Celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s popular Times Square restaurant, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar, is closing.
As first reported by Eater New York, December 31 will be the last day to try items at the Food Network star’s only New York City eatery before it shuts its doors for good.
The 500-seat restaurant, which features ‘American comfort food gone wild’ became infamous when New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells skewered the eatery in an unprecedented zero-star review in November 2012, all posed as questions to Fieri.
Celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s popular Times Square restaurant, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar, is closing, with its last day being December 31 (Pictured, Fieri in April 2014)
The 500-seat restaurant (pictured), which features ‘American comfort food gone wild’ became infamous when New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells skewered the eatery in an unprecedented zero-star review in November 2012, all posed as questions to Fieri
The questions were sometimes comical such as: ‘And when we hear the words Donkey Sauce, which part of the donkey are we supposed to think about?’ was one of the questions in reference to Fieri’s trademarked garlicky mustard-mayo blend.
But they were also biting: ‘How, for example, did Rhode Island’s supremely unhealthy and awesomely good fried calamari -dressed with garlic butter and pickled hot peppers – end up in your restaurant as a plate of pale, unsalted squid rings next to a dish of sweet mayonnaise with a distant rumor of spice?
Fieiri defended himself in a Today show interview days later after the scathing review came out.
‘I thought it was ridiculous. I mean, I’ve read reviews – there’s good and there’s bad in the restaurant business, but that to me went so overboard, it really seemed like there was another agenda,’ the television star told Savannah Guthrie.
Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar was estimated to be among the top 50 most profitable independent restaurants in the country over the last four years, according to Restaurant Business magazine.
In 2017, the publication magazine reported that the restaurant took in about $17million.
Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar was estimated to be among the top 50 most profitable independent restaurants in the country over the last four years, according to Restaurant Business magazine, taking in about $17million in 2017 (Pictured, Guy Fieri, October 2016)
Social media users took to Twitter to express their sadness and amazement at the restaurant’s closing, including celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen (above)
In a tweet Thursday, Wells wrote of the closing: ‘I guess it’s time to give up on getting those questions answered’, referencing his review (above)
Fieri did not list a reason for the closing but said he was ‘proud’ of serving so many people and thanked his team.
‘I’m proud that for over five and a half years, Guy’s American in New York City served millions of happy guests from all over the world,’ he said in a statement.
‘And upon the restaurant’s closing, I’d like to say thank you to all of the team members and guests who helped make it all happen.’
Social media users took to Twitter to express their sadness and amazement at the restaurant’s closing.
‘l swear on anything that I really liked this restaurant. Went as a joke, came out covered in ribs and nacho hybrids,’ tweeted Chrissy Teigen.
In a tweet Thursday, Wells wrote in reference to his review: ‘I guess it’s time to give up on getting those questions answered.’