Sooooo I got a call last week to be part of the FOX TV Show "Kitchen Nightmare's." I was really excited because I love Gordon Ramsey and Hell's Kitchen. My friend was on Season 4 of HK so I have followed the show from the beginning.
I looked forward to it so much. I couldn't wait to get there!
Then the true Nightmare began. We were told to arrive at 5:45 pm for a 6:00 pm reservation.
We end up waiting in the freezing cold for the next hour and fifteen minutes. Ugh!
I am not sure if they did this on purpose to make our experience seem worse. I was told on the show by production that we were in the "After" part of the show. Well we get inside and it looks like the place hasn't been renovated in the 35 years the establishment has been in business. I finally ask the waiter, "Is this the "Before" part of Kitchen Nightmare's?" and he admits to me. "Yes it is!!"
Bamboozled!! Lied too!! I am now truly part of this Nightmare.
It got worse from here.
I ordered Lobster Bisque for my soup. And we ordered 2 orders each for the table of Spanish Sausage and Shrimp & Garlic.
Well.. these are 3 of my favorite things.... (usually....)
The lobster bisque had a huge half a lobster tail in it. I tried to pick it up and it dropped in my soup and splashed on me. the soup looked like orange water. Tasted terrible & fishy. I was quite surprised. I said something like... "Well its not so good, but I am starved so I will eat it anyway." LOL. They documented it for the show.
Next up... was the Spanish Sausage and the Garlic Shrimp. Ok.. Yuck-O!! The shrimp was dripping in oil and teeny, tiny shrimp and the Spanish Sausage was burnt to a crisp and dry. I was seriously Shocked!! I go to Don Pepe's at least once a month and both of these Staple Spanish dishes are amazing there. How do you screw this up?? The Sausage was super crunchy and tasted like burnt bacon and the shrimp was not cleaned/prepared and actually still had the shells on them.
Wow!! Did they actually sabotage our dinner for the show?? I truly think this is possible. It was around this time I started feeling sick. Like literally ill. I don't get sick from eating. I have a very strong stomach. So this was a rarity in itself. Nobody finished there appetizers. We didn't ask to take home the leftovers. It was really that gross! I have never once left shrimp on my plate unfinished. What does that tell you??
Next up is the entrees.
Ok.. next up is the entrees.....
Hello... I said next up was the entrees!!
Yes, we waited over an hour for our actual meal. Again!! Has to be Sabotage. I think they truly wanted us to complain. My Mom was actually getting annoyed because I was complaining about everything. I never, ever complain about my meal. Usually there could possibly be one thing happen wrong during a meal. I am not a complainer by nature.. but things were racking up here left and right. I stopped complaining because my Mom and my friend's husband who was dining with us seemed upset about it. I didn't want to ruin any one's good time.
We get our entrees and I immediately burn my tongue on the Paella. LOL I felt horrible so I stopped eating. I literally ate 3 or 4 mouthful's. My Mom's was ice cold. She actually sent it back to the kitchen. She says, "I am missing Jeopardy for this???" My sister's was ice cold and her salmon was gray not pink. The table next to us was complaining big time now, because they were still waiting for there dinner. We finally just ordered Coffee. My sister's mug was actually cracked right down the side. Talk about an eye sore. Also unsanitary because bacteria gets into that crack and sits there. Ewww!
We finally just say: "Check, please!"
Wow! It was $295.00 for Dinner!!! Oh My GOD!! And it was the worst meal of my life.
We left the restaurant after being there for 3 1/2 hours and.. while walking back to our car parked on the streets of Newark, NJ. I started to feel really sick. Next thing I know.. I am throwing up on a tree. LOL Yes a tree!! I was actually on the phone with a friend who is currently driving back from Alaska and got disconnected and then threw up immediately.
Not Once!
Not Twice..
But.. Three times!!
I went back to tell the production and the restaurant that I threw up and as I am waiting for someone to come talk to me... my sister texts me. "OMG, I just threw up!" She threw up right out of her car's window!! ahahaha!
This is right out of a Horror Movie. I am not sure what the heck happened...tonight but I still feel sick at this moment and it is now after midnight.
Sis threw up twice too. We were laughing about it and all. But this is just a crazy night all together... I cannot believe that this show is actually real?
I thought it was a set-up. Although, I do think the blond at the next table from us who was being overly dramatic and complaining about everything was a paid actress. I do know that I truly had a bad experience at this restaurant.
I would never ever go back there!!
Even after they fix the problems and re-open with a different menu and decor. No way in Hell.
I am now scarred for life!! LOL
Btw.. dinner was suppose to include salad. I never got no stinkin', salad!
Oooh.. and did I mention that when I got home, my dog Zora had eaten all the Halloween candy, cookies, my gloves and anything else she could get her paws on. We walked into total chaos when we got home. Ripped open wrappers everywhere. My dog decided to have her own feast in the middle of the living room while we were away. We sat down in the middle of the floor and all cracked up.
Man, dogs could be spiteful when you leave them home alone for 4 hours.
Happy All Saint's Day to Everyone.
