Sierra Madre Cantina (Kalaveraz) - Bar Rescue Update

May 3, 2020, 5:32 am

≫ Next: Par Bar (Pepe's) - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Rob Ben's - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Escondido, California to rescue Kalaveraz. Kalaveraz is a Mexican restaurant owned by Juan Magana. Juan is a defiant owner who needs to take responsibility for his own failures to save himself from closing the restaurant. Juan tells Jon Taffer he's failing because he is surrounded by turkeys, meanwhile he is behind on their paychecks.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Kalaveraz to Sierra Madre Cantina and they have kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Sierra Madre Cantina since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"What a great and relaxing place to chill and drink one. The food and service is perfect! I highly recommend this place for a clam weekend vibe."
"I met with several clients two days in a row at SMC. The management/owner is very accommodating as I requested some privacy. Our server "Claudia" was on point and provided great service! Food was great and priced just right. I will definitely be coming back, and I highly recommend this restaurant!"
"Good food, friendly staff, good drinks and reasonable pricing. Used to come in when it was Añejos, and came only a few times when it was Kalaveraz. Now 2nd time in here as Sierra Madre Cantina. Bartenders are knowledgable and great service. I appreciate service and good food, and like to acknowledge that. Will be back."
"MUST TRY!!! I had their Bacon wrapped shrimp and Enchiladas and it was super yummy! Best of all that makes the experience is the Service, SERVICE IS THE BEST BESIDES THEIR DELICIOUS FOOD!"
"Amazing food, amazing staff! MUST TRY if you're ever near Escondido! Best Margaritas in the area, GREAT tacos, friendly staff, great place for parties, large groups, etc!"
"This review is for Sierra Madre Cantina. Since remodeling this place is worth a second chance. New menu and drinks as well as modern clean decor."
"The food here is amazing. Way better then the place that use to be here. Also the owner is supper nice. I'm so glad that a place with amazing mexican food opened up around the corner from my house"

Negative Reviews:

"I'm sad to see that a Mexican restaurant can't get real fried beans and the rice right. Beans taste like can beans, and rice were so dry. I had the ceviche and I don't like getting big chunks of tomatoes in it. The tostada at the bottom was bad. Just like the chips, they were old. I got a slice of avocado on my plate. Tamarindo margarita was okay. I hope that the owner can get better chefs to actual make beans and real Mexican rice. I really want this place to succeed. Service was great!"
"This place is ok, but it was better before bar rescue showed up. The review below is for Kalaveraz not whatever bar rescue did to the place. Before bar rescue I gave this place 4 stars now it just isn't as comfortable and some drinks are in fancy cups and overpriced. Just a meh..place. Maybe I came on a bad day I'll try again and update my review if needed"
"We were regulars at Anejo, in fact I even held my business lunch meetings there. Wasn't so happy with the food and drinks when the new owner took over, and stopped going there entirely. When we heard "Bar Rescue" had come to their aid we decided to give it another try. Called in an order for two dinners. When I arrived to pick them up they had no record of the order. Waited while they prepared my order, took it home and discovered that BOTH dinners were wrong. I called and was told they would make new dinners for me, but I would have to bring the incorrect ones back first. No thanks!!! Two trips for bad service and mediocre food? I don't think so!"
"Horrible customer service & food! I placed an order of 8 items over the phone for pick-up, and they messed up up on all the orders! No attention to detail whatsoever. They forgot to give me the tortillas for the menudo. I asked for no beans on another order, & they gave me beans. They completely forgot one of the salad orders. When I asked and they did give it to me, they forgot the dressing. Tortilla chips were hard and burnt. The rolled tacos on the menu said chicken and I got beef. They charged us $10 for a handful of chips. Portions for the food is overall too small for the price. Not impressed at all with the overall quality of the restaurant. I will not be returning, nor do I recommend this restaurant for good quality Mexican food. Save your money!"
"Literally waited an hour just for them to take our order. Once we did order, they brought us an incorrect order twice. We left without eating."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Kalaveraz happened in late January 2020.
Here is the Sierra Madre Cantina website and Facebook page. Here is the old Kalaveraz website that has also been updated to say Sierra Madre Cantina.

They have a Bar Rescue menu on their website, so it seems they kept all of the food items and cocktails.

Here are the Facebook pages of Juan (owner)
In March 2020, Juan did a cooking demonstration on the local news station (Fox5). He said that Bar Rescue was a great experience. (Link to video)
Sierra Madre Cantina was closed since March due to government regulations on social distancing, but reopened Friday May 1st for to-go orders according to Facebook. They posted, "Hey Escondido! BIG NEWS. We are OPENING TODAY from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM in preparation for a special airing of our restaurant's episode on Bar Rescue! We will be featuring our limited Bar Rescue menu with 5 specialty cocktails and 5 specialty dishes (available to-go)! #SierraMadreCantina. Join us on Facebook live tonight and check out our limited menu here 👉sierramadrecantina.com/menu 🎊. Also, be sure to tune in on the Paramount Network this Sunday evening at 10:00 PM for our episode on #BarRescue! 🍻"
Here are the reviews for Sierra Madre Cantina from Yelp, Tripadvisor and Google.

Juan takes the time to respond to some of the reviews.

The previous restaurant at this location was called Añejo. Juan took over and opened Kalaveraz in August 2019, so he had the business just a few months before Bar Rescue came.
The sign company that did the sign for Sierra Madre Cantina said they were approached by Bar Rescue to make the sign and "design, obtain approval of the design along with city permit approval, remove existing signage, fabricate and install the signs" in 4 days. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Kalaveraz to Sierra Madre Cantina and the bar has kept the name. It appears they have also kept all of the menu items and cocktails that Bar Rescue recommended as they have a specific Bar Rescue menu on their website. Sierra Madre Cantina is more of a restaurant than a bar and the reviews are mixed. The positive reviews talk about the food, drinks and bartenders while many of the negative reviews are about getting incorrect orders especially with takeout. Juan opened the restaurant just five months before Bar Rescue came. The episode was filmed a little more than 3 months ago which is a pretty quick turnaround for Bar Rescue to air after filming.

*To see how all of the bars from Bar Rescue are doing, go to the Bar Rescue Updates page, and also Like us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to stay up to date with all things involving Bar Rescue.

↧

Par Bar (Pepe's) - Bar Rescue Update

May 17, 2020, 5:46 am

≫ Next: Bottoms Up Bar & Grill - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Sierra Madre Cantina (Kalaveraz) - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Canyon Lake, California to rescue Pepe's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina. Pepe's is owned by Victor and Laura Demoreno who own the land and the building ($2.5 million investment) and are losing $6,000 a month with the restaurant/bar. They are absent from the bar a lot of the time and when they are there, they only monitor it from an upstairs office. Due to the dark interior, employees refer to Pepe's as the dungeon.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Pepe's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina to Par Bar and the bar has already changed it back to Pepe's. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Par Bar/Pepe's since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"My boyfriend and I went to the last night of recording for the reveal night! I had half (it comes with another to share) of this pretty blue drink that was pretty good! Also had an awesome michelada and we ordered the chilaquiles nachos which were TO DIE FOR! The chips were thick and crispy and the steak was so tender! I'll be back ASAP, I want to try everything!!"
"Pepes is a staple for those of us that live in Canyon Lake. I suppose as a regular, we may receive better service. We always have excellent service. The drinks are strong and yes, a little pricey but reliable. Here are a few of the best things on the menu- Chili Colorado burrito, bean dip, nachos borrachos."
"Got to check our the re-launch and the food was as great!!! Super awesome bar menu items, definitely check it out and try the spicy margarita!"
"Love the new look, Jessica and Shawna are awesome always make me feel at home. Drinks are good, vibe is good..... good people at this location ."

Negative Reviews:

"Went in thinking it would have been a bar rescued but there was no rescue. Same draft beers, same bar... some wallpaper and new chairs. It wasn't much of a rescue. I'm actually embarrassed for the place. They need to take all that crap down. It's so cheesy and half assed. Literally they have a wood prop by the entrance... such a joke. Go take a look for yourself. Nothing special."
"Not much has changed sadly other than the decor. Service was horrible and the place was not that busy. Asked for food and she never came back. Ended up asking for the check and moved on to a place with better service."
"I have frequented Pepe's for 20 years and over the past few years it has gone way downhill. The prices have sky rocketed the portions have diminished and the general attitude from management is a "We Don't Give A Damn What You Think" attitude, which is far from what management's attitude was prior to a few years ago."
"What a joke!!!! You advertise your family to-go packs (and trying to support small business at this time of crisis, decided to order that for dinner. However, there is NO ONE inside the restaurant. Ps. It is 4:04pm and this deal is said to be from 4-8pm.....TERRIBLE FALSE ADVERTISEMENT (particularly for an establishment that was on the verge of closing until you were RESCUED)!!! Won't ever even attempt to eat your nasty food again anyways! Thanks for saving me the $100 that I gladly invested in a small business that 1. Doesn't false advertise and 2. Appreciates the business. Good day!"
"0 stars. Horrible place. Food was cold, drinks tasted like straight alcohol, and the waiter was on an illegal substance. Never coming back."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Pepe's happened in February 2020.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Paramount YouTube page.
Here is the Pepe's Facebook page. Their website domain expired recently. They also have Instagram.
Here are the Facebook pages of Victor and Laura Demoreno (owners), Shawnda (bartender), and Jessica (bartender),
According to Victor's LinkedIn profile, he is the president/CEO of multiple other businesses, some of which are food related.
Locals were talking about the upcoming episode saying they felt bad for the owners because the Bar Rescue makeover was cheap. One said, "I felt awful for them! But, the regulars will be back! I hope they get through this! (I hope we all do!) I felt bad cause Bar Rescue saw golf carts and assumed they were all golfers! In Canyon Lake, as we all know, everyone drives golf carts!" (Link)
In the comments of the preview video, there is also a comment that says, "Completely missed the mark with this bar. This community is NOT a golf community. It is a LAKE community that has a golf course. Most people own golf carts just to drive around the community, and don’t even golf." Others agreed with that comment.
The Par Bar sign and decorations have been moved to someone's personal bar in their house. (Link with photos and one to the right)
Photo - Facebook
Pepe's does have a Groupon deal available.
Here are the reviews for Pepe's from Yelp, Tripadvisor, Google. Here are a few from the Par Bar Yelp.
With government regulations on social distancing, Pepe's is only open for to-go orders right now. They had to close about a month after the makeover due to regulations but reopened in April for takeout orders.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Pepe's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina to Par Bar, but the bar quickly changed back to Pepe's and the golf decor has been removed. The gold decor is currently in somebody's home bar. It seems that the owners as well as locals thought that the golf concept didn't fit, and the makeover looked cheap. Locals in the area drive around in golf carts even if they aren't playing golf, which they think may have fooled Bar Rescue into thinking they were all golfers. The reviews for Pepe's/Par Bar are somewhat negative, but they weren't open too long after the makeover due to social distancing regulations. Owner Victor is listed as the president/CEO of multiple companies and owns the complex where Pepe's is, so he maybe wasn't struggling for Bar Rescue's help.

↧

Bottoms Up Bar & Grill - Bar Rescue Update

May 31, 2020, 5:37 am

≫ Next: Silver Dollar - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Par Bar (Pepe's) - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Stanton, California to rescue Bottoms Up Bar & Grill. Bottoms Up Bar & Grill is a bar where the bartenders are dressed in skimpy outfits and Jon Taffer finds them acting out of control. Maria Menounos and Keven Undergaro are doing recon for Jon and they are offered an "ass shot." Jon also sees that the manager is lacking the courage to control the staff and the owner Suzie is ready to sell the bar.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Bottoms Up Bar & Grill. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Bottoms Up Bar & Grill since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:
None

Negative Reviews:
None

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Bottoms Up Bar & Grill happened in February 2020.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Paramount TV YouTube page where they try to get Maria Menounos to do an "ass shot" while she is doing recon.
Here is the Bottoms Up Bar & Grill website and Facebook page. Here is the Bottoms Up Instagram.
There are five Bottoms Up locations, which are listed on the website. They are Stanton (the one on Bar Rescue), 2 in Long Beach and 2 in Bellflower.

Each Bottoms Up has their own Facebook page - Bellflower, Long Beach, Bellflower Tiki Lounge
In October 2019, there was an active shooter in the Long Beach location and two people died including a bar back. (Link)

Here are the Facebook pages of Suzie (owner), Patrick (manager), Sarah (bartender)
Bottoms Up had to close on March 17th due to government regulations on social distancing, so they were only open for about 3 weeks after the Bar Rescue makeover. They have remained closed, but said they would be having a party for the episode. (Link)
Here are the reviews for Bottoms Up from Yelp and Google

The reviews before the makeover were not too bad with averages of 4 and 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Conclusion:

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Bottoms Up Bar & Grill. The owners of Bottoms Up Bar & Grill also have five total Bottoms Up locations, so they were most likely against any type of name change. Since they own five total bars, it also means the owners are probably not struggling as much as usual Bar Rescue owners are portrayed to be struggling. The makeover happened in late February and the bar had to close in mid-March due to government regulations on social distancing. With only a few weeks open after the makeover, there were not any reviews either positive or negative. It is hard to see what kind of impact Bar Rescue has made on the bar without it being open very long before the episode aired.

↧

Silver Dollar - Bar Rescue Update

June 7, 2020, 4:08 am

≫ Next: Renz Social House (Pineapple Hill) - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Bottoms Up Bar & Grill - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Chula Vista, California to rescue Silver Dollar. The Silver Dollar was founded in 1934 and is a dive bar owned by Mike Tegardine. Mike and his son Mike Jr. are feuding over the bar which is tearing their relationship apart. Mike Jr's wife Norma has reached out to Jon Taffer as her final hope for fixing things.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of the Silver Dollar. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Silver Dollar since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"The ceiling was cool. Last night's female bartender was awesome! She was busy as heck and was still pleasant and gave good customer service!"
"Always have a great time.. good music and drinks!!"
"Good music, pure 80s and 90s perfect spot right in the middle of downtown Chula Vista"

Negative Reviews:

"Horrible place to go to! Mostly gang affiliated so there is always fights. The bartenders are scammers!!!! They take advantage of anyone who had to much to drink tipping themselves... I personally saw this!! They reuse alcohol bottles and put cheaper liquor in the "high end" bottles. Bathrooms are always excessively dirty pr put of Bad place all the way around! ..... love the way the sorry manager and bartender are mad at the review and after I SAID I WILL NO LONGER BE GOING IN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT.... the manager said im not welcome ....."
"Used to be the go to spot. We got Into a talking match with some peeps and got a lifetime ban for it, while the other cats didn't get anything. Tried to settle things with the owner or manager, whoever it was but he never called us back. Overall a good place fun time, if you "fit into the crowd""
"I got kicked out for no reason. I was talking to a pretty girl and all of a sudden I was being escorted out while all my friends were able to stay. It was my 3rd drink of the night so I wasn't drunk or anything. Never going there again."
"This place is garbage. Even after Bar Rescue they have horrible service and restrooms are DISGUSTING! It's dark like a dungeon and smells like a public urinal. I would not recommend coming here unless you want The Hep."
"I've been coming to silver dollar for about a year now and ever since they went on bar rescue, things have lot been the same. There is absolutely no reason why we should be waiting over 30 min in line for a dive bar. Ridiculous."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Silver Dollar happened in January 2020.
Here is the Silver Dollar Facebook page. They do not have a website
In July 2019, a YouTube video was posted about a stabbing outside of Silver Dollar. Norma posted a comment on that video that the stabbing was actually across the street. (Link)
Silver Dollar closed in March due to social distancing regulations and has not posted on Facebook since early April.
In late May, Silver Dollar boarded up the front of the building in anticipation of demonstrations in the area. So, the bar still sits closed with its windows boarded up. (Link to photo)
Here are the reviews for Silver Dollar from Yelp, Google

The owner Mike responds to some of the reviews on Yelp.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Silver Dollar, which makes sense because of the long history of the bar. Jon did the makeover in late-January and the bar had to close due to social distancing regulations in mid-March. The reviews for Silver Dollar since the makeover have been pretty negative with people complaining about the security at the bar, dirty bathrooms and lines. It seems that before and after the makeover, Silver Dollar has had some big crowds and lines for entering which is good for business.

Silver Dollar currently sits closed and boarded up due to social distancing regulations coupled with protests in the area. I will not mark this bar as closed unless they announce they are closing for good and I will update this post if/when the bar reopens.

↧

Renz Social House (Pineapple Hill) - Bar Rescue Update

June 14, 2020, 5:01 am

≫ Next: The Iron Horse (Joe's Thirsty Lizard) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

≪ Previous: Silver Dollar - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Tustin, California to rescue Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill. Pineapple Hill is a bar owned by Reva Renz and Jon finds a filthy kitchen with moldy ribs during recon. Reva has a fear of failure and change which makes her unable to take control of her bar and an explosive chef.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill to Renz Social House and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Renz Social House since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"The bar was on the Bar Rescue show and the name was changed to Renz Social House but it is still the same. Same Danika, same Linda, same Shauna. It had a change of decor but the vibe is still the same. Don't miss out and think it's gone."
"I can't until Renz opens back up! Since Pineapple days, I've had great service from some of my favorite bartenders. Fendi poured delicious drinks and shots throughout the night. Brandy was a sweetheart too. Love this place."
"Long time Pineapple Hill customer and karaoke-holic here. Still love the place after the Bar Rescue changes. More current karaoke library, decor is modernized. Haven't tried the new menu yet, but drinks are still great and the bartenders, servers, and KJ's are still friendly and accommodating. Bar is more open, seats are more comfortable. No better place to hang out and sing some karaoke."
"Cool bar, great staff. Don't think it deserves 1 star cuz trivia was taken away. Nice and clean. Ribs were on point. I'll still call it pineapple hill. Will be back for sure. I love drinking. Boom."
"Missing Pineapple Hill but this is fine. Service is always good and the karaoke is still there. I'm ok with that. It's clear Bar Rescue could've done more but I'm happy. Still probably the best bar in the area that's for sure"

Negative Reviews:

"Disappointed changes since this place was renovated. I truly hope that when they reopen they revert back to when they were Pineapple! The new menu is horrible! They used to have a fantastic menu with great choices. Not anymore. The only thing that brings us back is the Karaoke DJ, Jonah."
"The Friday night male bartender is rude and dismissive. Waited 45 min before we wigged out. Couldn't believe it. Saw 1 waitress on a Fri night. 5 people in our party tried for an hour to get a drink order by standing at different areas at the bar while others sat at an un-approached table. We paid a lot to Lyft there and home. Total waste. Hope they reevaluate their staffing."
"Wow. Big change...Service, nope! Not even water. Bring back the pineapple! Honestly, not a single offer to bring a drink. Stood at the bar... Invisible. I heard the bartenders complaining about the work load. Really, they need us. Sad!"
" Tried to check out the new place today, got greeted and first drink and menus. Sat with empty glasses and no food order for quite a while. Wife finally waved her arms and got us a second drink and put in food order. Sat with empty glasses a while with no food so paid for drinks and left hungry. I'll give them some more time and try again after they get a menu. Hard to give up on an old favorite"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Pineapple Hill happened in late February 2020.
Pineapple Hill had a Facebook page, but it hasn't posted since March. There is an unofficial Renz Social House Facebook page, but there is nothing on it at the moment.
Here are the Facebook pages of owner Reva.
Here were the Yelp reviews for Pineapple Hill before the Bar Rescue makeover. Here are the Renz Social House Yelp reviews and the Google reviews.
Owner Robin "Reva" Renz ran for governor of California in 2003, which Arnold Schwarzenegger won. Out of 9,413,494 votes, Reva received only 333 votes. (Link)
Robin also owns another bar in Tustin called Deva's, which is a bikini bar. She has owned that since 1998 and here is the Facebook page.
Here is a blog under the Deva's Bar name by Reva Renz that hasn't been updated in years, but there are hundreds of posts from previous years. (Link)
Renz Social House had to close due to government regulations on social distancing shortly after the makeover, but they have re-opened recently. When I called their phone number, they picked up and confirmed they were open.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Pineapple Hill to Renz Social House and the bar has kept the name. Renz Social House had to close about a month after the makeover due to social distancing regulations and just recently re-opened. The reviews for that short period of time were mixed and it seems like there are a lot of regulars that like the bar no matter what. The negative reviews all seem to be about service. Renz Social House does not have a website or any presence on social media. Due to that and the fact they were closed for the period leading up to their episode airing, it was hard to get a lot of information about the bar. Reva also owns another bar in Tustin called Deva's, which is a bikini bar.

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The Iron Horse (Joe's Thirsty Lizard) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

August 31, 2020, 4:36 pm

≫ Next: Gaslamp Social (Jolt N Joe's) - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Renz Social House (Pineapple Hill) - Bar Rescue Update

The Iron Horse in Horn Lake, Mississippi which was featured on season 6 of Bar Rescue has closed. The bar has been closed for quite some time and closed before the pandemic hit.

In October of 2019, owner Joe Scott posted on Facebook, "I want to thank,from the bottom of my heart,all those who have supported me and my staff for these past five years.ive made mistakes but I put my heart and soul into the lizard.im so happy that kelly and Nancy were able to step and keep the doors open and the girls employed.i know they'll do a great job.once again,thank you and I love you all"

Then in November of 2019, owner Joe Scott posted, "It's been a tough year. I've lost everything financially. I lost the business that I was so very proud of.materially, I have nothing.but I have my friends and my family. There is no way to put a price on that.it is a rough road that I am on but i have no doubt that i will arrive at a good place.i thank all of you who have checked in on me.i am thankful. I hope you are too."

The Kelly and Nancy referred to above opened a bar called The Lazy Lizard at the same location. Here is the Facebook page of The Lazy Lizard and in February of 2020, the Lazy Lizard closed permanently and posted a long rant on Facebook about the landlord and calls out Joe Scott. You can read that long rant here where he says he and the public were scammed by Joe Scott.

The Iron Horse property is currently listed for sale at a price of $550,000.

The Iron Horse was originally named Joe's Thirsty Lizard before the Bar Rescue makeover and here is the original update for the bar (the one with the guy showering in the kitchen). The Iron Horse has been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates Page.

↧

Gaslamp Social (Jolt N Joe's) - Bar Rescue Update

September 6, 2020, 6:05 am

≫ Next: Brenda's Inferno (Armadillo Grill ) - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: The Iron Horse (Joe's Thirsty Lizard) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in San Diego, California to rescue Jolt N Joe's. Jolt N Joe's is a bar owned by Phil Paccione that is located in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. Things were going well for the bar when it first opened, but now Phil is supposedly $1.2 million in debt and losing $10,000 a month. While Phil was battling prostate cancer, he hired a general manager Sean to help run the place. Now Sean and Phil are in a disagreement over Sean's compensation which is causing tension at the bar.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Jolt N Joe's to Gaslamp Social and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Gaslamp Social since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"I haven't been here before but I came for the Gaslamp Mardi Gras event. I was pleasantly surprised by the size of this place! I never would have thought to make a trip here before, but after seeing how awesome it is, I'm definitely excited to come back. They have a whole second floor with tons of pool tables. The food and drink that I tried here was also pretty good."
"Super fun place outside of the Gaslamp norm. We stopped by after paying way too much on way to fake type places...our fault not our at type but it's for most. Quite empty on a Monday at about 4:30PM but what else do you expect, we should be working. Tried the drinks, great tap selection didn't get to the food we will at sooner point. All the games a bar should have. Jenga, pool, foosball, ping pong and cornhole."
"Recently remodeled, love the new look. Come check out new edition to Gaslamp. Food is on point"

Negative Reviews:

"Absolutely horrendous service. Waited at the non crowded bar for 10 minutes before the bartender acknowledged my presence. Finally asks me for my drink order, order a rum and coke. Bartender comes back 30 seconds later asking if I ordered a vodka and cranberry...the two don't even sound remotely alike. Tried to play ping ping but the cost was $18 an hour, EIGHTEEN DOLLARS FOR ONE HOUR. Place has terrible service and is absurdly expensive. 0/10, would not come again.

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Jolt N Joe's happened in January 2020.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue Facebook page.
Here is the Gaslamp Social website and Facebook page. The old Jolt N Joe's website has also been updated to say Gaslamp Social.
Here are the Facebook page of Phil (owner), Sean (General Manager),
The rates from the website to play games at Gaslamp social are: Mon – Thurs before 6pm: $8/hour, after 6pm: $12/hour; Friday before 6pm: $8/hour, after 6pm: $15/hour; Saturday - Sunday: All Day: $15/hour; Happy Hour: 2pm-7pm Weekdays: $8/hour
A month after the makeover, Gaslamp Social posted, "San Diego is loving our new drink menu and food since Bar Rescue left in January!!!" So, it appears they kept the menus from Bar Rescue. (Link)
Gaslamp Social had to close for some time due to the pandemic, but it appears they reopened in late June. (Link)

They haven't posted on social media since and it appears they are closed again. There are no reviews since March and a recent Google review says they are closed. I also called the phone number and nobody picked up. (Link)

In 2018 a man died in Jolt N Joe's after playing a punching game with a friend where they took turns punching each other in the chest. (Link)
There were two Jolt N Joe's locations. The original location was in La Mesa California, which opened in 1996, but closed in 2019. The location on the show in the Gaslamp district opened in 2005. (Link)
Here are the Yelp reviews for Jolt N Joe's before the Bar Rescue makeover.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Jolt N Joe's to Gaslamp Social and the bar has kept the name and the menu. The Bar Rescue makeover happened in January and the bar had to close in March due to the pandemic, so it is hard to say how the bar has been since the makeover. Gaslamp Social seems to have reopened in late June, but it appears they didn't remain open because they haven't posted on social media after that and they are not answering their phone. The bar will not be marked as closed because they are closed due to the pandemic and could reopen when things settle down.

↧

Brenda's Inferno (Armadillo Grill ) - Bar Rescue Update

September 12, 2020, 9:09 pm

≫ Next: Bar Rescue - The Dirty Truth

≪ Previous: Gaslamp Social (Jolt N Joe's) - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Phoenix, Arizona to rescue Armadillo Grill. The Armadillo Grill is also known as "The Dillo" and is owned by Brenda Lambrecht who borrowed money from her father to help buy the bar. She isn't showing proper leadership and the bar is falling apart with nobody being held accountable. The kitchen is also filthy because nobody is properly cleaning it. Brenda is supposedly in debt $450,000, losing $20,000 a month and only a few weeks away from closing the bar.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Armadillo Grill to Brenda's Inferno and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Brenda's Inferno since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Although I first ate lunch here 23 years ago, the recent remodel and renaming, coupled with the same fresh, quality food will keep me coming back! The new interior is beautiful in so many ways, and definitely an upgrade. My lunchmates and I all had "old favorites" from the [former] Dillo menu, but we will be back soon to try some of the Inferno items. Congrats to Brenda and the staff at the Inferno!"
"Same owner and mostly same feel- upgraded seating and some different menu items. Food is still delicious. We particularly loved the chicken sandwich. Great value on cocktails with specials running daily. We look forward to trying the burger and wings on our next stop in."
"We only tried the fried pickles which were fantastic but Brenda and her staff are so incredibly nice! We walked in at 11 on a Wednesday and she came right to the door, welcomed us in and sat us. The server came over and took our order, was super friendly and although the menu has changed drastically, we thought it looked great in there."
"Buffalo Chicken Sandwich is AMAZING!! Great service! Super clean inside and everyone was masked up so we felt totally comfortable and safe :)"
"The 'Hot Chicken Sandwich' is truly an award-winning sandwich, indeed! Honestly, if you have a taste for an original-school chicken sandwich, then most definitely treat yourself to an experience with Brenda's rendition - you will not be disappointed!"

Negative Reviews:

"Bad management. Was cut off from drinking because my friends and I were being "loud". I haven't seen them in forever, sorry for having a good time."
"We do our best to support locally owned businesses, but unfortunately won't be back to Brenda's Inferno. We'd been a few times when it was Armadillo grill and always enjoyed it! This we didn't. Their draft beer system was down, they were out of many bottles and canned beer, make the margaritas with sweet and sour mix, and even tho the sign outside stated "Grand Opening" the bathrooms felt old and a little... worse for the wear. Staff was friendly, but the vibe just isn't there. Or the drinks!"
"WOW Horrible customer service!! I was visiting from DMV, when i first came in the place was empty for a holiday weekend. I was sketchy about it, the server was super rude never ask what we wanted to drink and short with us. For it to be on “Bar Rescue” that seem like that didnt help. Food was a 6/10"

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Armadillo Grill happened in March 2020. It happened right around the time bars were shut down due to the
Here is a preview video from the Bar Rescue Facebook page.
Here is the Brenda's Inferno Facebook page and website.

Their menu has a section dedicated to Bar Rescue food items and Bar Rescue cocktails. (Link)

The bar is having a watch party for when the episode airs. (Link)
Here are the Facebook pages of Brenda (owner), Padrick (bartender), Asia (Brenda's daughter), Greg (Brenda's ex-husband)
The Bar Rescue makeover happened right around the time bars were shut down due to the pandemic, but Brenda's Inferno stayed open and offered curbside pickup and delivery. They remained open for about a week, but decided to close on March 26th. (Link)

They reopened again in May and when restrictions were eased, they offered dine-in service again.

This probably means Bar Rescue was exaggerating when they said the bar was weeks from closing.

In June, Brenda's Inferno closed for about 2 weeks while employees got tested and the bar was sanitized because a close friend of a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. (Link)
The bar has operated off-track betting in the bar for over 16 years. (Link)
Here are the reviews for Brenda's Inferno from Yelp and Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Armadillo Gill to Brenda's Inferno and the bar has kept the name and also highlights the menu items and drinks from Bar Rescue. The makeover happened pretty much right around the time bars were forced to close due to the pandemic, so the timing wasn't great for Brenda's Inferno. This was the last Bar Rescue that was filmed before bars shut down, so it will be some time before new bars appear on the show.

It is hard to judge how Brenda's Inferno is doing after the makeover because they were only allowed to offer curbside pickup and delivery at first and they closed for a few months. They also have never been able to operate at full capacity. The reviews for Brenda's Inferno are somewhat positive with people liking the makeover, the food, Brenda and the staff. The few negative reviews complained about customer service and the outdated bathrooms.

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Bar Rescue - The Dirty Truth

September 20, 2020, 6:22 pm

≫ Next: Paramount Network Rebrand - Bar Rescue To Move Channels

≪ Previous: Brenda's Inferno (Armadillo Grill ) - Bar Rescue Update

Tonight is the premiere of Bar Rescue - The Dirty Truth where the show is adding text pop-ups to older episodes that will tell you additional things about the rescue. Usually this time of year there is a new season of Bar Rescue, but due to the pandemic, there were only two new episodes that had already been filmed earlier in the year. The show has not filmed since March 2020, so it will be a bit longer before we see new bars on the show.

Bar Rescue - The Dirty Truth is basically a way for Bar Rescue to have "new" episodes while they are unable to film. It would be hard to film with the usual concept of packing the bar for a stress test, so when they start filming again we will have to see if anything changes.

If any new details about a bar are revealed during Bar Rescue - The Dirty Truth, I will update the original post for that bar. Let me know what you think of Bar Rescue - The Dirty Truth in the comments.

↧

Paramount Network Rebrand - Bar Rescue To Move Channels

September 25, 2020, 12:16 pm

≫ Next: Bar Rescue - Spirits on Bourbon (Turtle Bay) Update

≪ Previous: Bar Rescue - The Dirty Truth

Variety reported that Paramount Network will rebrand as the Paramount Movie Network which will focus on made-for-TV movies featuring big name stars. The rebrand is expected to happen within the next year.

With the focus being more on movies, the Paramount Movie Network will move out of unscripted programming. Series such as Ink Master, Wife Swap and Battle of the Fittest Couples will all be canceled. Bar Rescue and Lip Sync Battle made the cut and will continue on, but will be moved to another ViacomCBS channel. Yellowstone will remain on the Paramount Movie Network.

You may recall that Bar Rescue was on Spike TV until it was rebranded as the Paramount Network. When that rebrand happened, it was just a name change and Bar Rescue stayed on the same channel. This time, Bar Rescue will move to a totally different channel.

It hasn't been announced when Bar Rescue will be moving channels or what channel it will be moving to, but I will update you when this information is known. Based on ViacomCBS channels, there is speculation that it could move to something like MTV, VH1 or CMT, but that is just speculation.

Stay tuned to see what channel Bar Rescue moves to and hopefully Bar Rescue marathons will still be a thing.

↧

Bar Rescue - Spirits on Bourbon (Turtle Bay) Update

October 17, 2020, 6:31 pm

≫ Next: New Season of Bar Rescue Starts May 2nd

≪ Previous: Paramount Network Rebrand - Bar Rescue To Move Channels

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue: The Dirty Truth, Jon Taffer is in New Orleans, Louisiana to rescue Turtle Bay. The bar is owned by Brad Bohannan and it is having trouble attracting customers despite being right on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Brad copied the tropical theme of another bar he co-owned and Jon needs to convince him to change the bar and the concept.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Turtle Bay to Spirits on Bourbon and the bar has kept the name. I figured since I didn't have a post on this site for Spirits on Bourbon, I would do one for this episode and give an update.

News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Spirits on Bourbon happened back in November 2012.
Here is the Spirits on Bourbon website and Facebook page.
Spirits on Bourbon proudly displays "As Seen on Bar Rescue" on its website and plays their Bar Rescue episode on the TV's inside the bar.
Here are the reviews for Spirits on Bourbon from Yelp, Google, and Tripadvisor. The reviews are mostly positive and a lot of people go to the bar because it was on Bar Rescue.
Owner Brad Bohannan and Jon Taffer keep in touch a lot and have a great relationship. Brad was recently on Jon Taffer's podcast if you want to take a listen.

Brad was also on Jon Taffer's podcast in 2018 to talk about the success of his bar. (Link)

Brad has been invited to Jon Taffer's Nightclub & Bar Convention in Las Vegas and Jon Taffer did a book signing at Spirits on Bourbon when he released his first book Raise the Bar.
Jon Taffer has repeatedly said that Spirits on Bourbon is one of his most successful rescues ever.
Spirits on Bourbon still has the barber chair installed by Bar Rescue and continues to serve their signature cocktail "The Resurrection".
Spirits on Bourbon has added dueling pianos at the bar as another draw for tourists.
A 2017 Wall Street Journal Article about Brad and his wife said his yearly profit from the bars he owned was $148,000. The article detailed their finances and how they can plan to retire by age 50.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Turtle Bay to Spirits on Bourbon and the bar has kept the name and is still open well after the Bar Rescue makeover. The barbers chair and signature cocktail "The Resurrection" are still at the bar and are selling points to customers. Owner Brad Bohannan and Jon Taffer keep in touch and have a great relationship because of the success of the bar. Jon Taffer refers to Spirits on Bourbon as one of his most successful Bar Rescue's and Brad has also talked about how thankful he is for the show. Spirits on Bourbon proudly displays that it was on Bar Rescue and uses it as a way to attract customers. This works because this bar is in one of busiest tourist areas in the country and many people are familiar with Bar Rescue.

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New Season of Bar Rescue Starts May 2nd

April 11, 2021, 11:58 am

≫ Next: The Roc Bar & Nightclub From Bar Rescue Has Closed

≪ Previous: Bar Rescue - Spirits on Bourbon (Turtle Bay) Update

The wait for new episodes of Bar Rescue is finally over with the show announcing that new episodes will start on Sunday, May 2nd. Due to the pandemic, this is the first new episode of Bar Rescue to air since September 2020.

The new season will makeover bars that are all located in Las Vegas, Nevada and there will be ten new episodes. The new episodes will still air on Paramount Network despite reports that Bar Rescue would move networks with the Paramount channel rebrand. COVID related issues pushed back a lot of filming of planned miniseries and television movies for Paramount, which has delayed the rebrand.

Below is the announcement made for the upcoming season:

It should be interesting to see how this season is filmed as packing a bar for a stress test will probably not be an option. With bars and restaurants all over the country struggling due to the pandemic, we will also see if Jon Taffer is any less dramatic.

As always, I will have bar updates for each of the new Bar Rescue episodes that air. I also have updates for some bars from the show that have closed and I will get those out before the season starts.

↧

The Roc Bar & Nightclub From Bar Rescue Has Closed

April 24, 2021, 7:25 am

≫ Next: Gaslamp Social From Bar Rescue Has Closed

≪ Previous: New Season of Bar Rescue Starts May 2nd

The Roc Bar & Nightclub in San Francisco, California which appeared on season 5 of Bar Rescue has closed. This one has been closed for some time and it appears the bar closed in the middle of 2019. I thought I posted an update on this bar, but apparently not.

The Roc Bar & Nightclub was originally named Fort One before the Bar Rescue makeover and the show was filmed in July 2016. The reviews for The Roc Bar & Nightclub were pretty negative with a lot of 1-star reviews on Yelp before they closed.

One thing of note for The Roc Bar & Nightclub episode is that Ashley Clark was a bartender for the bar and she later became a Bar Rescue expert on future episodes.

The Roc Bar & Nightclub has now been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates Page.

↧

Gaslamp Social From Bar Rescue Has Closed

April 25, 2021, 8:28 am

≫ Next: The Brixton (Rocket Room 6) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

≪ Previous: The Roc Bar & Nightclub From Bar Rescue Has Closed

Gaslamp Social in San Diego, California which appeared on season 7 of Bar Rescue has closed. The bar had to shut down during the pandemic and in August of 2020, their landlord served them with a 3-day eviction notice. The owner Phil Paccione reached out to the mayor and the San Diego city attorney hoping the city's eviction moratorium would help save his business, but that didn't work out. A judge ruled in favor of the landlord, who plans to redevelop the building and build a luxury hotel,

In a local news article, the company who owned the building wrote a letter which said,

"The Sheriff conducted the lockout today, April 20, 2021 at 8:30 this morning. A copy of Jolt’n Joe’s eviction notice is attached. Unfortunately, this tenant has had a long history of non-payment of rent, lease defaults and non-performance of lease obligations. All of these defaults existed long before, and unrelated to, the pandemic. In a 2020 agreement the tenant was required to perform certain obligations before it went into effect, which he did not perform, therefore, the agreement became null and void and the eviction process began.
The judge in this case ruled that the tenant did not perform as required under the lease, granted Judgment in favor of the landlord and ordered possession of the property returned to the landlord. The court ruled that this was a lawful eviction action because the case was already pending when the San Diego ordinance went into effect on February 1, 2021 so the ordinance’s eviction moratorium does not apply to this case.
We are sorry that this tenant’s business failed. We have all been deeply impacted financially by the pandemic. But this tenant’s failure was not attributable to the pandemic.
There have been two distinct moratoriums in place in the City of San Diego. The first ordinance expired on September 30, 2020. The second one, enacted on January 26, 2021, went into effect on February 1, 2021. The court found that the tenant was not protected by either ordinance, therefore the landlord prevailed at trial.”

So, it appears Gaslamp had issues with payments before the pandemic hit and there was no way to apply the moratorium to help extend the lease.

Gaslamp Social was originally called Jolt'n Joe's before the Bar Rescue makeover, which happened in January of 2020. The bar was closed for some time during the pandemic and is now officially closed for good after the court's decision in April 2021. Gaslamp Social is marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates Page.

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The Brixton (Rocket Room 6) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

April 28, 2021, 7:33 am

≫ Next: Bartender From Bar Rescue's Champagne's Dies After Assault at Bar

≪ Previous: Gaslamp Social From Bar Rescue Has Closed

The Brixton in Austin, Texas which appeared on season three of Bar Rescue has closed. During their Bar Rescue episode, Jon Taffer decided to rename The Brixton to Rocket Room 6. The bar changed their name back to The Brixton and kept that name until they closed.

The Brixton closed in March 2020, and Eater reports that The Brixton co-founders Tim and Sarah Lupa sold their shares to other co-founders Tyler and Emily Brooke Van Aken. Tyler and Emily paired with other investors to open a new bar at the same location called The Low Down Lounge.

Tim and Sara Lupa were the owners featured on Bar Rescue and they also own a few other bars/cocktail lounges in Austin. The Brixton had positive reviews and stayed open for a long time after Bar Rescue visited (2013), so this seems like a case of owners moving on to other things.

The Brixton (Rocket Room 6) has now been marked as 'Closed' on the Bar Rescue Updates page.

↧

Bartender From Bar Rescue's Champagne's Dies After Assault at Bar

April 30, 2021, 8:17 am

≫ Next: Paradise Cantina - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: The Brixton (Rocket Room 6) From Bar Rescue Has Closed

On Saturday April 24, 2021 a bartender at Champagne's in Las Vegas, Nevada died after an assault at the bar. According to Fox5, bartender Mark Heilman refused to serve an intoxicated customer, who then jumped behind the bar and assaulted him. Mark ended up having a heart attack and later died at the hospital.

A customer helped stop the assault, but Mark had a heart condition and his heart couldn't take the struggle.

Champagne's appeared on Bar Rescue during season 5 in 2016 (update here) and will also be featured in the upcoming season that is filmed entirely in Las Vegas. Mark was not on the first episode in season 5, but it remains to be seen if he will be involved in the upcoming episode.

Owner Greg Sims has set up a GoFundMe to help cover Mark's funeral expenses and other financial needs.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has not made any arrests yet and everything is pending a coroner's investigation into the cause of death.

↧

Paradise Cantina - Bar Rescue Update

May 2, 2021, 5:09 am

≫ Next: Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Bartender From Bar Rescue's Champagne's Dies After Assault at Bar

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Las Vegas, Nevada to rescue Paradise Cantina. Paradise Cantina is owned by Ronnie Pellegrino who had immediate success and took in $1.2 million in his first year in business in 2019. The year 2020 started out well too and there were plans to open additional locations until the pandemic hit and disrupted everything. Now Ronnie is supposedly $750,000 in debt and has lost his life savings.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Paradise Cantina which may be a common theme this season. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Paradise Cantina since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Best wings in Vegas & maybe the world. Best happy hour in the world for sure. Lots of TV's. Great service. Staple in Vegas"
"I cannot say enough about this great restaurant! First off the customer service is top notch. They were so nice and the playlist was on point! The drinks were incredible. I went with my brother and his girlfriend, and he doesn't like Bloody Maries, but he smashed his girlfriend's. I got the Spicy Margarita, and they did not disappoint. I am vegan, and they accommodated me in my food requests, and all of us loved our food. Brother got the South of the Border burrito, girlfriend got the taquitos, and I got potatoes topped with veggies. Everything from customer service, drinks, food, and ambience was fantastic. This was an amazing experience, and I'm so glad we came!"
"Renovated and it looks really good ! This is the perfect local spot for tourist to hit as it is right across the street from the new Virgin Casino. The new look is great and very inviting as the last interior was cool but felt a bit too dirty...We also had the jalapeño margaritas which were really good !! The staff was extremely friendly, shout out to Aviva for her great customer service ! Bring back Karaoke and the DJ !!"
"Paradise Cantina is my new favorite spot. Always a great time and machines are generous. The remodel looks great, they have the best happy hour in the city, the most amazing staff especially Jake one of the swing bartenders. The owner Ronnie is awesome, very hands on, has no problem jumping in when needed or just chatting with the guests. When you're there, I can't stress this enough CARNITAS!!! You won't be disappointed."
"Great drink and food specials! Staff is sooo friendly! Food and drinks are delicious! And LOVE that owner and some staff are from my hometown Rochester NY"

Negative Reviews:

"The staff was amazing, my wife and i were visiting from Long Beach and we ordered a few things like your queso cup, chips and salsa, your wings and something else, but the wings weren't done and there was no salsa for the container of chips you gave us and the item my wife ordered was completely bland. It was just super upsetting because we didnt know these things until we got back to our hotel."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Paradise Cantina happened in March 2021.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue Facebook page.
This season of Bar Rescue features bars in Las Vegas that have been impacted by the pandemic. Many of these bars were succeeding before the pandemic hit and this season will showcase the impact it has had on Las Vegas bars.
Here is the Paradise Cantina website and Facebook page.
Paradise Cantina is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Here are the Facebook pages of Ronnie (owner), Jared (bartender), and Jake (bartender)
Paradise Cantina is located across the street from the new Virgin hotel (old Hard Rock hotel) in Las Vegas, which opened in late March 2021. The hotel opening should help business out a bit.
Here are the reviews for Paradise Cantina from Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Google.

The bar takes the time to respond to negative reviews on Google to try to make things right.

Ronnie Pellegrino is also an owner of a bar named Salinger's in Rochester, NY. (Link)
On Facebook, Paradise Cantina recently responded to a customer saying, "happy to say that the last month has been great. Starting to feel a lil bit like Vegas again."

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Paradise Cantina and the reviews for the bar have been very positive since the makeover with people liking the food, staff, atmosphere, and happy hour. Reviews at the bar before Bar Rescue came were also positive and the theme of this season will be how the pandemic has impacted the bar industry in Las Vegas. The Virgin hotel which is across the street from the bar just reopened in March 2021, so that should help business as well. Paradise Cantina has said that the last month has been great and it is starting to feel like Vegas again, so it looks like things are improving.

↧

Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy - Bar Rescue Update

May 9, 2021, 5:23 am

≫ Next: Champagne's - Bar Rescue Update (2nd Visit)

≪ Previous: Paradise Cantina - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are once again in Las Vegas, Nevada to rescue Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy. Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy is a mob-style restaurant with a speakeasy theme that is owned by Nico Santucci. Capo's was forced to shut down for months due to the pandemic and Jon Taffer is attempting to save Capo's Restaurant and bring it back to its pre-pandemic success.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"This place was so good all the noodles are homemade and the bread tastes like heaven. I was so surprised when I walked in and the guys popped out the window . I like the mob theme to the restaurant this is why it gets 5! Stars"
"Has to be the best Italian food in Vegas. Fabiola takes great care of everyone and all staff is super friendly and welcoming. Service is extremely fast & detailed. They even remembered our drinks. We were actually here two days ago and came back because Fabiola told us about locals night. Seriously amazing if I could give this place more stars I would! PS if you complain because the place is too "dark" just stay at home Karen this place is GOLDEN!"
"Such an awesome place, felt like I was in old Vegas, and I can't wait to go back. The singing, the speak easy, and the food - all amazing"
"I am glad this place is still operating and serving their amazing dishes with great atmosphere. This is by far one of my favorite hidden gems in Vegas. Big portions so make sure you go hunger and you must try the meatballs!!"
"We came here this past Friday during my husband's birthday trip to Vegas. We loved the whole speakeasy mob vibe of the restaurant! The food and drinks were soooo delicious and we even left a bit tipsy. The only downside was it's a bit hard to get an Uber to and from this place if you're staying on the strip. We were late to our reservation and we were still seated."
"Our second time visiting this restaurant. Excellent food, superb experience. Love the atmosphere and live music. Thank you!"
"The food and service was excellent! We also very much enjoyed the live entertainment-- the table side magician was truly amazing."
"Great spot tucked away off the strip. Reservation are a must. Food was great. Big portions. Speakeasy vibe is awesome. Live music. Good service from bartender"
"I visit Vegas several times a year and every time I do, I try to work Capo's in for dinner. The food is fantastic, and I feel like that's unusual for a themed restaurant. Speaking of theme, the entire experience is fantastic. This is a great spot for a date or even to take the family if you have tweens or older."

Negative Reviews:

"I am glad this place is still operating and serving their amazing dishes with great atmosphere. This is by far one of my favorite hidden gems in Vegas. Big portions so make sure you go hunger and you must try the meatballs!!"
"Ugh. This place is a joke. The cheesy gangster theme is taken way over the top, the dining room is so dark you can't see anything, the space is so loud you can't hear anything.
We got too frustrated we just got up and left. Go someplace else for real Italian food and leave this Gangster Disneyland behind you."
"The food was not worth the price and the service was worst, the waitress was rude and pressuring to order drinks and appetizers. the food had no flavor and a over powering taste of wine. the filet was dry and over cooked."

*Reviews from Yelp, Tripadvisor, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy happened in March 2021.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue Facebook page.
Here is the Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy website and Facebook page.
Nico Santucci has almost 500k followers on Instagram and here is his Facebook page.

Here are the Facebook pages of Gery (bartender), Dominick Santucci, Janeen (bar manager), and Fabiola (bartender)

Capo's Restaurant and Nico Santucci have appeared on Food Network's Mystery Diners multiple times. (Link)
Capo's Restaurant was also featured on the Travel Channel's Man Finds Food with Adam Richman. (Link)
Nico Santucci also owns a company called Black Door Global and his portfolio includes mansions, yachts and restaurants. (Link)

In an article about the Parisian Palace, Nico Santucci is described as a "self-made multi-millionaire." (Link)
Nico Santucci partnered with Dave Navarro on The Black Door Bar & Grill in Las Vegas in 2010, which is located in the Parisian Palace.

Here are the reviews for Capo's Restaurant on Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Google.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy and the reviews for the bar have been positive since the makeover with people liking the food, atmosphere, and service. Reviews at the bar before Bar Rescue were also positive and the theme of this season will be how the pandemic has impacted the bar industry in Las Vegas. Nico Santucci is not your normal struggling owner from Bar Rescue as he is supposedly a multimillionaire with mansions, yachts, and multiple businesses. As things start to open and tourism picks up in Las Vegas, there should be no reason why this bar doesn't continue to succeed.

↧

Champagne's - Bar Rescue Update (2nd Visit)

May 22, 2021, 9:03 pm

≫ Next: Cork & Thorn - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Capo's Restaurant & Speakeasy - Bar Rescue Update

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are once again in Las Vegas, Nevada to rescue Champagne's. This is the second time that Jon Taffer has visited Champagne's because he did a makeover of the bar in 2016.

As Champagne's was already on Bar Rescue, there will not be the normal update. You can visit the other update done for the bar to see all of the links for the bar and reviews. Champagne's still uses the name of Champagne's Cafe and they put up their old sign, but they seem to use Champagne's and Champagne's Cafe interchangeably. Here is a preview video of the episode if you are interested.

Champagne's posted on their Facebook page about the upcoming episode, "Check out our second (yes second) Bar Rescue remodel. They did a great job....again. In addition to the remodel, we have another new drink menu and panini menu. Thanks to Jon Taffer for committing the entire next season to the Vegas bar industry surviving Covid!"

So, it appears they are happy with the makeover and are happy that Jon Taffer came to the bar again.

One recent update for Champagne's is that a bartender (one that wasn't featured on Bar Rescue) died after an assault at the bar just a month ago. Here is the link for that story.

↧

Cork & Thorn - Bar Rescue Update

June 6, 2021, 3:23 am

≫ Next: La Casona - Bar Rescue Update

≪ Previous: Champagne's - Bar Rescue Update (2nd Visit)

In this week's episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in once again in Las Vegas, Nevada to rescue Cork & Thorn. Cork & Thorn is a wine bar and floral emporium owned by Randi Garrett. She has run a successful floral business for decades and decided she could parlay that success into a successful bar. Her concept was working until the pandemic hit, and now she finds herself about $200,000 in debt.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Cork & Thorn like all bars so far during this season. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Cork & Thorn since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

"Such a cute spot! They have hookah! Delicious snacks & great cocktail menu. Great atmosphere. The open mic night was a blast. Try this place out for sure"
"Cork and Thorn NEVER disappoints. I relocated here from the south and was concerned I would not find what I needed in Vegas. This is by far my TOP CHOICE in kick it spots. The owners and staff are also amazing. When people remember you and what you drink, you never mind spending your money. Thank you Cork and Thorn!"
"Fun. Seemed like everyone knew each other. Good friends, felt fun n safe. Hot guys"
"If you want native flavor from a cool owner who relaxes and engages with you, live music and dj- infused soulful lounge with a tad bit of club (but not too much!) in a juke-joint, speakeasy styled, backalley spot right smack dab in the heart of Las Vegas' art district, then this is the place for you"
"Every time I’m in town Cork & Thorn is a must. The vibes and music.... unmatched. Lowkey but still a great time. Great service and nice eccentric finger foods"
"came for a private birthday party, pleasantly surprised, very nice place, the staff is awesome, very comfortable, I will be back and back, nice place for us locals to enjoy"
"The staff is AMAZING. This was my first time visiting this location, but everything was on point and the food and drink were delicious! Can't wait to come back!"
"It's a nice lil spot for people to showcase their talent while you sip on something. Make sure you make a reservation!"

Negative Reviews:

"I really wanted to like this place since it's a wine bar less than 2 miles from my condo. But sadly was very disappointed. For what they charge per glass of wine I was absolutely appalled they serve it in plastic cups. But yet some other customers I saw had proper wine glasses so I'm not sure how they choose who is good enough for a glass and who gets a plastic cup. Hubby and I went with the intention of staying awhile and enjoying a charcuterie platter but after getting a plastic cup of wine we left after our first drink and went over to Garagiste instead...which I highly recommend going to instead of this trash place."
"Don't make a reservation here. They give you no way of canceling and charge you $50. I tried calling and no one answers. They allow no option online. Their Instagram turns off comments because it's all people saying their policy is BS when they make themselves unreachable."
"If I could give one star I would. This place is a circus. The owner is always drunk off her ass and giving lap Dances to guests. This place always has 200-300 people inside (obviously they don't care about the governors COVID-19 mandates). They do not care if you wear a mask or not . Waited 30 minutes for a drink from the bar and never received the hookah that I ordered...witnessed the owner making her own drinks and taking them back to her section along with her hookah. Who cares about paying customers when you own the joint right ? Four employees from this location have tested positive for COVID and owner RANDI GARRETT doesn't care .. nor does she share the information with the staff. All of them could have covid and not even know it. STAY AWAY FROM HERE .."
"Had a reservation for 9pm. Arrived and got seated and 45 mins goes by and no waitress to take drink orders. Disappointing. Saw what appears to be a manager walking around doing nothing. I didnt feel up to begging someone to take our money so we left. Drink before you go."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

The Bar Rescue for Cork & Thorn happened in March 2021.
Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue Facebook page.
Here is the Cork & Thorn website, Facebook page, and Instagram.
Here are the Facebook pages of Randi (owner), Aleks (bartender), Tony (general manager)
Reality TV stars from Pawn Stars are special guests during this episode.
Cork & Thorn has floral classes that range in price from $80 - $150 for 1 hour sessions.
In a local news article, Randi said, "It was crazy, they came in here and Jon does what he normally does, with the yelling, but overall it was a really good experience."
Here are the reviews for Cork & Thorn from Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable, and Google.

Reviews are pretty positive both before and after the Bar Rescue makeover.

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to keep the name of Cork & Thorn and the reviews since the Bar Rescue makeover have been mostly positive with people liking the staff, atmosphere, and live entertainment. There were a few complaints about the service and some of the policies/logistics of the bar. Like other Las Vegas bars from this season, as tourism picks back up in Las Vegas this bar should be able to turn things around.

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