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| Photo - Twitter |
Positive Reviews:
- "Apparently, this bar was just renovated by the show, Restaurant Impossible. I have no idea what this place was like before, but it's pretty cool right now....Beer is at dive bar prices, $3 for the domestics with some specials going on depending on the day. I happened to come in on the day they had 40 cent wings, so I grabbed an order with sauce on the side. The wings are good even without the sauce because they're seasoned well...I like this place. I'll be back"
Negative Reviews:
- "Loved the Old Pauls,not sure I like the New Pauls.Not a big fan of gray...Good Luck anyway..many great memories..."
*Reviews from Yelp and Facebook
Other News and Links:
- Here is the Paul's Bar and Bowling website
- Here is the Paul's Bar and Bowling Facebook page which is not kept up to date.
- Here is another Paul's Bar and Bowling Facebook page, which is kept up to date.
- The picture to the right is a picture of the exterior of Paul's Bar and Bowling from their website.
- They had a viewing party tonight with a free buffet and drink specials (link)
- Someone posted on a message board about an employee at Paul's Bar and Bowling, saying "She dominated the conversation the whole day about her upcoming "starring" role on the Food Network's Restaurant Impossible. She has worked at the same bar/restaurant/bowling alley since high school, and that place was redone about two weeks ago by this show. I think, although I won't know for sure until I see the episode, that she will be a huge feature of this episode because of her dramatics. She complained about 900 things that the show did during the course of filming. Robert Irvine himself told her that she gives off an attitude... If you catch this episode and you see a tall brunette barmaid with an attitude, that would be her"
Conclusion:
There have only been two reviews since the Restaurant Impossible makeover, so it is hard to tell how things are going. It seems like the location may have something to do with the struggles of the business.
Also, it seems as this is more of a bar/bowling place rather than a restaurant. All the reviews before the makeover compliment the cheap beer, great wings, and dive bar feel of Paul's Bar and Bowling. I guess after doing over 100 episodes of Restaurant Impossible, the requirements to be on the show are stretched.
UPDATE - Paul's Bar and Bowling closed in September 2020 after about 90 years in business. The owners said they were ready to retire and it was too much effort to keep open.
*Visit Our Restaurant Impossible Update Page to see all Restaurant Impossible updates, and which restaurants are open, closed, or have been sold. Also Like Us on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter
I've eaten there it's pretty good
ReplyDeleteUpdated now... Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI used to play a FB game called Restaurant City. I thought it was odd when they added a bowling alley to the game.. I kept thinking about that game for the first time in months seeing this episode.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I like their chances for success. They have a devoted following.
Were those two guys in a relationship together? I didn't understand what kind of relationship split they had in ownership. With the amount of taxes due I can't imagine this one will be saved. The remodel looked great though. Seems as if there needs to be a succession plan in place as never married and no kids could mean for a disaster if his health goes
ReplyDeleteThe requirements for this show are definitely stretched. Even the trivia question had to do with bowling rather than food. I think Restaurant Impossible jumped the shark.
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought the same thing about their relationship. Quite a few of the clientele looked as though they were in the same league. Gay bar?
ReplyDeleteI agree. The first time I saw Ed's face I could tell they were more than business partners. Don't forget Paul is 85. In his day and age (and mine too,I'm 70) Coming out just did not happen. Things are different now. If Paul and Ed are a couple I salute them. Ed,especially seemed very caring toward Paul. Now a days no one raises and eyelash and I say -Be true to your self. Talk about it or don't. It's all o.k. Not only that but it's None of my business or anyone elses. Get the new menu out on the floor.People are coming by for THAT. If they come and you still use the old stanby's you'll be getting lots of non-returnees.Best of luck to you both.
ReplyDeleteI can understand negative reviews about a new menu but how could someone say they liked the look of the old place better? It looked dirty and was falling apart, not in a "shabby chic" way but in a dumpy way.
ReplyDeleteGrey colors can turn people off.
ReplyDeleteBest part was seeing what a lousy bowler Robert Irvine is.
ReplyDeleteYou need accents. My local alley did a redo. It's gray with red and white accent dove in a way it has a sleek vintage vibe. It looks great
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the follow-up on the FN site says Paul hasn't implemented the new menu yet.
ReplyDeleteThe website is beyond primitive. They need to invest in a web designer to make the site more inviting and attractive.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I should add that I wasn't trying to be negative about their relationship at all. But rather that it was pretty likely that if they were more than friends that they would be of the generation that wouldn't broadcast its true nature. Good for them and I wish continued success(I am OP)
ReplyDeleteSeriously! Everywhere else in New Jersey "Tina's Fries" are called "Disco Fries" and they're really popular...
ReplyDeleteOk, maybe not a restaurant, but I really enjoyed this episode.
ReplyDeletethat bar seems like a great old place, but the town of Patterson NJ is one of the most dangerous, crime ridden places in the country, just behind Newark. That probably explains the lack of business as that place is a no go zone at night.
ReplyDeleteYep1 but even Disco Fries are a take on poutine, and poutine was what leaped into my mind the minute Tina started describing her "invention."
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are! I was mentioning the NJ form, because while it's plausible that a local girl might not have heard of poutine, it's much less likely that she would not have run across disco fries at some point.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Especially since very few Americans had heard of poutine 30-plus years ago. But either way, there's no way Tina invented the dish.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was great, too. I liked the owners and thought the older man showed a willingness to learn, which he needs to do. I'm very surprised they haven't implemented Robert's menu because their food didn't look that appealing at all. I think the new menu, including the bucket of wings for parties would do well.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I roll my eyes at "Tina's" (Disco) Fries, I also greatly enjoyed this episode. I don't know that I've seen that much _genuine_ smiling on Robert Irvine's face in a long time, if ever, on this show. The older guy working on the new tech was soooo cool. He was clearly out of his element, and just as clearly determined to get acquainted with it. I wish them great success, which they'll probably see more of once they adopt the new menu. If they don't, I doubt they'll hang on to the younger crowd for long.
ReplyDeleteGlad I wasn't the only one who thought that. They gave off a vibe that went beyond "best friends".
ReplyDeleteThe old place was disgusting, so run down looking. Looks like it was run down looking 20 years ago.....
ReplyDeleteI thought the Canadians had been serving poutine for a very long time. It was all over the place last time I was in Alberta and Jasper. It was strange to see it on so many menus. It wasn't as popular in British Columbia, but still on some menus.
ReplyDeleteThis was another one of my favorite episodes! The makeover was needed, and how cool is that old bowling alley?!! I really hope they make it! They really should focus on their chicken wings. Thrown in some big screens for football, baseball, sports... Wings, beer, bowling, and games? My dream bar for sure!
ReplyDeletePoutine originated in Québec and took a little while to migrate west. It took even longer to come south across the US border.
ReplyDeleteSo can a place that looks like the inside of my 100 year old barn. It looked like it would have that old musty smell too.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. Gray as a main decorator color is drab no matter where I've seen it.
ReplyDeleteI was a regular of that bar, But this lady that calls herself the chef and manager is super rude so never again the lost at least 1500$ a week from me and my crew so sad
ReplyDeleteThis is my all-time favorite RI episode. Paul struck me as being a very humble, pleasant person who just happened to have let the modern world pass him by until he had to catch up in order to survive. His willingness to learn and do what was necessary to succeed even though it was scary to him was very sweet to watch.
ReplyDeleteAny time poutine comes up, I'm always surprised at how long it took for it to become big outside of Quebec [apparently]. I grew up in New Brunswick, which borders Quebec, and I don't remember even hearing of it before the mid 90s. However, there was a completely different poutine I knew about all my life, also a Quebec dish; poutine rapée, which is a potato dumpling with salted meat in the middle.
ReplyDeleteFinally got to see this episode and really enjoyed it. I must admit, I love that old alley, with or without the makeover. I totally understand about the need to attract younger people, though, and the facelift would certainly help, even the stupid tablets. Haha.
ReplyDeleteI agree about those saying the gray is a bit drab. It could really use some accents. (you know, other than those mattress/back of a couch/whatever prints that Cheryl chose. I thought they were going for speakeasy, not rubber room!)
I think they'll do well, both due to the new clean, uncluttered look that younger ones will appreciate, and because of the very loyal customers and staff. There just needs to be some more accountability and initiative.