Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Restaurant Impossible - Nanny Goats Cafe Update

Nanny Goat's Cafe Restaurant Impossible
Wednesday's new Restaurant: Impossible has Robert Irvine going to the Nanny Goats Cafe and Feed Bin in Kilgore, Texas to help a once successful restauranteur Nancy Dupre.  She has depleted her savings, and has a volatile relationship with her daughter that is driving customers away.  On the previews, you see her saying she wants the show to end and for everyone to leave.  I normally search around the Internet and provide reviews and comments both positive and negative on the restaurant since Restaurant Impossible visited.  I did not do that for this restaurant, and you will see why after the jump:
 

When I searched around, I found that there were a lot of positive reviews about Nanny Goats Cafe and Feed Bin.  People also wondered why Restaurant Impossible had to visit as everything they have heard about the restaurant had been positive.  Someone even raved about Nancy being a great boss to work for.

After more searching around, I saw that Nancy decided to sell the restaurant.  So, Restaurant Impossible came at the end of October for the makeover, and just 2 months after the makeover in the beginning of January, the new owners took over the restaurant.  It makes you think they may have used Restaurant Impossible for a free makeover and publicity to turn around and sell the restaurant. 

The new owners dropped the 'and Feed Bin' from the name of the restaurant, and now it is only Nanny Goat's Cafe.  They seem like good people and have passion and excitement for the restaurant by looking at their Facebook Page.  They also went back to the old menu, not implementing any of Robert Irvine's changes, and replaced the swinging door tables because customers did not sit at them.

What do you think about selling a restaurant just 2 months after Restaurant Impossible visited?  We don't know everything behind it, but it seems fishy.

43 comments:

  1. Only seems fair that someone should scam a Food Network reality show since they seem to relentlessly scam us by pretending they are reality.

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  2. I wonder what the "official" FN RI will say about it.

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  3. That is standard on Ramsay's show.  The owners frequently sell out as quickly as they can.

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  4. She even admitted on the show to buying restaurants just to flip them

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  5. Idiots on both sides of the issue.

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  6. Well, she said right off the bat that she bought that restaurant in the first place to sell it.  It made sense to me that she would sell it if it started making a profit.

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  7. Seems like it was a great business decision for Nancy. She wasn't making a large profit anyways. I think she made the right choice by selling the restaurant since she admitted to not enjoying running a restaurant! Why do something if you don't enjoy it?

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  8. Honestly I think it's pretty crappy she sold it. I can tell that they are con artist. I was suspicious when the daughter said she made good money from the restaurant so obviously she got a piece of the pie. Even checking out Nancy's Facebook page she didn't look like she's hurting - http://d.pr/i/RE46

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  9. She came across as a self absorbed, me only, corporate minded person....so that she squeezed out at first opportunity to serve herself is not surprising for a character void individual. She can go buy an alligator farm and be gone.

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  10. I have known Nancy for many years, but have been out of contact since she relocated to Kilgore.  As a restaurant owner myself, I helped her open her Florida restaurant and I can tell you that what you saw was genuine.  I, like Robert, tried to help her with costing and organization, but I did not press when she resisted.  She is all over the place and I believe that she meant to fix it at times, felt like quitting other times, and was open to selling for the right price, like any business owner. While she is dramatic, she is truly kind-hearted and it is my opinion that she hasn't scammed anyone.  I would guess her Nanny Goat employees would say the same. 

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  11. It's hard to know anyone because of a television show, they will always, always put a negative twist on anyone in any show. The producers always make people that appear on these shows as either buffoons or complete a**holes. Don't always believe what you see on reality television shows. One thing you can believe is it isn't "reality".

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  12. Looks like another sleeze bag person just looking for a handout they don't deserve.  Really sad the effort Robert and crew go through to help people they think deserve it and it turns out the owner is just looking for some free help in order to flip the restraunant.  It seemed fairly obviously Nancy was scamming everyone at the begging of the episode but once the crew is there I suppose it would cost more to turn back.  Just too bad they couldn't have been somewhere helping someone that isn't a con artist.  And had she just waited until the episode aired she probably would have gotten a better price and not been exposed for the slime she is.  First time I ever watched hoping someone failed.

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  13. Unfortunately, I wouldn't doubt it is not common practice for people to "use" this show as a vehicle to help them be able to sell their restaurant for more money.  It is truly sad that people do this.  Personally, I think that the show should implement a clause in the contract that the owners may not change anything that Robert does or sell the restaurant for a certain amount of time as to give it a fair chance to make it.

    I have to say though, that these types of shows are risky.  Not only because of this situation, but for example, on "Chef Wanted", just because the Restaurant owner chooses someone to be his executive chef, it doesn't mean they will really get the position.  I looked up one of the shows updates and it said that the "winner" did not get the job.  I thought that was the whole idea.

    The point is we must remember that "Reality show" does not necessarily mean real life situations.

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  14. We just watched this episode and did not trust the owners motives from the start.  Our initial comments on this makeover was that they wanted a makeover in order to sell.  To us it was obvious.  Pretty selfish of this family. It's an entertaining reality show, and certainly stage managed but hope that people in REAL need can benefit from Chef Irvine and his staff.  I guess Nanny Goat ate too many tin cans???

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  15. The Real Cowgirl KitchenFebruary 21, 2013 at 6:41 PM

    No surprise here--- You have to be profitable to flip, she barely gets out with her pants on
     

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  16. She was up front about being a restaurant "flipper", so I don't see what the big deal is.

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  17. It's rather common, isn't it?  I remember one RI from last year that featured an owner whose husband had committed suicide.  A couple months after the episode aired, she sold out as well.

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  18. Reality Unblurred has a post today catching "Restaurant Stakeout" casting for servers.  Food Network is a pathetic joke.

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  19. Seems Nancy used Robert.

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  20. Seems Nancy used Robert, but I'm sure she wasn't the first.

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  21. Her daughter was obviously over paid,  did you see her drive off in the hummer?

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  22. Seems to me from all your posts that you watch a lot of the FN, I guess it really isn't that bad?  Also RS uses servers under cover on many of it's shows.

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  23.  I agree with everything you said

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  24. What goes around, comes around. 

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  25. I find it amazing you can remake a restaurant in two days and with such a small budget. On one show they were covering the tables with something you might line your kitchen drawers with, just how long do they think that is going to last. If you look at most make overs they are lipstick on a pig, and the staff looks line they have a combined IQ of 20. If these restaurants want to succeed the entire staff needs to be fired and then allowed to reapply, a fresh coat of paint helps, but getting rid of all the past bad stuff is what makes a resturant succedd.

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  26. Fishy, suspicious, unprofessional, sneaky....but not surprising

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  27.  So what you are saying is that it seems she had the same motive with yourself !?
      In example... she acquires you to help her, seemingly maintains and falsifies a friendship throughout and now you are not in contact.
     Seems like you never really thought about what you had written.
      I don't know about most people but if I have someone that has helped me to this extent I make sure that I keep in contact with them no matter where and what I am doing. I have, as a matter of fact...  and vice-verse.
     It sounds similar to Mr. Irvine and Food Network being used for financial gain.
     She is pretentious and not very witty. Transparent by nature. Her mother I am sure had something to do with that decision. Another seemingly pretentious old bat. Nanny GOATS seems like the appropriate name for her... eat away at everything in your path and walk away when it is finished. Definitely some type of disorder going on.
    I hope there is a clause that is implemented from now on to stop the scallywags from targeting someone like Restaurant : Impossible who IS genuine in their doings.
     Mr Irvine, I applaud you for your work... I recommend to Food Network to keep their focus on the truly needy much like the Boys and Girls Club, Horton's Kids or St. James Soup kitchen.
     THOSE are the true needy. Miss Georgianna is a miracle worker.
    nuff said. goodnight.

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  28. seems like you have been had

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  29. That was very fishy. Karma will come around.

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  30. I hope the IRS gets her for a bundle for what she got from RI.  I was really looking forward to visiting Nanny Goats since we live so close but now I don't think so.  I would like to see the team's work.  I've always enjoyed Tanya's ideas.  She is great.  Robert seems like a kind person.  He sure puts up with a lot from owners.  Makes me angry that he and the show were used like that..

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  31. We eat out a lot.  Two of the little restaurants we go to here could use help in the decor but we love them. The people who run them are so above reproach that I would love to see them get some help but I doubt they would take it. It is hard for the little places to keep up with the big chains.  

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  32. If that was her intention then she's no worse than a snake in the grass..hisss
    What goes around comes around!

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  33. I think that it's bull"", some owners really want and need the help to stay open, these assholes make a bad name for the honest ones! The chefs and people working hard to revive these places don't deserve that!

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  34. Maybe Robert Irvine shouldn't change the menus so fast-Keep some of the old items. Why aren't some of the restaurants getting better reviews.

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  35. The previous owner was pretty honest about that's what she does...starts a place and sells it...so, it's not so surprising. I was going to go there today with hubby, but after seeing the reviews...I changed my mind.

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  36. To make a profit obviously!!!... after all, she has made millions by re-selling!!!

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  37. I don't see the big deal either. The show profits no matter what happens after they leave. The process is the money maker. She did not use a person, maybe a corporation, but I don't think anyone was abused.

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  38. it seems as it might have been the best decision the town has a new restaurant the staff have jobs and a person may have a profitable business

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  39. No dumbass, that would be mystery diners. Maybe you should know what show you're talking about before posting about it

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  40. Get a life, it got 5 likes and it was over a year ago. So I guess I would rather be a dumb ass (which by the way is 2 words, maybe you should use a dictionary before using the HARD words) than a sorry ass like you.

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  41. Everybody slamming FN & RI sound like a huge group of idiots. These people wouldn't have requested RI's help if they weren't failing to start with, so blaming FN & RI is absolutely ridiculous. The thing that is most upsetting r the people who use RI to boost the asking price of their restaurant & never even meant to try to be successful. These thieves should have to sign a contract stating that they will not try to sell their restaurant until at least a year after RI's makeover, but if they did would have to reimburse FN the $10,000 & pay all of the volunteers that helped during the makeover at least the minimum wage for all of the hours they worked. That may stop these jerks that are just looking for a handout.

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  42. After watching the episode and before reading the review above, I immediately thought they used Robert Irvine and RI for the make over to sell the place. With failing restaurants this probably happens more times than not. I think the makeover was amazing especially since the restaurant was sitting in the middle of a flea market yuck!

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