This Is What Filming Inside SUR Is Really Like, According to Producers
Vanderpump Rules producers are finally spilling these behind-the-scenes secrets about the West Hollywood restaurant.
We've come to know many of the restaurants featured on Vanderpump Rules, but SUR will always have a special place in our hearts. Countless SURvers have come and gone, and the show's producers have seen absolutely everything within SUR's walls. But that begs the question: What is it actually like filming a TV show inside an operating restaurant, filled with so much drama and dozens of customers? Well, the production team is revealing all! Read on to learn some exclusive behind-the-scenes secrets about filming inside SUR.
1. Accidental Aficionados
Since the production team films on location, they've learned a lot about the restaurant itself — including the delicious dishes that are served every day. Producers say they know the SUR menu "as well as people who've eaten there a bunch, but not as well as the servers," adding, "We're asked to give recommendations a lot." They probably suggest the goat cheese balls all the time.
2. A SURver Tradition
Lisa Vanderpump's visits are a big deal and her employees have figured out just what to do upon her arrival. When the staff knows that she is coming in for a meal, producers say they'll "argue over who takes her table and make sure English Breakfast tea is ready to go."
3. Secretive Tactics
Producers always set up their video monitors where the group can't see them. "We've used bathrooms, kitchens, storage rooms, closets, patios, and sometimes we just have to stand around the corner." That must be how they capture the show's most unexpected moments. The production team always seems to be filming at the perfect time.
4. Lisa's Table
When Lisa visits SUR, she heads over to a specific spot in the restaurant. According to the team, Table 16 is Lisa's usual table at SUR. "It's raised and sort of fenced off, so it's where she can get the most privacy."
5. Troublesome Filming Conditions
Lisa wants her restaurants dark with loud music, which is difficult for filming. In fact, it causes a bit of tension between her and the team. According to production, they are in a constant negotiation with her about raising the light level and turning the music down.
6. The Golden Opportunity
There's just something about SUR and the lifestyle surrounding it that fans can't get enough of. People come into SUR to ask if they're hiring "all the time," say producers. That sounds like a lot of applications.
