If you’re a foodie, you’ve probably watched your fair share of the U.S. version of the Iron Chef franchise, where chefs fight each other in a battle of culinary wizardry with secret or special ingredients and menu themes. The problem with TV food is that no matter how tasty something looks, your eyes and ears are the only things that are ever going to get to experience it.
As a fan, you may have wondered what it would be like to eat at one of these famous chef’s restaurants to taste a perfectly prepared steak or an expertly blended ramen broth. But lest you think these chefs and their restaurants never have an off day, their Yelp reviews suggest otherwise. Yes, even household-name chefs like Bobby Flay are bound to have their haters.
From accusations of rat infestations to food poisoning, we scrolled through the one-star reviews of the Iron Chef restaurants to see what their most unimpressed customers had to say.
Alex Guarnaschelli
Butter Restaurant, NYC: “Stay away from the brunch. I had better food at the airport lounge. Tasteless and cold. Bagels were stale. This was amateur hour. Avoid!!!”— Hal G.
Bobby Flay
Bobby’s Burger Palace, Las Vegas: “Save your money. Aside from being located on America’s sweaty and unwashed fat roll (the Strip), the place had all the charm of a frozen yogurt shop. Without ordering drinks, my family of 3 ended up dropping $50 for what amounted to mediocre fast food. Seriously, in-n-out would have better, and I could afford a haircut afterwards. Why bother asking how you want your burger done when they don’t cook things any other way than ‘well done’? They say this guy is a chef or something. Whatever. Best part is when I tried to order a beer, the cashier said ‘save your money, go to a bar’. Awesome.” — Steve S.
Jose Garces
Amada, NYC: “What really did this place in for me was the razor clams. Once I took a bite, my entire mouth was full of sand. Literally. No hyperbole here. I spent the majority of the time we were there trying to wash sand out of my mouth. When my boyfriend told the server, he just said, ‘oh, that happens sometimes.’ — Alexandra C.
Marc Forgione
Restaurant Marc Forgione, NYC: “This restaurant is in a great location and the space is very well done. Looking forward to the next restaurant in this space after this one goes out of business for incompetent service.” — Michael M.
Bobby Flay
Bobby’s Burger Palace, Las Vegas: “Save your money. Aside from being located on America’s sweaty and unwashed fat roll (the Strip), the place had all the charm of a frozen yogurt shop. Without ordering drinks, my family of 3 ended up dropping $50 for what amounted to mediocre fast food. Seriously, in-n-out would have better, and I could afford a haircut afterwards. Why bother asking how you want your burger done when they don’t cook things any other way than ‘well done’? They say this guy is a chef or something. Whatever. Best part is when I tried to order a beer, the cashier said ‘save your money, go to a bar’. Awesome.” — Steve S.
Geoffrey Zakarian
The Lambs Club, NYC: “I walked away from the meal feeling like I could have grabbed a sandwich at a bodega and felt more satisfied. The service was slow. The drink was watery and the plates were so small and lacking life that I really felt upset that I spent so much.”— Shani M.
Masaharu Morimoto
Momosan Ramen & Sake, NYC: “Tokyo Chicken – The broth tasted like a wet dog, not chicken.
“Kakuni Bao – One of the worst pork belly bun I’ve ever had. It doesn’t melt in your mouth. The meat was too chewy and not effortless.” — J J.
Jose Garces
Amada, NYC: “What really did this place in for me was the razor clams. Once I took a bite, my entire mouth was full of sand. Literally. No hyperbole here. I spent the majority of the time we were there trying to wash sand out of my mouth. When my boyfriend told the server, he just said, ‘oh, that happens sometimes.’ — Alexandra C.
Michael Symon
The B Spot, Ohio: “This place is guaranteed to give you diarrhea, avoid it and save your money. I barely got home in time last time I ate here. Hot brown espresso pissed out of my ass for ten minutes straight. I’ll never eat here again. Do not eat here, the food is dirty.” — Bob P.
Michael Symon
The B Spot, Ohio: “This place is guaranteed to give you diarrhea, avoid it and save your money. I barely got home in time last time I ate here. Hot brown espresso pissed out of my ass for ten minutes straight. I’ll never eat here again. Do not eat here, the food is dirty.” — Bob P.
Masaharu Morimoto
Momosan Ramen & Sake, NYC: “Tokyo Chicken – The broth tasted like a wet dog, not chicken.
“Kakuni Bao – One of the worst pork belly bun I’ve ever had. It doesn’t melt in your mouth. The meat was too chewy and not effortless.” — J J.
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