YES! Denise Whiting is almost out of business, hon! (Baltimore: crimes, neighborhood)

[peachgeek]

The episode of Kitchen Nightmares airs tonight on Fox.
Kitchen Nightmares

Cafe Hon on 'Kitchen Nightmares': Where Whiting will be watching

I actually went here in December with a group of friends after hearing that Gordon Ramsay had been there. Unfortunately, I was not impressed at all. We were seated but did not get addressed for some time. Before we even ordered we were told that they were out of green beans and if our dish came with green beans we could substitute with one of the other side items. I ordered the pork chop which came with green beans. Well, I was not given the opportunity to choose which item I would like to substitute instead my food arrived with watery spinach. Needless to say this ruined my dish as the juice from the spinach was in my mashed potatoes and that made them horrible. I did enjoy the pork chop which was thin and fried perfectly.

I'm anxious to see this episode tonight. Hopefully, there is nothing extremely gross because that would deter me from going there ever again.

[Miss Crabcakes]

Watching now.

Ha!! She's already caught lying!

[Cruzincat]

Should have 86'd the restaurant!

[peachgeek]

I missed the episode but I will be sure to catch it On Demand.

[sobo16]

Did anyone else think that was a very strange episode? If I were watching it from another part of the country and I didn't know anything about Baltimore, I would have have wondered what the heck was going on. It seemed to end rather abruptly, and they didn't focus much on how Gordon improved the food.

[peachgeek]

It was strange and I think that is because the focus was put on the Hon trademark. This episodes seems like it belongs on a different show although it was a nightmare when she cancelled all those food items for no apparent reason.

[jonjj]

I also thought it odd that they mentioned the restaurant and the neighborhood were outside the city limits.

[MDguy99]

Originally Posted by jonjj

I also thought it odd that they mentioned the restaurant and the neighborhood were outside the city limits.

What? No it isn't.... obviously. I wonder how much fake moaning she did for pity. I wish I could have caught the episode. Maybe it'll go up online.

[KLynch10]

They definitely needed more than an hour for the episode. They certainly rushed through the kitchen improvements.

[B.K.]

Just saw the "Kitchen Nightmares" episode on Demand. It was an hour long commercial for Denise Whiting. She came off as an insincere, unrepentant, recalcitrant toad. I've worked as a chef in Baltimore for over 20 years. The kitchen fraternity has nothing but nightmare horror stories to tell about Cafe Hon in general, and Ms. Whiting in particular. I found it interesting that most of the front of the house staff admitted to having worked there for many years, but the back of the house was never questioned about their terms of employment. That's probably because no-one of character is willing to spend more than a few months in that kitchen.
Restaurants are difficult, competitive businesses with a slim profit margin. Owners have to be tough and demanding. They do not have to be insulting and belittling to their clientele and employees.
I have dined at Cafe Hon more than once. My assessment? The place is a dirty, hugely over priced, tourist-trap dung-hole with astoundingly mediocre to bad food, and service that ranges from lackadaisical to hostile. My advice? Take that $12 for a hamburger to Remington, and spend it at The Dizz, where for the same money you get a better product and 2 or 3 drafts to boot served by friendly, real Baltimore "Hons."