Plot Synopsis

Each one-hour episode of ON THE MENU opens with four home cooks who face a series of elimination challenges in order to make it to the final round, and the chance to have their dish included on the menu of that week's featured restaurant. First up, they demonstrate their understanding of the eating establishment through a preliminary challenge. In the second round, the three remaining cooks each create their own new dish for the restaurant and serve it to a room full of hungry diners and super fans of the featured eatery, whose votes determine who moves on to the final round. After refining and perfecting their dishes based on the comments they receive from the diners in round two, the last two cooks serve their creations to host Ty Pennington, Menu Master Emeril Lagasse, and representatives from the featured restaurant, in whose hands the final decision rests. The winning dish immediately goes on the business' menu, giving viewers at home the chance to go try the dish the very next day. As host of ON THE MENU, Pennington leads contestants through a series of challenges, while also being their confidant and sounding board. Lagasse is the show's Menu Master, serving as the seasoned chef and industry insider resource to help guide, encourage and mentor the contestants through the competition, as they refine their culinary creations. In each 60-minute episode, the competitors are challenged to create a new menu item for one restaurant, including: a new burger for Chili's; a new breakfast dish for Denny's; a new pizza for California Pizza Kitchen; a decadent new dessert for Planet Hollywood; a new seafood dish for Emeril's Restaurant; a new Asian dish for The Cheesecake Factory; a new Mexican dish for both of Sammy Hagar's restaurants (Cabo Wabo Cantina and Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill); a new steak sandwich for Outback Steakhouse; a new pasta dish for Buca di Beppo; and a new dish for Dickey's Barbecue Pit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Friday, December 5, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT, TNT premiered the Season 1 finale of ON THE MENU, as the competitors are challenged to create a new dish for Dickey's Barbecue Pit.