Willie Degel is on the prowl for faulty eateries

Willie Degel is the tough-talking Flushing native who hosts Food Network's "Restaurant Stakeout," premiering tomorrow. Degel - who speaks proudly of his New York City roots (with a strong NYC accent) - owns four restaurants, including Uncle Jack's Steakhouse near Penn Station.

Degel plans to open another location of Uncle Jack's on the Upper East Side this year, and he will bring another version of his casual gourmet eatery, Jack's Shack, to Manhattan too.

But before that, he's gearing up for his national TV premiere, which he admits he's "a little nervous about."

Using surveillance cameras, Degel and his team spy on restaurateurs. He then counsels owners and their staff on how to fix business problems, something he sees almost as his calling.

amNewYork spoke with Degel about the series.