Even with his "Impossible" schedule, Chef Robert Irvine always finds time to focus on his passion for health and fitness. Now, Robert is taking on his next mission -- motivating America. Robert is tackling as many of his fans' health-related questions and concerns as he can before he needs to leave to save another failing restaurant.
Chef Robert Irvine has come across some really tough restaurant owners and staff but in this special episode, he will count down his top 10 biggest blowups ... from owners who just plain want him to leave to the biggest emotional meltdowns and most intense family drama -- you won't want to miss seeing all of your favorite explosive moments compiled in one place.
Over the course of 10 seasons of Restaurant: Impossible, Chef Robert Irvine has walked into some of the worst conditions imaginable and what he has been able to fix and transform over the course of two days and with $10,000 has been next to impossible. In this special, Chef Robert will count down the top 10 biggest transformations he has experienced -- from owners' attitudes to no-longer disgusting decor! Hold onto your hats while Chef Robert takes you on a journey that may even transform you!
For the holidays, Chef Robert Irvine is heading west to Jackson Hole, Wyo. to visit the City Kids Wilderness Project, a camp in the heart of the Grand Teton Mountains that welcomes at-risk teens from the inner city of Washington, D.C. Robert's giving back by redoing three of their spaces in just three days, updating their 25-year old facilities that are full of broken equipment, disorganization, and under-utilized space. As Robert get to know the campers, he is inspired to add more special surprises and a cook a huge barbecue with help from chef Stephanie Izard.
When Chef Robert Irvine surprises unsuspecting restaurant owners and announces he's there to save their failing business, anything can happen. With no time to prepare for his arrival, these owners often have very honest reactions, from shock to happiness to anger. Robert revisits some of these memorable ambushes, including Lake Arrowhead Sports Grill, Cape Horn Family Restaurant and La Casa Bianca. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the surprise takeovers are set up and executed, and what went wrong along the way!
Chef Robert Irvine has tackled some of the most extreme kitchen disasters in the country. He's seen it all, from impossible owners to culinary catastrophes. Take a look back at some of his most extreme and outrageous moments.
In the top 10 most extreme makeovers ever accomplished on Restaurant: Impossible, Chef Robert Irvine helps an Air Force vet's restaurant soar to new heights and faces off with an owner in need of a major attitude adjustment. Robert gets to the root of restaurant tension that may cost the owners their marriage and more.
Robert Irvine revisits Dodge City Steakhouse in Harrisburg, Penn., to see if the owner is delegating responsibilities or trying to do everything on his own like he did when Robert came to his aid in 2011. The owner dedicated his life to the restaurant, and it was all he had. Robert hopes to find that, with more family involved in the business, he has been able to get out of $600,000 in debt and no longer carries all the weight on his shoulders.
Robert Irvine heads back to Campton, N.H., to check in on The Country Cow Restaurant and Bar. In 2014, he helped the two owners navigate through a chaotic situation that led to a shocking resolution. Now Robert wants to see if the current owner has been able to sink or swim on her own.
In 2012, Robert met the couple who owned Gusanoz Mexican Restaurant in Lebanon, N.H. They were deeply in debt after opening and closing several unsuccessful Mexican restaurants, and Robert helped them regain their confidence in the kitchen. Now he's back to see if his lessons are still making an impact.
Robert Irvine heads to San Diego to revisit The Trails Eatery, a family-owned cafe that he helped in 2011. With no obvious problems, Robert had to unravel the cafe's financial issues. Now he hopes to find that they made the long-term changes needed to be successful.
Robert Irvine heads back to Off Street Cafe in Cerritos, Calif. During his first visit in 2011, one of the restaurant's owners, Rose, was ready to retire, but her partner, Robin, wasn't stepping up as the leader the restaurant needed. With an unruly and unfriendly staff, Robin was in over her head, and Robert gave her a crash course in running the business. Now he hopes that she has continued to lead her staff to success.
Robert Irvine goes back to Sapori D'Italia in Fountain Hills, Ariz. In 2012, Robert saved the restaurant's owners, the Manno family, from being ripped apart by crushing debt and a dysfunctional staff. Now he wants to know if they've been able to run the restaurant together or if the pressure has become too much.
In 2015, Robert Irvine made a man's dream come true by remodeling his failing Italian restaurant and retooling his menu. Now Robert heads back to Tornatore's Pizzeria in Orlando, Fla., to see if the owner has managed to keep his restaurant afloat.
Robert Irvine returns to Fishkill, N.Y., and Joe Willy's Seafood House, a family-owned seafood restaurant from 2013. Faced with a hot-tempered owner pushing his wife to the brink, Robert had to renovate both a rundown restaurant and a strained marriage. Now he's back to find out if they were able to recommit to being equal partners in business and in life.
It was no joke in 2014 when Robert Irvine first visited Uncle Andy's Diner in Portland, Maine, and learned that owners Dennis and Tina couldn't even pay themselves. Their four children also worked at the restaurant, and the couple had to take a second jobs to make ends meet. With Dennis, a comic, seemingly enjoying comedy more than the restaurant business, Robert wondered not only if the restaurant would succeed but also who would run it. Now, Robert is back to see who stepped up to manage the diner, whether it's making money and if customers are finally smiling because of the food and not Dennis' hijinks.
Robert Irvine returns to Bradenton, Fla., to follow up on Theresa's Restaurant. Four years ago, he ambushed the restaurant's controlling owner, Jodi. He helped pull Theresa's out of a longtime rut and taught Jodi some management techniques that allowed her to step back and trust her family and her employees to take the reins. Now Robert is stopping in to see whether Jodi has returned to her controlling ways or Theresa's is still on the right track.
In 2012, Robert Irvine met his match in one of the owners of Woody's Tupelo Steakhouse in Mississippi. She didn't like what he had to say about her business, which once catered to celebrities like Elvis Presley. With $500,000 of debt and everything they owned on the line, however, Robert forced the mother-daughter owners to take a hard look in the mirror before starting over. Now, Robert is back to see if they were able to keep the business going and their staff in line.
Robert Irvine heads back to Padre Rita Grill on South Padre Island, Texas, where he met owners Michael and Cathy in 2014. He wants to see if the kitchen finally has strong management and if leadership has been restored. He also braces himself to reconnect with one of the feistiest owners in Restaurant: Impossible history.
Robert Irvine returns to De Rican Chef in Virginia Beach, Va., where three years ago he found a family in crisis following a tragic death. Owner Raquel had lost her passion for cooking, her son Ruben was lashing out at the employees, and her daughter Tamara was reaching out for Robert's intervention. As Robert returns, he explores whether the family has managed to pull together or if they and their restaurant collapsed under the stress.
Robert Irvine returns to Sunrise, Fla., to check on the unique challenge of Gigi's Music Cafe, a combined restaurant and music venue. The inexperienced owner couldn't see the burden she was putting on her daughter, who managed the day-to-day business, and Robert had to show them that their business was sinking -- literally -- before they were willing to accept any changes. When he returns, Robert finds out if his lessons sunk in or if the business went under.
Robert Irvine revisits So Natural Organic Restaurant and Market in Harker Heights, Texas, where he met a family of seven all working nonstop to keep things afloat in 2016. It was so important for the owners to leave the legacy of the business for their kids that they didn't notice their family was slipping away. Robert reminded them what really matters in life, and now he heads back to check on the family's priorities and the state of their personal and work lives.
Robert Irvine travels to Murphys, Calif., to check up on breakfast-and-lunch diner Hillbillies Restaurant. On his last visit, Robert found a tacky, messy restaurant, a defiant and lazy staff and owner Jamie at her wits' end. After pouring her life savings -- and her mother's -- into the place, it was losing money fast. Robert pays the restaurant another visit to find out whether Jamie is running things successfully.
Robert Irvine heads back to Fort Bragg, N.C., to check in on a restaurant that, given his own military background, was a personal mission for him in 2014. Battling a manager who couldn't let go of control was an uphill battle, but everyone involved got some perspective when Robert reminded them who and what this restaurant stood for: the people who serve and protect the country and its citizens. Robert returns to find out if the Smoke Bomb Grille, formerly the Green Beret Club, is still a relaxing place for those living on base.
Robert Irvine returns to Paterson, N.J., to check on one of his most-unique renovations, Paul's Bar and Bowling. When Robert first visited Paul's in 2014, the family business hadn't been updated in decades. With the building falling apart and the owner stuck in a different era, Robert and his team had to make up for a lot of lost time. Now he's back to see if Paul has been able to keep up the improvements and ensure success for years to come.
In 2014, Robert Irvine visited Mama E's, a soul food restaurant in Oklahoma City, and he was met with an explosive relationship between the married owners, Keith and Stephanie. Unable to get them to even talk to each other, Robert was faced with the possibility of not completing his mission. As he always does, Robert made great strides with the owners and eventually handed them the restaurant of their dreams. As he revisits Mama E's for the first time in six years, Robert finds whether Keith and Stephanie were able to overcome marital obstacles to run a successful business, or if they've reverted to old ways.
Robert Irvine returns to Al's Seafood in Essex, Maryland, which is fighting to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the crab season coming to a close and relying solely on takeout, owner Chad is just months away from losing what his grandfather started 60 years ago. Robert will have to convince Chad to overcome his fears or his family legacy will drown in a sea of debt.
Robert Irvine returns to The Incredible Cafe, a breakfast spot in San Diego whose bad management and lackluster menu prompted his first visit. He's back to find out if the lessons he taught have paid off or if the restaurant is in ruins again.
Robert Irvine revisits the Foxfire Grill in Alexandria, Va., where he first met owners Terri and Jacki in 2019. At that time, Robert found a restaurant that was losing money from too many specials, bad service and an owner stubbornly resistant to change. Now Robert hopes to find Terri and Jacki excelling in their new roles, not back to their old ways
After 20 years in business, the owners of Carmine's Chianti Cow in Port Jervis, New York, had lost their identity and passion, and they were about to lose their restaurant. In 2019, Chef Robert Irvine helped them reinvent themselves as Chianti Cow, a farm-to-table restaurant, and the community support led to a booming business. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Robert returns to see if the owners have been able to maintain their vigor and newfound love for their restaurant.
In 2019, Josephine's soul food restaurant teetered on the brink of financial ruin, after serving the community of Chicago's South Side for over four decades. Chef Robert Irvine helped owners Josephine Wade and her son Victor, but have they managed to keep the spirit of Josephine's alive? Or has this great pillar of the community fallen?
Chef Robert Irvine is headed back to Chandler, Ariz., to revisit the Ginger Monkey, a gastropub he first saw in 2019. It was not only the last restaurant Robert saved before the pandemic, but it also featured Jackson and Monique's engagement, a Restaurant Impossible first! Now Robert returns to see if they've made any progress in the business and if they've finally tied the knot.
Chef Robert Irvine is revisiting The Retro Diner in Muncie, Indiana. When he first visited, owner Rita's health was failing, and her daughter Melissa had joined the business to help. But it turned out she wasn't much help at all. Robert transformed the restaurant and Melissa, but when he goes back to check in, will he find a thriving business or closed doors?
Restaurant: Impossible is about more than just restaurants -- it's about people. Robert Irvine counts down his five most-memorable relationships from the show.
Robert Irvine counts down the biggest restaurant transformations in Restaurant: Impossible history.
Robert Irvine counts down some of the biggest moments in Restaurant: Impossible history, including massive meltdowns and the worst food he's had to eat. But he also shares his favorite menu transformations and most-moving restaurant reveals.