Restaurant Makeover
 |
| Restaurant Makeover | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Starring | 'Chefs Brad Long Corbin Tomaszeski David Adjey Lynn Crawford Massimo Capra Michael Bonacini Rene Chauvin Susur Lee Designers Cherie Nicole Stinson Glen Peloso Jessica Cotton Meredith Heron Robin De Groot Brenda Bent Cheryl Torrenueva Foreman Igor Shamraychuk |
| Country of origin |  Canada |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 68 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 or 60 minutes (per episode) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Food Network Canada HGTV Canada |
| Release | October 2, 2005 – January 2008 |
Restaurant Makeover is a closed television series which airs as reruns on the Food Network Canada and HGTV Canada, as well as the Fine Living channel and Food Network in the United States, and over 16 countries worldwide. The pilot episode starred designer Robin De Groot and chef Brad Long in the Coco's Cafe. Most of the restaurants involved in the series were located in the Greater Toronto Area.
Synopsis
It is hosted by chefs Brad Long, Rene Chauvin, Lynn Crawford, Massimo Capra, Corbin Tomaszeski, David Adjey, and Susur Lee along with designers Robin De Groot, Meredith Heron, Cherie Nicole Stinson, Jessica Cotton, Glen Peloso, Brenda Bent, Cheryl Torrenueva, Lisa North, and Jonathan Furlong, who perform renovation makeovers on restaurants desiring transformation.
The premise of the show is to challenge two restaurant professionals, one designer and one chef, to overhaul a struggling restaurant with a very limited budget and time. Originally the show would match funds provided by the restaurant owners up to $20,000; however, that decreased to just $15,000 as the show moved into its later seasons.
Criticism
Although the show's premise is to help struggling restaurants, a number of establishments have failed shortly after their makeover -- sometimes before the associated TV show has even aired, thus not allowing them to reap the benefits of added exposure. This has become so common that participating in Restaurant Makeover is increasingly seen as a "kiss of death" for failing restaurants. Unfortunately when working with restaurants that are in such dire straits that they are about to close their doors if something doesn't happen to drastically increase business, sometimes even a $40,000.00 , or later, $30,000.00 facelift can't help a business with one foot already in the grave.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
List of renovated restaurants
Season 1
- Babelfish Bistro
- Coco's Cafe
- Full Circle Cafe
- Human Bean
- Lakes Bar and Grill - - - Closed
- Oasis Restaurant - - - Closed
- Pinnacle Restaurant Niagara
- Silk Road Cafe
- Tara Inn
- The Grapefruit Moon
- The Liberty
- The Rosedale Diner
- Via Oliveto - - - Closed
Season 2
- Aftermath Cafe - - - Closed
- Bravi Restaurant
- College Street Bar
- First Class Delites
- High Point Restaurant
- Higher Groundz Cafe - - - Closed
- Innocenti Restaurant - - - Closed
- Monkey Bar and Grill
- Montana Roadhouse - - - Closed
- Old York Bar and Grill
- Ossawippi Express Dining Cars---closed
- The Empress Restaurant
- The Town Grill - - - Closed
Season 3
- Brooklyn's Bar and Grill
- Cafe Asia
- Casa Mendoza
- Quattro 4 Ragazze (formerly Europe Planet)
- Forte Restaurant (renamed Citron Thai Bistro) - - - Closed, now Himalayan Spice
- Grappa Ristorante
- Peridot Resto Lounge (formerly Ithaca Restaurant)
- Jeremiah's Bullfrog Cafe - - - Closed
- Karma's Cafe
- Kokkino Restaurant and Lounge
- Latitude Wine Bar and Grill (renamed Eduardo's) - - - Closed
- Le Cafe Vert - - - Closed [6]
- Lüb Bistro Lounge - - - Closed
- Natchos Thai Thai Cafe - - - Closed
- Peroni's Pizzeria
- Phil's Original BBQ
- PJ O'Brien
- Reliable Fish & Chips
- Rubicon Grill - - - Closed due to fire on March 10, 2009 [7]
- Saigon Flower Restaurant
- Side Door Grill - - - Closed
- Spinello (renamed Six Steps Restaurant & Lounge)
- St. Clair Village Cafe
- Stoney's Bar & Grill - - - Closed
- Boathouse Restaurant
- The Office Sports Bar and Grill - - - Closed, now The Longest Yard
Season 4
- Aggie Martin--Closed
- Bagel World
- Bakerberry's Cafe (renamed to Nook)
- Bistro Aubergine (renamed to Cork & Cabbage) - - - Closed, now JAM Café
- Bulldog Cafe
- Calypso Hut
- Dhaba Indian Excellence
- Di and Gabby's (renamed to Konrad Lounge)
- Dooney's - - - Closed [8]
- Essence (renamed to The Citizen)
- Golden Flame Restaurant - - - Closed
- Hamar Weyne
- Hollingers - - - Closed
- Hollywood Panini -- Closed (Now Greek Xpress)
- Il Papagallo - Never opened after show. Now Corks Restaurant by same owner as Seasons in Oakville.
- Jonathan's
- Kensington's
- La Cabana
- Massimo's - - - Closed due to fire, now reopened with 2 locations in Downtown Toronto
- Mighty Mike's (renamed to Olive Branch Bar & Grill)
- Pita Stop (renamed to Rifca's Mediterranean Kitchen)
- Roma Ristorante
- Seashell Seafood (renamed Flame Grill & Bar) - - - Closed
- The Central
- The Richmond Rogue
- Waterfall Martini Lounge (renamed Spotlight Resto Lounge)
Season 5
- A Catered Affair
- Arre Burrito -- renamed Cocina Lucero
- Bacchus Roti
- Bon Vivant
- Church Street Diner - - - Opened 1 and 1/2 years after the show was filmed.
- County Fish and Chips
- De Great Iron Pot --- Closed
- Earth Indian
- Gippino's -- renamed to Attilio's 1957
- Joe Boo's Cookoos
- Cluck, Grunt and Low (formerly Riviera, now Puck 'n' Wings) - - - Closed
- Slippery Boot -- renamed to Localvore - - - Closed, now Trillium Bistro [9]
- Tresca Trattoria
References
- ^ Villain: Restaurant Makeover The Torontoist
- ^ The Curse of The Restaurant Makeover Macleans
- ^ Restaurant Makeover Chowhound
- ^ Tribe Magazine: Restaurant Makeover Curse Tribe Magazine
- ^ Restaurant Makeover Taste TO
- ^ "Le Cafe Vert in the Deadpool?", [BlogTO], January 19, 2009
- ^ "Fire closes Lakeshore Rd.", [Mississauga.com], Mar 10, 2009
- ^ "End of an era for Dooney's Café", [National Post], June 19, 2008
- ^ "How Locavore became Trillium Bistro: The Death of a Fine Restaurant", [ElliDavis], August 3, 2009