Script
News Anchor: Hi folks! My name is Molly Hill and
welcome to Channel 1 News! Today we have a special investigative report of a
restaurant nestled in the heart of Southern Alabama. Located in Alabaster, AL,
a quaint little restaurant called Joe’s Italian claims to be an authentic
Italian restaurant. At Joe’s they pride themselves on being a family-oriented
restaurant with excellent service. But most importantly, they pride themselves
by the authenticity and quality of their food. However, our investigative
reporter Rachael has a different story. Rachael?
Reporter: Hi, yes, Molly? Molly I’m here at the
scene at Joe’s Italian and let me tell you—though his Joe’s Italian may seem
like a great way to break the monotony of corporate food chains like Olive Garden
and Pizza Hut—it’s certainly no Italy in Alabaster. What you’ll find here
instead if your typical Mom and Pop’s restaurant with a fancy Italian
atmosphere. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Narration: If you judge a restaurant by its cover
you probably wouldn’t think much of Joe’s Italian at first glance. First of
all, it’s obscured by a mass subdivision and its outward appearance closely
resembles that of an outlet mall. However, inside you’ll find yourself in a
whole other country—Italy to be exact. Inside they’ve hung tons of pictures of
their family as well quaint little Italian knickknacks and décor, which overall
create a pleasing Italian atmosphere. Once you sit down you shouldn’t be
surprised to find sit-down restaurant prices. A customer at Joe’s can expect to
pay anywhere from $5.95 to $22.99 on a single entrée. Still, what Joe’s may
lack in affordability they make up in portion size and excellent service. In
fact, you may find that your waiter is just as friendly as your guests and half
of your food ends up in a to-go box. So what about their food?
Appetizer: First, Joe’s brings out their standard
appetizer, free of charge, which if their bottomless fresh bread and olive oil
with herbs. Definitely a nice change from the typical buttered rolls and
breadsticks! The fresh and unique appetizer seems to be a hit too! Many people seem
to really enjoy the fresh bread, including our expert food critic, Josh Miller.
[Insert
Interview: So, Josh what did you think of Joe’s appetizer. Did you enjoy the
bread? What did you enjoy most about it?]
Main Course: Just moments after you’re finished with
the bread the waiter is sure to promptly bring out your table’s food. Although
Joe’s offers many classic Italian dishes from “Pollo Fettuccini alla Panna” to
“Cheese Pizza,” we decided to focus on a classic Italian dish that has room for
interpretation and originality—the lasagna—otherwise known as “Lasagna Bianca”
at Joe’s Italian. After our amazing appetizers, service, and atmosphere our
expectations of the main course were high. Yet the lasagna was anything but
satisfying. Our next expert food critic, Joseph Woolfork, can tell you more
about it.
[Insert
interview: So Joseph, you’re a world renowned food critic, is that right? And
how did you feel about the lasagna you had at Joe’s? How was it presented, how
did it taste, how was the overall quality of this dish? Do you feel that your
lasagna was truly authentic Italian? Also, would you recommend the dish to a
friend?]
Dessert: After a heaping of filling bread and what’s sure to be a
stuffing main course, it’s nearly impossible to imagine you’d still be hungry
for more—but just in case you’re still craving that Italian taste—you can
always purchase one of Joe’s Italian’s colossal slices of cake. Pretty
impressive, huh? If by some miracle you left room for dessert Joe’s cake will
certainly fill it up! Not only do they give their customers great portion sizes
but the critics agree that this cake is delicious! Our last expert food critic,
Hannah Gamble, can tell you more about it.
[Insert
Interview: So Hannah, what did you think of the cake in terms of size, portion,
and taste? Would you recommend Joe’s Italian cake to a friend?]
Reporter: Still, some viewers may ask, is this
really authentic Italian? Well, let’s take a closer look!
Narration:
Atmosphere: While the outward atmosphere was all
but uninviting and possibly even a little bit confusing, the inside certainly
had its Italian charm. The establishment clearly went out of their way to
appear friendly and authentic—after all, those are their restaurant’s values.
Our food critics give Joe’s Italian atmosphere a 4/5.
Service: the service was excellent as our waiters were always
friendly, quick to refill our drinks, and very helpful when deciding what to
order. Overall, the waiters definitely added to the quality of the restaurant
and that is why our food critics gave service a 5/5.
Price: As we mentioned before the prices at Joe’s Italian range
from about &6 to $24 per entrée which is typical of any sit-down
restaurant. Though these prices might be a little expensive for younger
demographics, particularly college students, Joe’s Italian certainly attempts
to make up for what it lacks in affordability with great portion sizes and
excellent service. Consequently, our food critics give Joe’s Italian prices a
4/5.
Food Authenticity/Quality: Of course, no matter how unique the
atmosphere is, or how great the service is, or even how reasonable the prices
are—what really matters at Joe’s Italian is the food. Although the appetizers
and desserts are certainly delicious the main entrées seem to fall short. Their
main dishes just don’t live up to the “authentic Italian” expectation that the Italian
atmosphere sets up for the customer. Joe’s offers many mediocre Italian dishes
but perhaps the most disappointing of all was their lasagna, which seemed no
more authentic than a lasagna dish at Olive Garden. This realization would not
be so disappointing had Joe’s Italian not promised its customers authentic
Italian cuisine. Consequently, our expert food critics give Joe’s Italian food
a 2/5.
Reporter: So, if you’re looking for a break from
corporate Italian food chains, sure, head on over to Joe’s Italian. They’ll be
sure to serenade you with their Italian atmosphere and excellent service—but
watch out! The food may not be authentic as you’d hope and you may actually
find a basil leaf in your lasagna. But have no fear—their king-sized desserts
should keep you chewing long enough to keep quiet and forget about all that.
Remember folks, though Joe’s Italian may be a nice restaurant experience—it’s
no Italy in Alabaster.
News Anchor: Thank you, Rachael. Your investigations
always have me on the edge of my seat! Well folks, this concludes our special
segment of Joe’s Italian. Tune in next time for a review of…
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