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!
Chef Robert Irvine swoops in to save the Pelican Grill, a small breakfast and lunch place in Seabrook, Texas. Owners John and Laura are losing $2,000 a month and their savings can only keep them afloat for so long. In only two days, and with only $10,000, chef Robert needs to overhaul not only the uninspired, cluttered interior, but also the lack of leadership and structure at the center of the restaurant's problems.
The episode was rated 7.31 from 13 votes.
Michelle Obama tasks Chef Irvine with a unique challenge at Horton's Kids in Washington, D.C., a nonprofit community center that provides afterschool meals, a resource room and family cooking classes.
The episode was rated 7.64 from 11 votes.
Chef Robert Irvine heads to Memphis to save a failing barbecue restaurant that's experiencing growing pains after upgrading from a takeout operation to a giant eat-in restaurant only four months earlier. Chef Robert may have met his match in stubborn owner Tarrance, who is clinging onto his cherished family barbecue recipe and refusing to see how cutting corners and failing to adapt to the challenges of a large restaurant is causing his business to fail. Can Chef Robert get through to Tarrance and help turn around this family business before it all goes up in smoke.
The episode was rated 7.64 from 11 votes.
Chef Robert Irvine often sees restaurant owners with little experience and lofty ideas of how to run a restaurant, but Lynn, the owner of Chatterbox in Windham, New Hampshire, takes the cake. A former stay-at-home mom, she used her late husband's life insurance policy to open up a restaurant, hoping to provide for her five children. Robert has just two days to give the well-intentioned but naive family the tools and skills to run a successful family business.
The episode was rated 7.71 from 14 votes.
When Chef Robert Irvine gets to Moss' Prime Rib and Spaghetti House in Elyria, OH, he soon realizes that the problems of this restaurant go beyond the subpar food. Owners Robert and Sandi are bullish and stubborn, refusing to accept the help that their struggling business needs. Can Robert and his team rebuild this struggling restaurant and the family behind it in two days?
The episode was rated 7.85 from 20 votes.
Chef Robert Irvine has seen many dirty and neglected restaurants, but none have made him physically ill like Anna Maria's in Scranton, PA. The Italian eatery's glory days, and last apparent cleaning, were 25 years ago, and owners Jack and Mary, with their son Tucker, are in over their head trying to keep the doors open. Chef Robert Irvine's biggest challenge will be getting the kitchen up to code with only $10,000 and two days.
The episode was rated 7.94 from 17 votes.
When Chef Robert Irvine visits Del's in Pittsburgh, PA, it's clear that the biggest issue with this failing 62-year-old icon is not the food or décor, but owner Marianne. Under the stress of losing the family heirloom, Marianne lashes out at her staff, driving away customers and earning a terrible reputation in the neighborhood. Can Robert save Marianne from herself and the restaurant from its imminent closing?
The episode was rated 8.00 from 13 votes.
When Chef Robert Irvine first sees Woody's Tupelo Steakhouse in Tupelo, MS, it's clear why owner Feather and her mom, Tricia, are drowning in debt. The dining room is a dusty, dark cave and the horrible tableside service is worse than the mediocre food. With only two days and $10,000 can Robert re-establish the restaurant into a Tupelo dining destination?
The episode was rated 8.07 from 15 votes.
Chef Robert Irvine heads to Burlington, N.C., in an attempt to save the University Grill. The five-year-old establishment was opened by siblings Eleni, George and Manny to help provide for their parents during retirement, but is now facing failure due in part to the family feud among the siblings. Can chef Robert resolve the sibling rivalry and help turn the University Grill profitable?
The episode was rated 8.10 from 10 votes.
When Giovanni and his partner Christina purchased Ristorante Barolo in Aptos, C.A., 10 years ago they hoped the combination restaurant and hotel would be the perfect fit for them and their seven children. After a very successful first five years, a changing economy combined with the high cost of maintaining a historic building plus family health problems have hurt Ristorante Barolo. The couple has turned to chef Robert Irvine to help save their business and their family.
The episode was rated 8.19 from 16 votes.
Chef Robert Irvine's latest mission takes him to Pappas Restaurant in Benicia, Calif., a family-owned Greek restaurant on the brink of extinction. Michael "Pappa" has owned and operated his namesake restaurant for over 15 years with his two sons, whose constant fighting is the source of much of the restaurant's problems. Robert has only two days to repair this dysfunctional family as well as the drab interior and lackluster food if Pappas Restaurant can have a chance at survival.
The episode was rated 8.21 from 14 votes.
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.
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.
