Restaurant Makeover

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

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

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.

List of renovated restaurants

Season 1

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
Babelfish Bistro	N/A	Guelph, ON	David Adjey	Robin De Groot
Cocoron	N/A	Toronto, ON	Via Oliveto	Rene Chauvin

Season 2

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
Aftermath Cafe	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Robin De Groot		Renamed "Events Cafe", then closed.
Bravi Restaurant	N/A	Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Glen Peloso
College Street Bar	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Robin De Groot
First Class Delites	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Cherie Stinson
High Point Restaurant	N/A	Mississauga, ON	David Adjey	Meredith Heron
Higher Groundz Cafe	N/A	Mississauga, ON	Brad Long	Glen Peloso		Now Raw Aura Organic Cuisine.
Innocenti Restaurant	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Meredith Heron		Was KiWe, now Ruby Soho.
Monkey Bar and Grill	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Glen Peloso		Re-renovated in 2015.
Montana Roadhouse	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Lisa North		Now The Ballroom.
Old York Bar and Grill	N/A	Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Cherie Stinson		Closed Dec 23, 2022.
Ossawippi Express Dining Cars	N/A	Orillia, ON	David Adjey	Robin De Groot		Owner declared bankruptcy in 2010.
The Empress Restaurant	N/A	Toronto, ON	Brad Long	Lisa North
The Town Grill	N/A	Toronto, ON	Jason Rosso	Cherie Stinson		Now Omi Sushi.

Season 3

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
Brooklyn's Bar and Grill	N/A	Burlington, ON	David Adjey	Robin De Groot
Cafe Asia	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Cherie Stinson
Casa Mendoza	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Matt Robinson		Following the demolition of the original structure, the site was cleared and developed into a condominium complex and the adjoining Silver Moon Drive.
Quattro 4 Ragazze	Europe Planet	Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Meredith Heron
Forte Restaurant	N/A	N/A	Corbin Tomaszeski	Robin Fraser
Grappa Ristorante	N/A	Toronto, ON	Brad Long	Robin Fraser / Meredith Heron
Peridot Resto Lounge	Ithaca Restaurant	Toronto, ON	Brad Long	Meredith Heron		Closed in 2014, now Firkin on Bloor.
Jeremiah's Bullfrog Cafe	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Jessica Cotton
Karma's Cafe	N/A	Peterborough, ON	Lynn Crawford	Glen Peloso
Kokkino Restaurant and Lounge	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Meredith Heron		Closed in 2010.
Latitude Wine Bar and Grill	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Robin Fraser
Le Cafe Vert	N/A	Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Cheryl Torrenueva		See Footnotes
Lüb Bistro Lounge	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Glen Peloso
Natchos Thai Thai Cafe	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Meredith Heron
Peroni's Pizzeria	N/A	Mississauga, ON	Massimo Capra	Glen Peloso
Phil's Original BBQ	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Meredith Heron		Closed in 2014, now Buster Rhino's Southern BBQ.
PJ O'Brien	N/A	St. Lawrence, Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Cherie Stinson
Reliable Fish & Chips	N/A	Leslieville, Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Meredith Heron
Rubicon Grill	N/A	Mississauga, ON	Lynn Crawford	Glen Peloso		Closure due to a fire.
Saigon Flower Restaurant	N/A	West Queen West, Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Jessica Cotton
Side Door Grill	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Matt Robinson
Six Steps	Spinello	Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Meredith Heron		Now The Bowery.
St. Clair Village Cafe	N/A	Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Cherie Stinson		Now Pizza e Pazzi.
Stoney's Bar & Grill	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Glen Peloso
The Boathouse Restaurant	N/A	Woodview, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Meredith Heron
The Office Sports Bar and Grill	N/A	Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Meredith Heron		Now The Longest Yard.

Season 4

Restaurant Name	Original Name	Location	Chef	Designer	Still Open?	Notes
Aggie Martin	N/A	Brampton, ON	David Adjey	Glen Peloso		Now Green Cup Roastery.
Bagel World	N/A	Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Robin Fraser
Nook	Bakerberry Caffe	Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Jonathan Furlong
Cork & Cabbage	Bistro Aubergine	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Cherie Stinson		Closed before the episode aired. Reopened under new ownership as JAM Cafe.
Bulldog Cafe	N/A	Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Meredith Heron		Has since expanded to multiple locations.
Calypso Hut	N/A	N/A	Massimo Capra	Robin Fraser
Dhaba Indian Excellence	N/A	Toronto, ON	Susur Lee	Brenda Bent
Konrad Lounge	Di and Gabby's	Etobicoke, Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Tracy Kundell
Dooney's	N/A	Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Jonathan Furlong		See Footnotes
The Citizen	Essence	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Brenda Bent		This restaurant was purchased and renovated by Lynn Crawford and Cherie Stinson.
Golden Flame Restaurant	N/A	Richmond Hill, ON	Massimo Capra	Meredith Heron		Now The Meat Zone.
Hamar Weyne	N/A	Toronto, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Tracy Kundell
Hollingers	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Cherie Stinson
Hollywood Panini	N/A	Richmond Hill, ON	Massimo Capra	Glen Peloso		Now Greek Xpress.
Il Papagallo	N/A	Oakville, ON	Corbin Tomaszeski	Tracy Kundell		Now Corks Restaurant.
Jonathan's	N/A	Woodbridge, ON	David Adjey	Glen Peloso
Kensington's	N/A	Toronto, ON	Brad Long	Glen Peloso
La Cabana	N/A	N/A	David Adjey	Glen Peloso
Massimo's	N/A	Toronto, ON	Massimo Capra	Brenda Bent		Was temporarily closed due to a fire. New locations on Queen West and also College were renamed Vinny Massimo's, but were closed around winter 2014.
The Olive Branch	Mighty Mike's	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Jonathan Furlong
Rifca's Mediterranean Kitchen	Pita Stop	Richmond Hill, ON	Brad Long	Glen Peloso		Now Woody Wood Burgers.
Roma Ristorante	N/A	Toronto, ON	David Adjey	Cheryl Torrenueva		Under new ownership.
Flame Bar & Grill	Seashell Seafood	N/A	David Adjey	Cheryl Torrenueva		Now Pho 88.
The Central	N/A	N/A	Corbin Tomaszeski	Brenda Bent
The Richmond Rogue	N/A	Toronto, ON	Lynn Crawford	Meredith Heron
Waterfall Martini Lounge	N/A	N/A	David Adjey	Jonathan Furlong