Restaurant Impossible - Dinner Bell Update

Photo - Dinner Bell Facebook

Tonight's Restaurant: Impossible has Robert Irvine going to the Dinner Bell in Madison, Tennessee to help out the owner Tommy, who is supposedly two days away from closing.  I normally search around the Internet and provide reviews and comments both positive and negative on the restaurant since Restaurant Impossible visited.  As with last week, in doing that, I came across some interesting stuff.  In the previews, you see the owner about to go to blows with Robert Irvine, and apparently he still is not happy with him or Restaurant Impossible:




Here is an excerpt of a review from the night of the reveal (They did the makeover early November):

I went to the grand reopening of the Dinner Bell last night....After the show rapped up all the owner was doing was telling people this was not his menu and he was going back to his. They ran out of food the place filled with smoke from burning food...Owner kept blaming the show for running out of food.

Here is a review from an employee at the Dinner Bell that complains about Robert Irvine for being 'mean' and 'ruining' the restaurant:

My name is Terrilynn I've worked at the Dinner Bell for years and honestly it is the best job I have ever had!! It's terrible that this "tv show" came in and ruined our business!! I promise y'all that that everyone there puts their hearts and souls into the food and service. It was a mistake in my opinion to bring in Ronert Irvine he intimidated all of us and was incredibly mean. It was all for tv ratings on their part not to help us in any way like they said they were. He made us cry he treated us like dirt and really didn't "do" anything himself like it shows on tv his personal chef does it all. I just think its a shame that those people came in and ruined a great little mom and pop restaurant that people love to come and eat great good'! We now have our old menu back and same great service so please come and see us and give it a try I promise we will blow you away.

Reviews from Urbanspoon


And finally, from the Dinner Bell's own Facebook Page:

"you remember we will be featured on restaurant impossible Friday, February 27. After that we will be on channel 2 and channel 5 to tell the truth. ..... The real story behind restaurant impossible and how we were treated "

"Remember ! This Wednesday on the food network we will be featured on restaurant impossible. And be sure to watch your local news for the REAL Story on how they treated us"

"Remember tomorrow night 9 o'clock the Food network we will be featured on restaurant impossible. ... Next week will be on two local channels to tell you the truth"

(While there, feel free to like the Food Network Gossip FB Page)

Conclusion:

It looks like the Dinner Bell is not happy with Robert Irvine and Restaurant Impossible and have gone back to their old menu.  Also, as Restaurant Impossible doesn't let them talk about the show until it airs, it seems as if they are anxious to get their side of the story out after tonight.  I will update this post after the Food Network update as well as these supposed news stories on the local Tennessee channels, so check back in a bit.


UPDATE 3/6/2013 - The local news story finally aired last night on Tennessee News Channel 5 and the video is below.  Tommy said he lost employees and customers due to the changes the show made.  He also said he was left with no recipes from the new menu and no support from the Food Network.  Also, as stated before, they have gone back to their old menu and lower prices.  Prices on their Facebook page such as $1.50 for desserts and $5.00 for baked chicken with two vegetables, which are prices that will not help keep them in business.

Waitress Mary Jo Austin said it was difficult to watch her boss and co-workers "go through things that they didn't need to go through."  I am not sure what those things were and they weren't in the news story. 

 

Restaurant: Impossible Executive Producer Marc Summers responded with a statement:  "Dinner Bell,like all the establishments the Restaurant: Impossible team visits, sought out and invited us to help them. Unfortunately, it seems they may not have been prepared for the reality of what was uncovered, and are (now) sharing a version of events that differ from what was intended, or certainly what was experienced on our side.  Restaurant: Impossible seeks to help beloved (and often troubled) establishments better themselves, not every person will be able to hear about the flaws or concerns uncovered and not take it personally or even try to deflect when they revisit the experience after their episode premieres."

UPDATE 4/16/2013 - Dinner Bell Has Closed