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Restaurant Makeover

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Restaurant Makeover
StarringChefs:
Brad Long
Corbin Tomaszeski
David Adjey
Lynn Crawford
Massimo Capra
Michael Bonacini
Rene Chauvin
Susur Lee

Designers:
Cherie Nicole Stinson
Glen Peloso
Jessica Cotton
Meredith Heron
Robin De Groot
Tracy Kundell
Brenda Bent
Cheryl Torrenueva

Foreman:
Igor Shamraychuk
Country of originCanada
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes68
Production
Running time30 or 60 minutes
(per episode)
Original release
NetworkFood Network Canada
HGTV Canada
ReleaseOctober 2, 2005 (2005-10-02) –
January 2008 (2008-01)

Restaurant Makeover is a television series on HGTV Canada that currently airs as reruns on the Food Network Canada and HGTV Canada, as well as the Fine Living channel and Food Network in the United States, DTour and in over 16 other countries worldwide. The pilot episode starred designer Robin De Groot and chef Brad Long in the Coco's Cafe. Most of the restaurants involved in the series were located in the Greater Toronto Area. The series was rebooted as Restaurant Takeover on Food Network Canada, and aired for 2 seasons in 2012 and 2013.

Synopsis

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It is hosted by chefs Brad Long, Rene Chauvin, Lynn Crawford, Massimo Capra, Corbin Tomaszeski, David Adjey, and Susur Lee along with designers Robin De Groot, Meredith Heron, Cherie Nicole Stinson, Jessica Cotton, Glen Peloso, Brenda Bent, Cheryl Torrenueva, Lisa North, and Jonathan Furlong, who perform renovation makeovers on restaurants desiring transformation.

The premise of the show is to challenge two restaurant professionals, one designer and one chef, to overhaul a struggling restaurant with a very limited budget and time. Originally the show would match funds provided by the restaurant owners up to $20,000; however, that decreased to just $15,000 as the show moved into its later seasons.

Criticism

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Although the show's premise is to help struggling restaurants, a number of establishments have failed shortly after their makeover — sometimes before the episode of the show featuring the restaurant had aired, thus not allowing them to reap the benefits of added exposure. Some critics held the opinion that participating in Restaurant Makeover was a "kiss of death" for failing restaurants. However, it was noted that given the dire condition of some participants' establishments, even a significant change could not salvage the business.[1][2][3][4][5]

List of renovated restaurants

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Season 1

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Restaurant Name Original Name Location Chef Designer Still Open? Notes
Babelfish Bistro N/A Guelph, ON David Adjey Robin De Groot No
Cocoron N/A Toronto, ON Via Oliveto Rene Chauvin No

Season 2

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Restaurant Name Original Name Location Chef Designer Still Open? Notes
Aftermath Cafe N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Robin De Groot No Renamed "Events Cafe", then closed
Bravi Restaurant N/A Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Glen Peloso Yes
College Street Bar N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Robin De Groot No
First Class Delites N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Cherie Stinson Yes
High Point Restaurant N/A Mississauga, ON David Adjey Meredith Heron No Closed and on Lease
Higher Groundz Cafe N/A Mississauga, ON Brad Long Glen Peloso No Now Raw Aura Organic Cuisine.
Innocenti Restaurant N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Meredith Heron No Was KiWe, now Ruby Soho.
Monkey Bar and Grill N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Glen Peloso Yes Re-renovated in 2015
Montana Roadhouse N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Lisa North No Now The Ballroom
Old York Bar and Grill N/A Toronto, ON Massimo Capri Cherie Stinson No Closed Dec 23, 2022
Ossawippi Express Dining Cars N/A Orillia, ON David Adjey Robin De Groot No Owner declared bankruptcy in 2010.
The Empress Restaurant N/A Toronto, ON Brad Long Lisa North Yes
The Town Grill N/A Toronto, ON Jason Rosso Cherie Stinson No Now Omi Sushi.

Season 3

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Restaurant Name Original Name Location Chef Designer Still Open? Notes
Brooklyn's Bar and Grill N/A Burlington, ON David Adjey Robin De Groot Yes
Cafe Asia N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Cherie Stinson No
Casa Mendoza N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Matt Robinson No soon to be condo development
Quattro 4 Ragazze Europe Planet Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Meredith Heron Yes
Forte Restaurant N/A N/A Corbin Tomaszeski Robin Fraser No
Grappa Ristorante N/A Toronto, ON Brad Long Robin Fraser/Meredith Heron Yes
Peridot Resto Lounge Ithaca Restaurant Toronto, ON Brad Long Meredith Heron No Closed in 2014, Now Firkin on Bloor
Jeremiah's Bullfrog Cafe N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Jessica Cotton No
Karma's Cafe N/A Peterborough, ON Lynn Crawford Glen Peloso Yes
Kokkino Restaurant and Lounge N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Meredith Heron No Closed in 2010
Latitude Wine Bar and Grill N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Robin Fraser No
Le Cafe Vert N/A Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Cheryl Torrenueva No See Footnotes[6]
Lüb Bistro Lounge N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Glen Peloso No
Natchos Thai Thai Cafe N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Meredith Heron No
Peroni's Pizzeria N/A Mississauga, ON Massimo Capra Glen Peloso No
Phil's Original BBQ N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Meredith Heron No Close 2014, now Buster Rhino's Southern BBQ
PJ O'Brien N/A St. Lawrence, Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Cherie Stinson Yes
Reliable Fish & Chips N/A Leslieville, Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Meredith Heron Yes
Rubicon Grill N/A Mississauga, ON Lynn Crawford Glen Peloso No Closure due to fire[7]
Saigon Flower Restaurant N/A West Queen West, Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Jessica Cotton Yes
Side Door Grill N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Matt Robinson No
Six Steps Spinello Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Meredith Heron No Now The Bowery[8]
St. Clair Village Cafe N/A Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Cherie Stinson Yes Now Pizza e Pazzi
Stoney's Bar & Grill N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Glen Peloso No
The Boathouse Restaurant N/A Woodview, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Meredith Heron No
The Office Sports Bar and Grill N/A Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Meredith Heron No Now The Longest Yard

Season 4

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Restaurant Name Original Name Location Chef Designer Still Open? Notes
Aggie Martin N/A Brampton, ON David Adjey Glen Peloso No Now Green Cup Roastery is in the space.
Bagel World N/A Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Robin Fraser Yes
Nook Bakerberry Caffe Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Jonathan Furlong Yes
Cork & Cabbage Bistro Aubergine Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Cherie Stinson No Closed before show aired. Reopened under new ownership as JAM Cafe[9]
Bulldog Cafe N/A Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Meredith Heron Yes Has expanded to multiple locations.
Calypso Hut N/A N/A Massimo Capra Robin Fraser No
Dhaba Indian Excellence N/A Toronto, ON Susur Lee Brenda Bent Yes
Konrad Lounge Di and Gabby's Etobicoke, Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Tracy Kundell Yes
Dooney's N/A Toronto, ON [10] Corbin Tomaszeski Jonathan Furlong Yes See Footnotes[11]
The Citizen Essence Toronto, ON [12] Lynn Crawford Brenda Bent Yes This restaurant was purchased and made over again by Lynn Crawford and Cherie Stinson.[13]
Golden Flame Restaurant N/A Richmond Hill, ON Massimo Capra Meredith Heron No
Hamar Weyne N/A Toronto, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Tracy Kundell Yes
Hollingers N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Cherie Stinson No
Hollywood Panini N/A Richmond Hill, ON Massimo Capra Glen Peloso No Now Greek Xpress.
Il Papagallo N/A Oakville, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Tracy Kundell No Now Corks Restaurant.
Jonathan's N/A Woodbridge, ON David Adjey Glen Peloso Yes
Kensington's N/A Toronto, ON Brad Long Glen Peloso Yes
La Cabana N/A N/A David Adjey Glen Peloso No
Massimo's N/A Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Brenda Bent No Was temporarily closed due to fire. New locations on Queen West and also College were renamed Vinny Massimo's,[14][15] but were closed around winter 2014.
The Olive Branch Mighty Mike's Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Jonathan Furlong Yes
Rifca's Mediterranean Kitchen Pita Stop Richmond Hill, ON Brad Long Glen Peloso Yes
Roma Ristorante N/A Toronto, ON David Adjey Cheryl Torrenueva No Under new ownership.
Flame Bar & Grill Seashell Seafood N/A David Adjey Cheryl Torrenueva No Now Pho 88.
The Central N/A N/A Corbin Tomaszeski Brenda Bent Yes
The Richmond Rogue N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Meredith Heron No
Waterfall Martini Lounge N/A N/A David Adjey Jonathan Furlong No

Season 5

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Restaurant Name Original Name Location Chef Designer Still Open? Notes
A Catered Affair's Cafe N/A Milton, ON Lynn Crawford Cherie Stinson Yes now Grill Daddy
Cocina Lucero Arre Burrito Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Cherie Stinson No
Bacchus Roti N/A Toronto, ON Brad Long Meredith Heron Yes
Bon Vivant N/A Toronto, ON Massimo Capra Glen Peloso No Closed in 2013
Church Street Diner N/A Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Glen Peloso No For reasons which have never been publicly clarified, the restaurant remained closed for over a year after the renovation before finally reopening in 2010.[16] They have since closed the restaurant according to their Facebook page.
County Fish and Chips N/A Port Credit, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Meredith Heron Yes
De Great Iron Pot N/A Scarborough, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Cheryl Torrenueva No
Earth Indian N/A North York, ON Brad Long Jonathan Furlong Yes
Attilio's 1957 Gippino's Toronto, ON Michael Bonacini Meredith Heron No Closed after a fire.
Joe Boo's Cookoos N/A Thornhill, ON Michael Bonacini Glen Peloso No
Cluck, Grunt and Low Riviera Toronto, ON Lynn Crawford Brenda Bent No Now Puck 'N Wings.
Locavore Slippery Boot Toronto, ON Brad Long Meredith Heron No Became Trillium Bistro, now La Cascina.[17]
Tresca Trattoria N/A Richmond Hill, ON Corbin Tomaszeski Tracy Kundell No New ownership and called 'Bathurst St. Deli' which was later renamed 'Bathurst St. Bistro', which was later sold and is currently 'Capital Pizzeria and Grill'

References

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  1. ^ Villain: Restaurant Makeover The Torontoist
  2. ^ The Curse of The Restaurant Makeover Macleans
  3. ^ Restaurant Makeover Chowhound
  4. ^ Tribe Magazine: Restaurant Makeover Curse Tribe Magazine
  5. ^ Restaurant Makeover Taste TO
  6. ^ "Le Cafe Vert in the Deadpool?", [BlogTO], January 19, 2009
  7. ^ "Fire closes Lakeshore Rd.", [Mississauga.com], Mar 10, 2009
  8. ^ "The Bowery Launches on Colborne Street in Toronto", June 29, 2011
  9. ^ The Curse of The Restaurant Makeover MacLeans
  10. ^ 511 Bloor St. W on check
  11. ^ "End of an era for Dooney's Café". National Post, June 19, 2008. UPDATE: re-opened "Dooney's Cafe, once an Annex icon, moves west"
  12. ^ 790 Queens St. W can be seen in front window during reveal, CN Tower seen in background of road shot
  13. ^ Lynn Crawford’s makeover NOW Magazine
  14. ^ Massimo's To Reopen on Queen blogTO
  15. ^ Vinny Massimo's
  16. ^ "Church St Diner reopens". Xtra!, February 24, 2010.
  17. ^ "How Locavore became Trillium Bistro: The Death of a Fine Restaurant", [ElliDavis], August 3, 2009
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