Restaurant Makeover

*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, TVtropolis and in over 16 other 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 episode of the show featuring the restaurant had aired, thus not allowing them to reap the benefits of added exposure. Some critics held the opinion that participating in Restaurant Makeover was a "kiss of death" for failing restaurants. However, it was noted that given the dire condition of some participants, even a significant change could not salvage the business.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] ^[5]

List of renovated restaurants

Restaurants marked with "§" have closed since being featured on Restaurant Makeover.^{[citation needed]}

Season 1

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?
Babelfish Bistro	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Coco's Cafe	N\A	N\A	Brad Long	Robin De Groot	Yes
Full Circle Cafe	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Human Bean	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Lakes Bar and Grill	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Oasis Restaurant	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Pinnacle Restaurant Niagara	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Silk Road Cafe	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Tara Inn	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
The Grapefruit Moon	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
The Liberty	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
The Rosedale Diner	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Via Oliveto	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No

Season 2

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
Aftermath Cafe	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Bravi Restaurant	N\A	N\A	Massimo Capra	Glen Peloso	Yes
College Street Bar	N\A	N\A	David Adjey	Robin De Groot	Yes
First Class Delites	N\A	N\A	Lynn Crawford	Cherie Stinson	Yes
High Point Restaurant	N\A	N\A	David Adjey	Meredith Heron	Yes
Higher Groundz Cafe	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Innocenti Restaurant	N\A	N\A	Lynn Crawford	Meredith Heron	No	Closure due to death of owner^{[citation needed]}
Monkey Bar and Grill	N\A	N\A	Lynn Crawford	Glen Peloso	Yes
Montana Roadhouse	N\A	N\A	David Adjey	Lisa North	Yes
Old York Bar and Grill	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Ossawippi Express Dining Cars	N\A	Orillia, ON	N\A	N\A	No
The Empress Restaurant	N\A	N\A	Brad Long	Lisa North	Yes
The Town Grill	N\A	N\A	Jason Rosso	Cherie Stinson	No

Season 3

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
Brooklyn's Bar and Grill	N\A	N\A	David Adjey	Robin De Groot	Yes
Cafe Asia	N\A	N\A	Lynn Crawford	Cherie Stinson	No
Casa Mendoza	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
*Quattro 4 Ragazze	Europe Planet	Example	Example	Example	Yes
Forte Restaurant	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Grappa Ristorante	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Peridot Resto Lounge	Ithaca Restaurant	Example	Brad Long	Meredith Heron	Yes
Jeremiah's Bullfrog Cafe	N\A	N\A	David Adjey	Jessica Cotton	No
Karma's Cafe	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Kokkino Restaurant and Lounge	N\A	N\A	Lynn Crawford	Meredith Heron	Yes
Latitude Wine Bar and Grill	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Le Cafe Vert	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No	See Footnotes^[6]
Lüb Bistro Lounge	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Natchos Thai Thai Cafe	N\A	N\A	David Adjey	Meredith Heron	No
Peroni's Pizzeria	N\A	N\A	Massimo Capra	Glen Peloso	Yes
Phil's Original BBQ	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
PJ O'Brien	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Reliable Fish & Chips	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Rubicon Grill	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No	Closure due to fire^[7]
Saigon Flower Restaurant	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Side Door Grill	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Spinello	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
St. Clair Village Cafe	N\A	N\A	Massimo Capra	Cherie Stinson	No
Stoney's Bar & Grill	N\A	N\A	David Adjey	Glen Peloso	No
*Boathouse Restaurant	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
The Office Sports Bar and Grill	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No

Season 4

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
Aggie Martin	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Bagel World	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Bakerberry's Cafe	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Bistro Aubergine	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Bulldog Cafe	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Calypso Hut	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Dhaba Indian Excellence	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Di and Gabby's	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Dooney's	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No	See Footnotes^[8]
*Essence	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Golden Flame Restaurant	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Hamar Weyne	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Hollingers	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Hollywood Panini	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
*Il Papagallo	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Jonathan's	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Kensington's	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
La Cabana	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Massimo's	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No	Closure due to fire^{[citation needed]}
Mighty Mike's	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Pita Stop	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Roma Ristorante	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Seashell Seafood	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
The Central	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
The Richmond Rogue	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Waterfall Martini Lounge	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No

Season 5

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
A Catered Affair	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Arre Burrito	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Bacchus Roti	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Bon Vivant	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Church Street Diner	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
County Fish and Chips	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
De Great Iron Pot	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
Earth Indian	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Gippino's	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Joe Boo's Cookoos	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	Yes
Cluck, Grunt and Low	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No
*§Slippery Boot	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No	See Footnote^[9]
*§Tresca Trattoria	N\A	N\A	N\A	N\A	No

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

External links

[1] Villain: Restaurant Makeover The Torontoist

[2] The Curse of The Restaurant Makeover Macleans

[3] Restaurant Makeover Chowhound

[4] Tribe Magazine: Restaurant Makeover Curse Tribe Magazine

[5] Restaurant Makeover Taste TO

[LeCafeVert-6] "Le Cafe Vert in the Deadpool?", [BlogTO], January 19, 2009

[Rubicon-7] "Fire closes Lakeshore Rd.", [Mississauga.com], Mar 10, 2009

[Dooneys-8] "End of an era for Dooney's Café". National Post, June 19, 2008.

[TrilliumBistro-9] "How Locavore became Trillium Bistro: The Death of a Fine Restaurant", [ElliDavis], August 3, 2009

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