Restaurant Impossible - So Natural Organic Restaurant Update

Photo - Food Network

Tonight on Restaurant: Impossible, Robert Irvine and his crew are in Harker Heights, Texas to makeover So Natural Organic Restaurant.  In this ambush episode the owners' daughter contacted Restaurant Impossible.  The owners opened the restaurant because they were passionate about healthy food, but did not have any restaurant experience.  They have quickly fallen into debt and can only afford to hire family members to work in the restaurant.  Robert needs to teach the restaurant to make their food taste much better while still being healthy.

As I normally do with Restaurant: Impossible episodes, I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about So Natural Organic Restaurant to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Robert Irvine visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Restaurant: Impossible):

Positive Reviews:

• "I love this place. It has quickly become my favorite place to eat. If I could eat here everyday I would. The customer service is great- some of the friendliest staff I've run into. I also have Celiac and an 200% comfortable eating here (which is such a relief)! The price is great and I really couldn't be happier with the place overall. BTW- their chocolate chips cookies are an absolute MUST if you stop in!!!!"
• "This place is a hidden gem, come get some fantastic paleo or gluten free foods. There cookies are awesome. We had lunch here and THe oxtail special and salmon were both great!!!"
• "The restaurant is in a very unassuming strip mall, but do not let that deter you. This is a friendly, family owned business specializing in organic omnivore, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan food. As other reviewers have said, the owners are incredibly friendly and helpful. My husband raved that the dishes were like good home cooking. 2 of us ordered vegan meals, 1 paleo, and 1 cheeseburger and fries. Come here, eat well, support a small deserving local business!"
• "My husband and I just moved to the area last night. We came to this restaurant because I am vegan and he is vegetarian. This place blew me out of the water. It is tucked away in a small plaza. The restaurant prides itself on making its own ingredients and flat out tells you what brands it uses if they don't make it in house....Overall, I would highly recommend this little place. You won't regret it."
• "Delicious! The salmon is wonderful. the Mac and cheese is the best I've ever had. Even my picky teenager cleared his plate and LOVED the sweet potato pie. Highly recommended. Friendly and hard working local family runs the business."
• "Stopped in, after being delayed in the area, and loved it! Great service, great family, great food. After I ate my meal, I went back and ordered another round, it was THAT good. Highly recommend the curry sweet potatoes and cabbage!!! Amazing!! Will go back every time I am in that area. Organic vegan food, what's not to love?"

Negative Reviews:

• None

Other News and Links:

• The Restaurant Impossible makeover happened in February 2016.
• Here is the So Natural Organic website, and they are also a market.  Their menus have items color coded to identify which items are paleo, vegan, vegetarian, or gluten free.  
• Here is the So Natural Organic Facebook Page.
• In March 2016, the restaurant was looking for cooks and food prep for immediate hire. (Link)
• So Natural Organic had great reviews before the Restaurant Impossible makeover with 50+ reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars.  Most reviews are 5-star if you want to read any previous reviews and they praise the food, the concept and the owners. (Google reviews also are all pretty much 5 star.)
• A local article from last week says business is up 50% since the Restaurant Impossible makeover.
• Owners Jameel and Luvina were both in the military, and Robert Irvine always has a soft spot for people who have served in the military.

Conclusion:

The reviews since the Restaurant Impossible makeover have all been positive, but even before the makeover they were all positive.  People seem to like the food, the concept and the owners.  Even with positive reviews before the makeover, the restaurant is still reporting a 50% increase in business since February.  It should be interesting to see why the restaurant was selected or if it actually struggling, because the reviews before Restaurant Impossible do not have any complaints.

UPDATE 5/2016 - In an interview after the show, Luvina said if the makeover didn't happen, the restaurant wouldn't have survived.  Also the gym next door is carrying the restaurant's meals again and their relationship with the Sabrees is better.

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