The worst episodes of Restaurant: Impossible
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Chef Robert Irvine heads to Ellendale's Restaurant in Nashville after former employees reach out for help. The restaurant has become rundown, and owner Julie's management style has left the staff frustrated and unmotivated. The employees see the potential in this historic Nashville staple, but Julie isn't the type to ask for help and is worried about how being on TV will affect her restaurant's reputation. Time is ticking away, so Robert begins to worry: will she let him stay and help, or will she make him go?
- 02
For his next mission, Chef Robert Irvine ambushes Jodi, the owner of Theresa's Restaurant in Bradenton, Fla., after her friend and banker, Miriam, puts out a call for help. Robert quickly learns that Jodi is her own worst enemy, and must deal with her micromanaging ways, a kitchen staff threatening a walkout, and the surprises that greet the design team.
- 03
Chef Robert Irvine's next mission takes him to Lake Arrowhead Sports Grill in Blue Jay, Calif., where Konner, son of owners Keith and Karen, begs Robert for help. To Konnor, it seems that everything is falling apart: the five-year-old business, his parents' marriage, his dad's interest in the restaurant, and his mom's health. Robert must uncover the heart of the issues and help rebuild this family that has lost its way.
- 04
Chef Robert Irvine is headed to New Kensington, Pa. to ambush Stacey, the owner of Stella's Dine-Inn Restaurant. Stacey's daughter reached out after witnessing constant, out-of-control fighting between her mother, who is desperate to keep the restaurant going in her late husband's memory, and her brother, Dom, who serves as the main cook. Robert must work hard to help this family from being torn apart while also facing design struggles with the very large restaurant space.
- 05
Chef Robert Irvine has his work cut out for him when he arrives in Ridgeland, Miss. Rossini's Cucina Italiana is absolutely filthy, and even worse, owners Lori and Toni seem to have given up. Robert has to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty in order to clean up this small-town restaurant.
- 06
Chef Robert Irvine receives a plea from Stephanie, the bar manager of the Copper Still CD Vodka Lounge and Eatery in Crestwood, Ill., which hasn't turned a profit since opening eight months ago. Owner Christina has put her heart and soul into the restaurant, but its failure has strained her marriage with her husband, Dominic. When Robert attempts a double ambush by showing up unannounced, Stephanie is furious she wasn't included and refuses to help. Robert must work alone to solve the financial problems, marital woes, and also deal with an unexpected theft.
- 07
Chef Robert Irvine is called to the Cape Horn Family Restaurant in Red Lion, Pa. after receiving a plea for help from the owner Joni's husband, Barry. Joni is having trouble paying the bills and has lost control of her staff, but after Robert installs hidden cameras he realizes it's Joni herself who needs work. As Robert navigates a rollercoaster of emotions with Joni, he aims to help her face her fears and repair her self-confidence in order to change her staff and, more importantly, herself.
- 08
For his next mission, Chef Robert Irvine heads to La Casa Bianca in Whitehouse Station, N.J. to give the owner, Paul, the surprise of a lifetime. Paul's daughter, Megan, reached out to Robert for help after noticing the restaurant floundering and her father losing his passion for the business. It's up to Robert to help reignite Paul's fire and get him back in the game!
- 09
Chef Robert Irvine heads to Starlite Restaurant and Pizza in West Orange, N.J. after receiving a plea from the owner Patty's son. Patty has worked there since she was 13 years old and considers it home, but hasn't made a profit in almost ten years despite cashing in her retirement and mortgaging her home. When Robert arrives, he finds an extremely dirty kitchen and an old-school staff that is completely unwilling to change, including Patty herself. Will Robert be able to return this beloved restaurant to its former glory, or will the Starlite shine no more?
- 10
For his next mission, Chef Robert Irvine responds to a call from Tamara, whose mother Raquel owns De Rican Chef in Virginia Beach, Va. Raquel wanted a restaurant that specialized in authentic Puerto Rican food and expanded her business with help from her son, Reuben, but they are barely making a profit and their relationship is suffering. As Robert tries to get to the bottom of their problems, Raquel drops a bombshell about why she has lost her passion, leading Robert to try to heal the family and restore Raquel's love for her special piece of home.
- 11
Chef Robert Irvine receives a heartbreaking plea from Megan, who owns the BFE Bar and Grill in Waynesboro, Ga. with her husband, Mike. The restaurant is deep in debt and their family is suffering, but when Robert shows up, he also finds out that the state suspended their liquor license for not paying their taxes. Robert quickly learns he will have to pick and choose what to fix: their reputation is in the dumps, they're understaffed, and food service is painfully slow. It's a fight to the finish as he desperately tries to fix as much as he can and the owners try to pay back their taxes before the grand reopening.
- 12
After receiving a plea for help from an employee, Chef Robert Irvine and his team head to Peppino's Ristorante Italiano in Oviedo, Fla. Owners Susan and Luigi bought the restaurant hoping that their son, Nato, would eventually take over, but they feel they can't trust him due to his poor work ethic and attitude. With just two days and $10,000, Robert has his hands full with updating the decades-old menu, service, and decor, as well as figuring out whether Nato is even capable of running the business.
- 13
Sarah and Justin only opened SiP Bistro in Holly Springs, N.C. three years ago, but their business is already hurting. Though Sarah has a background in hotel and restaurant management, her husband, Justin, is demeaning to the entire staff and hasn't allowed his wife to take control or make decisions. On top of trying to mend their relationship and negotiate a healthy balance of control, Chef Robert Irvine and his team must also do a full dining room renovation and find a way to make the extremely small kitchen as efficient as possible.
- 14
Chef Robert Irvine receives a desperate plea from Ayana, the oldest daughter of Luvina and Jameel, owners of So Natural Organic Restaurant and Market in Harker Heights, Texas. Luvina and Jameel opened the business because they are passionate about healthy food, but with zero restaurant experience, they've quickly fallen into debt and cannot afford to hire staff outside of their own family. After a disastrous lunch service test, Robert finds he must not only teach the owners efficient operating procedures but show them how to turn their okay-tasting healthy food into great food that just happens to be healthy.
- 15
Chef Robert Irvine receives a pressing plea from Jamie, best friend of Cray Eatery and Drinkery's owner Crystal in Columbus, Ohio. Crystal opened Cray after being inspired by infused liquors from Cambodia, but her lack of experience and dismissive nature have led to her being unable to pay bills and begging for free labor from friends. Robert soon discovers that the restaurant is also unclean, the food service is slow, and the liquor infusions are nauseating. While the restaurant concept is unique, Robert must find a way to solve all of its other problems and help Crystal put her failures behind her.
- 16
Ambush: Third Ambush Is the Charm
Chef Robert Irvine receives a heart-wrenching plea from Yianni, the son of the owner of Broad Street Bistro in North Versailles, Pa. Owner Tasso has only had the restaurant for a year and a half, but he's struggling to keep it afloat as it is dirty and dark with subpar food and a helpless staff. Tasso's wife, Kathy, is unhappy with all of the time he spends at the restaurant, and Yianni, a trained chef, tried to help out but his father would not listen. After ambushing both Kathy and Tasso, Robert plans a third surprise ambush that will keep everyone guessing.
- 17
Chef Robert Irvine rolls into Colorado Springs, Colo., where the chef and owner of Momma Pearl's Cajun Kitchen is on the verge of losing his wife and his business if he can't shed his arrogant alter ego. His over-the-top persona in the kitchen has alienated family and staff and threatens to derail Robert's efforts to help him. Robert has to find the real person hidden beneath the surface if he has any chance of saving this failing business and crumbling marriage.
- 18
Robert Irvine heads to Las Vegas to work his magic at A Pizza Melody. The owner's anger issues have turned his dream of owning his own restaurant into a nightmare, and his husband has spent almost $1 million trying to make it a success, to no avail.
- 19
A model and a former poker player opened Cafe No Fur in Las Vegas, Nev., but they're so stuck in their dysfunctional ways that the restaurant is on the verge of folding after only two years. Robert Irvine must get them to change their stubborn ways or all bets are off on the restaurant's survival.
- 20
Robert Irvine arrives at Dunbar's Creole Cuisine in New Orleans to find a restaurant full of history but in dire need of his help. The livelihood of two families depends on the success of this legacy restaurant, and with no systems in place, no set roles and the restaurant matriarch refusing to change, Robert has his work cut out for him.
- 21
Robert Irvine is in Geneva, N.Y., at Cosentino's Ristorante, where co-owners Bill and Nancy are struggling to save their family restaurant. Their marriage is collapsing under the weight of an unbalanced workload while their inexperienced son, Dom, serves unappetizing food. They need to make real changes and learn to respect one another if Robert is going to save their business.
- 22
A rift between the owner of The Anchor in Louisville, Tenn., and his daughter threatens to sink the restaurant.
- 23
Robert Irvine visits Z Fish House in landlocked Loudon, Tenn., where the owner, Ed, needs a life preserver. Robert helps Ed rediscover his passion and lead his staff to success.
- 24
Robert helps two friends save their restaurant and their relationship.
- 25
Big Tom's Backyard Grill and Bar in Cleveland, Tenn., has turned from a dream into a nightmare, and it's costing owners Tom and Sabrina their marriage.
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