Sweetbitter returns with a two-episode premiere

Sweetbitter is back as a double helping of drama, the restaurant biz, and lots of wine.

I’ve never worked in a restaurant, but Sweetbitter seems to imply that everyone knows everything about everyone’s business… like high school.

Season 2 starts out with two episodes, both of which take place shortly after Tess passes her trails and earns her stripes. You would think she just left boot camp. But at 22W, it’s like fine dining boot camp.

In “The Pork Special,” we find most of the cast arriving at a farm somewhere in New Jersey to watch a pig get slaughtered. I get Howard’s intention of bringing everyone there – to show where their food comes from – but it was a little much. The only employee who was able to stomach it was Tess.

Photo Credit: Starz

During family dinner, Sasha returned after his near-fatal fall last season. But he’s not fully healed. But hey, he needs the money. Don’t we all?

Meanwhile, Will, who’s clearly still into Tess, lets it slip that Simone didn’t fight for her during her trials. (He did, of course.) He warns her to be careful with trusting her because the only person she really cares about is Jake.

Photo Credit: Starz

Oh, and Jake is ice-cold to Tess after that amazing kiss he planted on her last season. She finally confronts him, and he yells at her, saying she’s not his type and that if he wanted her, he would have you know what-ed her that night.

After she walks away, he seems to know how much he blew it with her.

One surprise was that Howard is still with Becky, the former hostess who came in like a banshee screaming at him last season. Does Howard have a thing for his employees?

Photo Credit: Starz

In “Equifax & Experian,” Tess finds out her estranged mother has stolen her identity and ruined her credit. When word spreads around the restaurant, everyone tries to help. It’s the first time she really seems part of their world.

Simone ultimately convinces Tess to put down the wine bottles (she tried reorganizing their inventory from a system that made sense to a system that made no sense) and let her help her. Thanks to a generous patron, Tess’ financial matter seems to be on the up-and-up.

Her buddies then give her an ugly green jacket from the lost and found to help cheer her up. Again, I love that they all seem to be accepting her and treating her like she is their own.

Meanwhile, Jake has already slept with the new 22W hostess, prompting Howard to change the dating policy to that now everyone has to disclose if they are in a relationship with a coworker. However, Jake said there is nothing to disclose. Simone points out that he “skipped one,” meaning he didn’t sleep with Tess. So, I guess he usually sleeps with the “new girl,” but maybe he actually cares about Tess, which is why he didn’t?

I don’t know. Guys are confusing, and if that’s the reason he’s pushing Tess away, then he deserves to lose her.

Need a refresher on season 1? Read about it.

Catch up on Sweetbitter.