Restaurant: Impossible

10 Best Episodes of Restaurant: Impossible

After combating countless "impossible dinners," Chef Robert Irvine faces a daunting new challenge: save America’s most desperate restaurants from impending failure in just two days with only $10,000. In his new prime-time Food Network series, Restaurant: Impossible, Robert uses creativity and resourcefulness along with a lot of muscle in his fight to rescue these restaurants and give hope to the owners and their employees. Day one of the extreme mission begins with a thorough business assessment as Robert launches the restaurant into full service, closely observes the staff and kitchen, and determines their weakest spots. Then, he springs into action by updating the menu, retraining the staff and implementing aesthetic changes with the help of his design team. To ensure a packed house for the grand re-opening at the end of day two, Robert hits the streets to tell the community about the improved restaurant. Will the ruthless schedule, tight budget and ambitious task overcome Robert’s lofty goals, or will this tall order result in restaurant triumph?

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 08, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Restaurant: Impossible - S19E8

#15 - Irish Eyes Are Frowning (Season 19 - Episode 8)

Katie has bitten off more than she can chew at Grille No. 13 in Waldorf, Md. She's $350,000 in debt and has no time to spend with her infant daughter. Robert Irvine must teach Katie to work smarter if he's going to save this Irish pub and help her reclaim her time with her baby.

The episode was rated 8.25 from 12 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S16E7

#14 - Saving a Piece of History (Season 16 - Episode 7)

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Robert Irvine tries to save a piece of history in Garrettsville, Ohio, by rescuing a restaurant in a 200-year-old mill. Shelli, the owner of Garrett's Mill Brewing Co., is in over her head after her husband had to return to his trucking job to keep the business afloat. They have a $500,000 payment coming due, and the historic mill is just months away from grinding to a halt.

The episode was rated 8.26 from 23 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S16E6

#13 - Out with the Old, In with the New (Season 16 - Episode 6)

At Carmine's Chianti Cow in Port Jervis, N.Y., Chef Robert Irvine meets an owner whose identity crisis is threatening his restaurant. Stuck in a rut serving the same food as the previous owner, Chef Keith needs a wake-up call or this potential small-town gem is doomed to close.

The episode was rated 8.26 from 23 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S9E9

#12 - Military: Impossible (Season 9 - Episode 9)

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Robert travels to Fort Bragg, N.C., on a mission to breath new life into the Green Beret Club, one of the only full-service restaurants on the post. Among the challenges he faces is finding a way to keep tradition alive while making some necessary changes.

The episode was rated 8.27 from 11 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S3E6

#11 - Valley View (Season 3 - Episode 6)

The Valley View Restaurant in Quarryville, PA is failing for a litany of reasons. This tiny diner located in the heart of Amish country is suffering from an outdated décor and menu, as well as reeling from structural issues. But Chef Robert Irvine's biggest challenge to turn this business around will be in changing the family roles of the three generations of women running this business into the ground.

The episode was rated 8.29 from 17 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S16E11

#10 - Lost in the Bayou (Season 16 - Episode 11)

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At Lil G's Kajun Restaurant in Louisiana, Chef Robert Irvine meets Therese, who bought the restaurant 12 years ago, having no experience. With her daughter's help, Therese has managed to stay afloat, but after consecutive years of losing more than $100,000, they've run out of options. If Robert can't reverse the tide, Lil G's name is mud.

The episode was rated 8.32 from 22 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S16E3

#9 - Help Is On the Way (Season 16 - Episode 3)

Chef Robert Irvine is in Akron, Ohio, to save Edgar's Restaurant. Fixing a restaurant in only two days is impossible enough, but when Glenn, the restaurant's owner, is less than honest with Robert, it creates a whole new set of problems. If Robert can't figure out what makes Glenn tick, this restaurant has no chance.

The episode was rated 8.33 from 40 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S16E4

#8 - Old Habits Die Hard (Season 16 - Episode 4)

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At Perella's Ristorante in Warren, R.I., Chef Robert Irvine meets an owner whose stubbornness is holding back his restaurant. Lou hasn't updated the menu, the decor or his opinions since the restaurant opened 25 years ago, and he may lose his restaurant and his legacy if Robert can't convince him to change his ways.

The episode was rated 8.34 from 29 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S16E2

#7 - Cleaning Up in Mississippi (Season 16 - Episode 2)

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.

The episode was rated 8.37 from 30 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S3E8

#6 - Mama Lee's (Season 3 - Episode 8)

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Chef Robert Irvine is tasked with turning around Mama Lee's Soul Food Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas, a four-year-old restaurant that has never turned a profit and is only weeks away from closing. This cavernous restaurant is full of problems: a huge, outdated dining room; a useless, cockroach overrun restaurant; and an owner who lacks the passion, knowledge and leadership that Mama Lee's needs to succeed. Robert calls in reinforcements -- HGTV's Kitchen Cousins Anthony and John -- but even with all hands on deck, will he be able to pull off his biggest renovation to date?

The episode was rated 8.38 from 16 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S17E3

#5 - Revisited: Helping Our Own (Season 17 - Episode 3)

Robert Irvine returns to Rosie's Cafe in Escondido, Calif., where he previously helped the owner, Kaitlyn, revive her failing restaurant. She has since suffered a near-fatal car accident, and Robert comes back to pull off a spectacular event -- breaking every rule in television if necessary -- to help this Restaurant: Impossible family member with her mounting medical bills.

The episode was rated 8.41 from 22 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S18E11

#4 - Friends in Need (Season 18 - Episode 11)

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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.

The episode was rated 8.47 from 15 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S19E7

#3 - Big Trouble in Tennessee (Season 19 - Episode 7)

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. With Tom on the brink of another heart attack, Robert Irvine has 48 hours to help him change his ways so he can be the husband and leader that the restaurant needs to survive.

The episode was rated 8.54 from 13 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S16E9

#2 - Cajun Seafood Crisis (Season 16 - Episode 9)

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The Balcony restaurant in Larose, La., is one of the oldest Cajun seafood restaurants in the bayou. The owner has worked there for 28 years, but her friendly relationship with the employees has cost her their respect. Now, Chef Robert Irvine needs her to become the boss she's never been, or she'll lose everything she's worked for.

The episode was rated 8.62 from 26 votes.

Restaurant: Impossible - S18E5

#1 - Community Hub In Chaos (Season 18 - Episode 5)

Robert heads to Buffalo to save Park Vue Soul Food Bar and Restaurant.

The episode was rated 8.73 from 11 votes.

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