Restaurant Makeover .. Fraud or For Real?

[Sajjad]

Well, if you don't know the show too bad. I'm not going to explain it.

Anyways, is that show for real? Do they really pay $20,000 (or dollar for dollar) and donate their time to help restaurants, for no actual reward? Or do they sign a contract of some sort, like you must give 25% of all income for the next X years. Or something along those lines.
Secondly, has anyone actually been to the restaurants, BEFORE and AFTER the change. I would like to know your opinion.

Thank you.

[deep]

No actual reward? How about TV show revenues?

[Squiggles]

Have been to The Silk Road Cafe before and after. Well, technically not before as we walked by it a few times and it looked like crap so we didn't actually go in. We DID go in shortly after the makeover though and have been a number of times since. The first time we went in they were talking all about the makeover (it was after the taping but before the show aired I believe) and were really excited about it. The place certainly looked really good after the makeover.



The rewards for the show would be advertising revenues, not to mention higher name recognition for the Chefs and Designers involved. I certainly would more stongly consider going to the restaurants of some of the Mentor Chefs featured on the show.

[dereky]

yes they donate the money. but they do get something in return...the right to air the TV show and make money on it. in the end, they are getting a show for $20k or less...much less than other shows.

[Sajjad]

Have been to The Silk Road Cafe before and after. Well, technically not before as we walked by it a few times and it looked like crap so we didn't actually go in. We DID go in shortly after the makeover though and have been a number of times since. The first time we went in they were talking all about the makeover (it was after the taping but before the show aired I believe) and were really excited about it. The place certainly looked really good after the makeover.


What about the food?
Can the unprofessional chef, maintain/execute the changes made by the Exec. chef? Always wondered...just this past week. They had some 18yr old rookie, try to make some dishes ... I doubt she can maintain that level of cooking.

[Papagorgio]

The film that they get during rennovation is the reward they get.. then they play it for us and in between the show, we have to watch commercials by companies who pay them lots of money..

But I do wonder if they actually make the owners of the restaurant pay half the fees...

and the fact that they ALWAYS do or get something wrong and have to redo it... exciting.. but I'm guessing faked..

[Squiggles]

What about the food?
Can the unprofessional chef, maintain/execute the changes made by the Exec. chef? Always wondered...just this past week. They had some 18yr old rookie, try to make some dishes ... I doubt she can maintain that level of cooking.

In the case of Silk Road I believe they kept the food fairly authentic so I can't really say. I do know that all the serving plates and such were new, so the presentation was likely much better than before. Last time we went by there they were renovating their kitchen so I'm not sure what they are doing for chefs there now.

Whether they took the chef's advice or not, the food there was awesome.

[xtal]

Purely by accident, I've been to a few of the Makeover locations.

Oasis on College street is one example. Though the makeover helped the place look less like a dive, it wasn't a great job. If you look closely, it's easy to tell that any renovation work was done on a tight budget, and tight schedule. The 'details' are a little lacking, and some of the work looks slightly rough around the edges.

I would say the same about the Rosedale diner.

So, an interesting concept, but to do a proper renovation of a restaurant, one needs time and money. I don't think that the show offers either in appreciable quantity.

[boonjaca]

I love the show but never have been to any of the restaurants. Like the previous posters mentioned, they get a lot of reward for their efforts: the show gets the advertising revenue, designers and chefs get widespread exposure, and most importantly the restaurant owner gets a new place and exposure.

[keanefan]

and the fact that they ALWAYS do or get something wrong and have to redo it... exciting.. but I'm guessing faked..

No.

Anybody who has been involved with construction and renovating knows that there is always problems during the construction work.

[Crotchety Old Man]

No.

Anybody who has been involved with construction and renovating knows that there is always problems during the construction work.
How true. But they do play it up for all it's worth - but then that's just that's TV for you.

[Steeve Urkel]

I know some people who own a mexican restaurant and redid the whole thing in Ottawa.

there used to be a restaurant in the market that looked really dumpy and served all its food in styrofoam containers.
It was really awesome food, btw and very high quality.
the restaurant looked very plain and was not super cheap then (ex tacos were about $8 then).

they closed for over 1 year and redid the whole restaurant.
Added a second floor w a staircase, a huge fancy dining room and a nice lower level too.
Now they have fancy printed menus and you need reservations most evenings.

What sucks is now that the place looks so nice, they doubled the prices on the menu (so now $15 tacos, $10 salads, $20 enchiladas.... :mad:

but you get a super nice atmosphere to eat in.

I'm sure the reno must have cost almost 1,000,000 as they gutted the whole building and entirely redid it.

that was at the Azteca restaurant in Ottawa!
on william st

I would eat there more if I could still aford it now...

[climacus]

You'd be surprised by how far some of these shows get syndicated. I was on a trip to Asia a couple of years ago. Jet-lagged, I turned on the TV in the hotel room and guess what show was on? Opening Soon.

The thing I don't get is why the American Food Network wouldn't show all these great shows produced by the Food Network Canada. David Rocco Dolce Vita, Surreal Gourmet, Opening Soon, etc. Although I've noticed that they do carry Restaurant Makeover, which is a great piece of advertising for the city of Toronto.

[Sajjad]

You'd be surprised by how far some of these shows get syndicated. I was on a trip to Asia a couple of years ago. Jet-lagged, I turned on the TV in the hotel room and guess what show was on? Opening Soon.

The thing I don't get is why the American Food Network wouldn't show all these great shows produced by the Food Network Canada. David Rocco Dolce Vita, Surreal Gourmet, Opening Soon, etc. Although I've noticed that they do carry Restaurant Makeover, which is a great piece of advertising for the city of Toronto.

Wierd....
Opening Soon is a great show, makes sense to put it on the US cause there are many US restaurants there. Seens some in NYC (many), Memphis etc. Rocco's not entirely CDN, his show is in Italy.
Yeahh..seriously Restaurant Makeover? Well I guess so, I hardly ever watch US Food Network; I always see Everyday Italian on it for some reason...I just can't stand her (and her face).
I watch Canadian more often.

[Papagorgio]

Annoying scale:

Rachael Ray > Everyday Italian

[CSK'sMom]

We've been to the one they redid in The Falls at the Minolta Tower. It was really tired looking before and the menu was truely terrible. The chef there has a terrible attitude (as seen on the show). We haven't been in a while so I don't know if they kept the new menu or the chef. ;)

[9394]

The gf and I walked in on a Saturday trying to get a table @ Monkey Bar & Grill but they were fully booked. I guess RM really did help.

I'm thinking the show offers $20k worth in goods given by the sponsors at the end of the show...I highly doubt they'd fork over $20k in cash.

[boonjaca]

I'm thinking the show offers $20k worth in goods given by the sponsors at the end of the show...I highly doubt they'd fork over $20k in cash.

I agree, if a restaurant is on the brink of collapsing, I find it hard that these people have that much saved up and would be willing to give it to the show.

[keanefan]

the designer sets a budget for labour and products.

usually asks for $15 000 - $20 000.
the restaurant owner gives us much as he or she can.
some can give the full amount (savings or borrow from relatives)
others can only give $10 000.

the show contributes to the other half of the budget.

the show does seem to give some free stuff like a cooking pot or dishes because sometimes the host says "this is a present for you".

one Makeover that I didn't like was for a single mother who had a very young son. She had to take money from his education fund so she was worried about the renovation results. The makeover was not that attractive and the woman did not look happy when she saw the renovation results. Her son even noticed that she didn't look happy. But she grinned and pretended to be happy. Her cook was resistant to improving her cooking.

Silk Road restaurant owner also had to take money from his kids' education fund but his renovation was spectacular so it was worth it.

[boonjaca]

Weren't there quite a few shows where the owners had to dip into their kid's education fund? I don't remember the reaction of the lady where she had to go into her young son's account, I thought she really liked it. Do you remember who the designer was? Was it Cherie? I think she's kinda hot.

[yjxiao]

YES! Rachael Ray is so FAKE! And annoying. OMG She is the worst out there. I don't even know why she is on.

Annoying scale:

Rachael Ray > Everyday Italian

[CSR]

YES! Rachael Ray is so FAKE! And annoying. OMG She is the worst out there. I don't even know why she is on.

Rachael ray is kinda cute, that Italian girl is hot tho.

[CSR]

Her: Giada De Laurentiis http://www.foodtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=94258

[Crotchety Old Man]

At least the owners are taking a shot at keeping going - nice stylish reno, free TV publicity - little Johnny's education fund is going to be paying for rent on a slumflat if the family business goes bankrupt.

[Sajjad]

:arrowu:

[Ogata]

Has anyone ever revisited any of the renovated restaurants? And man Rachel Ray is the worst. I went on a forum and it said that Rachel Ray and Giada are going to be on an episode of Iron Chef America. :mad: On top of things, NOW they can choose who they want to face. And it horrids me on the 5 plate rule and the most BIAS judges ever.

[boonjaca]

I saw Rachel Ray's show the other day and man is her voice very raspy, what a turn-off.

[sankou]

i never understood the appeal of rachel ray either. she's so loud and obnoxious, and her food is so pedestrian. even when she's hosting a show on her own in a closed set, she's yelling at the camera. and what's the point of saying "e-v-o-o" if she has to explain to the viewers what it stands for every time she says it.

[tienm23]

i never understood the appeal of rachel ray either. she's so loud and obnoxious, and her food is so pedestrian. even when she's hosting a show on her own in a closed set, she's yelling at the camera. and what's the point of saying "e-v-o-o" if she has to explain to the viewers what it stands for every time she says it.

I think Racheal Ray is okay. She definitely knows her market, she isn't trying to appeal to the gourmet crowd. She makes fun, simple, tasty food. She even said so when she was selected for Iron Chef America:

"I was really nervous; I'm not a chef," says Rachael. "I don't belong on 'Iron Chef.' To be asked was honor enough, but I really didn't want to do it. Then I thought about it and I said, 'You're so frightened of that show, why don't you give it a shot. Food's food; so, you can't do fancy; you can do tasty!'"

I'd rather be "pedestrian" than "pretentious" any day.

[Sajjad]

Has anyone ever revisited any of the renovated restaurants? And man Rachel Ray is the worst. I went on a forum and it said that Rachel Ray and Giada are going to be on an episode of Iron Chef America. :mad: On top of things, NOW they can choose who they want to face. And it horrids me on the 5 plate rule and the most BIAS judges ever.

yep, many new episodes are coming out.
Susur Lee will be on one of them as well.
Starts April

[GeneralCho]

Rachel Ray is hilarious... her famous line "EVOO... you know Extra Virgin Olive Oil" hahahah!!! classic

[Ogata]

yep, many new episodes are coming out.
Susur Lee will be on one of them as well.
Starts April

wow I just hope he'll do a better job than Masimo no offense for those of you who like him. He was lazy in one episode and he left the kitchen behind for Glenn for a wine tasting. Then again, I hate most of the chefs that are on there. David Aggi especially but hey a chef's a chef since they don't go down as worse as Gordon Ramsey.

Rachel Ray is hilarious... her famous line "EVOO... you know Extra Virgin Olive Oil" hahahah!!! classic

btw do you know she's married? Who is she married to? I heard it on the radio that she got married in paris.

[boonjaca]

yep, many new episodes are coming out.
Susur Lee will be on one of them as well.
Starts April

I want to see Susur on there and see if he's just as critical as the other chefs that are on the show.

[Sajjad]

wow I just hope he'll do a better job than Masimo no offense for those of you who like him. He was lazy in one episode and he left the kitchen behind for Glenn for a wine tasting. Then again, I hate most of the chefs that are on there. David Aggi especially but hey a chef's a chef since they don't go down as worse as Gordon Ramsey.



btw do you know she's married? Who is she married to? I heard it on the radio that she got married in paris.


She probably is, I don't know who exactly. But you may be able to see his face on her new show, Tasty Travels. I remember seeing some man with her a couple of times.

[CSR]

Her: Giada De Laurentiis http://www.foodtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=94258

She looked so fine today in her pink shirt, lots of Clevage.

[chicadam]

Have been to The Silk Road Cafe before and after. Well, technically not before as we walked by it a few times and it looked like crap so we didn't actually go in. We DID go in shortly after the makeover though and have been a number of times since. The first time we went in they were talking all about the makeover (it was after the taping but before the show aired I believe) and were really excited about it. The place certainly looked really good after the makeover.



The rewards for the show would be advertising revenues, not to mention higher name recognition for the Chefs and Designers involved. I certainly would more stongly consider going to the restaurants of some of the Mentor Chefs featured on the show.

Not a big fan of the Silk Road Cafe...
I went after and because of the makeover and its basically pricey chinese food in white plates and bowls.

Food is just average and believe me when I tell you I know chinese food. Its probably much better than it was before but I can only critique it on its current state.