch service. F*****g gross and I couldn't be part of it.
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erm, maybe this is a cultural thing, but I've worked in a few kitchens in my life (one of them was of a well-known burger franchise) and NONE ever looked like that! (I live in Germany, btw) Sure, when it gets busy, it might look a BIT disorganized and messy but seriously, there wasn't like a few moments to dust off the counters?! Even during lunch rush on the burger chain it never looked like this! I fully understand that kitchens aren't always clean to squeak, but this is just plain gross! And implying that it is merely a normal dinner rush is just absurd. They serve chicken for heaven sake! Salmonella is no joke!
You are so right! That was DIRTY!! Not messy, not disorganised, it was DIRTY!!. Does the U.S not have restaurant inspections? That was months of grime. Must be an American thing!
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To be fair, the type of people who eat in Hooters aren't gonna be looking at the floor or their plates are they?
What kind of comment is that that if I want to eat in a restaurant with a clean kitchen I should learn to cook for myself and that most working kitchens look like this??. Maybe that is the what it is like where Shaun Hicks lives but thankfully not everywhere. My Brother used to be a head chef if several hotels and restaurants and had a degree in food science and preperation and he would have a major meltdown if he saw this. He gave me a serve one day when we were doing the dishes in my mother's kitchen and I scratched my head and then picked up a plate to dry. And I can happily say that about most restaurants. Even the Mc Donald's I worked in years ago was meticulous about hygene. This place is disgusting and should be shut down. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't cause an outbreak of food poisoning.
I quit a job after 3 hours in a kitchen (I was the dish pig) they only gave me 3 tea towels to use for a full lunch service. F*****g gross and I couldn't be part of it.
Load More Replies... erm, maybe this is a cultural thing, but I've worked in a few kitchens in my life (one of them was of a well-known burger franchise) and NONE ever looked like that! (I live in Germany, btw) Sure, when it gets busy, it might look a BIT disorganized and messy but seriously, there wasn't like a few moments to dust off the counters?! Even during lunch rush on the burger chain it never looked like this! I fully understand that kitchens aren't always clean to squeak, but this is just plain gross! And implying that it is merely a normal dinner rush is just absurd. They serve chicken for heaven sake! Salmonella is no joke!
You are so right! That was DIRTY!! Not messy, not disorganised, it was DIRTY!!. Does the U.S not have restaurant inspections? That was months of grime. Must be an American thing!
Load More Replies... To be fair, the type of people who eat in Hooters aren't gonna be looking at the floor or their plates are they?
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