Is it me or is this the same show every week? Irvine walks into a dump, most of the time there are family members running it who don't get along and don't understand the business. Then in 48 hours Irvine solves all the family issues, fixes the menu (usually with chicken parm) and then his designer and builder run into all kinds of problems until the very last minute, when the place gets fixed, the kitchen is perfect, the family issues are solved, and the restaurant is running at full capacity.
Also the designs are always the same. They tear everything down, but wood laminate on the floors, do some kind of basket thing with the lighting, put plates or forks on the walls, and somewhere prominently put the name of the restaurant someplace. And there are always those little pots of flowers on the tables. By all accounts Robert Irvine should win some kind of awards in psychiatry, cooking, business acumen and design. Jeez...when does he have time to work out, and how does that same Lexus get all over the country?

Is this the same series that ran the episode with the lady that owned the pizza joint in NY and her brother was a Bonanno associate and junkie?

I've watched many of its episodes over the years. You're right DT. Robert follows the same pattern each time. However, I think sometimes it's a set-up. Afterall, he faces some challenging situations. So, 48 hours and $10k doesn't seem sufficient to accomplish the objective. There are so many variables that can be encountered.

I watch both Restaurant Impossible and Kitchen Nightmares. I consider Kitchen Nightmares a better show, due to Gordon Ramsay.

I believe in the concept of Restaurant Impossible. Irvine loads up the restaurant with people for a lunch service. Having everyone show up at once will put pressure on the both the front and back of the house. So, you get to see the service and cooking, without people putting on a special show for the cameras. I wish Irvine would go into more detail on why the food is bad.

The number one reason for lagging sales is nearly always poor food- not the economy, location, etc... And the food is usually frozen- nothing is fresh, and there are often hygiene issues in the kitchen. And the staff has pretty much given up.

What Irvine does for the owners is to give them another chance in the community. Because of the television show, many people will give the restaurant another chance; if the food has improved, they'll be back.

Fwiw, Restaurant Impossible has a much better track record than Kitchen Nightmares.

DT is correct in that the same thing happens every week. I am sure most of it is staged however I still enjoy the show. Many of these restaurant owners have their heads up their ass. I prefer the two shows where hidden cameras capture poor employee performance as well as dishonesty.

I don't like the host. He's an asshole. I don't care how dry my chicken parm is. If someone sat there and spit my food out all over the table I'd kick his ass.

Welllllll......... maybe not me. But Sal, my line cook! Yeah, he'll kick his ass!

Loser!

I don't like the guy either. A couple of years ago he did a show at a restaurant in my old hometown that was owned by friends of the family. On more than one occasion he threw a tantrum. He didn't like how it turned out, so they reshot the scene with him throwing a similar tantrum.

Robert: "Okay, open your eyes. How do you like your new restaurant?"

Owners: "Oh my, how wonderful [through tears]. [whispered] "I hate it. God, what did he do to our little place?"

Robert: What...what was that? You don't like it?

Owners: [trembling] "No, no Robert. It's wonderful. Just what we always wanted."

Robert: "Don't lie to me! [With rising anger, getting louder]Don't lie to me!

Owners: {In tears] "Please don't hurt us Robert."

Robert: [Enraged] "I'll kill you. You @@#*&^%$# people, I'll kill you [He starts tearing the place apart. The Owners run out and the staff and patrons waiting outside scatter. A special SWAT team unit is called in - the SUAR (Special Utensils and Recipes) The show is put on hiatus.

I agree. That's why I don't watch the show anymore.

Food Network fired Irvine after it was revealed that he falsified his resume lying about how he cooked for US Presidents and the Queen or something. I'm not sure how he got back on TV but I'd never take advice from this guy.

Robert- Open your eyes!
Owner (through tears)- Oh my God!
Robert - Here is your new Restaurant.
Owner - Robert, this is the same god damned thing you do to all the restaurants...put some kind of wicker or wire thing on the ceiling lights, odd shaped stuff on the walls, and on the fron of the bar, one page menus and tiny pots of flowers on each table. It really shows you have a one dimensional designer and a builder who only knows how to tear up carpeting and put down fake wood vinyl flooring.

As far as the host, Mr. Irvin goes, whether you like him or not, he does make those restaurants look better and more inviting. Yes he does use many similar decorating schemes. As far as the food is concerned we can never know without visiting the place. The owners seem to be happy. I would bet that they take more time than is shown on the program, and run into more problems than shown. And yes, chat host could use a lot more manners or civility

As far as the host, Mr. Irvin goes, whether you like him or not, he does make those restaurants look better and more inviting. Yes he does use many similar decorating schemes. As far as the food is concerned we can never know without visiting the place. The owners seem to be happy. I would bet that they take more time than is shown on the program, and run into more problems than shown. And yes, chat host could use a lot more manners or civility