‘Kitchen Nightmares’ revived this Wayne restaurant
Subpar food, a bleak atmosphere and an often absent owner were among the key ingredients in the Wayne-based In the Drink Bar and Restaurant, an eatery that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay turned around in the latest episode of “Kitchen Nightmares.”
The restaurant, located on the Preakness Valley Golf Course, was the focus of the television show’s third episode of its new season that aired Monday night. After initially butting heads with the owner, Jorge, over his absentee management style and lack of kitchen experience, the restaurateur eventually helped transform In the Drink into a busy, vibrant destination for golfers and other local residents.
The episode got off to an inauspicious start when Ramsay, upon heading to In the Drink for the first time to sample some menu items, had difficulty finding the entrance due to its non-existent signage. He compared the décor inside to a “dreary funeral home” and found fault with virtually every dish he ordered, from an “acidic” salad to an overcooked, greasy burger.
“This restaurant looks like a cafeteria, and so does the food,” Ramsay said of In the Drink, which has been owned since 2017 by Jorge and his wife Solange. The name refers to a golf slang term used for a shot that lands in a water hazard on the course.
The scarcity of customers on most days contributed to a mounting debt that exceeded $250,000, according to Ramsay’s calculations. The amount shocked Solange, who knew the restaurant was struggling financially but did not know the extent of the situation.
Ramsay complimented some aspects of In the Drink, particularly the efforts of servers Lexi and Nadia — the latter commonly serving as a de facto manager in Jorge’s absence — and line cook Carlos. He also learned that employees brought in roughly $2,000 per day, according to Lexi, by driving a golf cart around the course and selling drinks to golfers.
But any positive qualities were undermined by Jorge, who seemed unaware of any issues with In the Drink at the start of the episode.
“I think my restaurant is really good,” he said prior to Ramsay’s first visit. “I think Gordon may find a couple of simple things (to improve) here and there. We don’t really need that much help.”
Ramsay and Jorge argued during one scene in which the owner, taking over for an overworked Carlos, confused his ticket times and could not tell Ramsay when certain dishes would be ready. The lack of organization cast doubt on Jorge’s claim that he had experience managing a kitchen.
“Honestly,” Ramsay said in an interview for the show, “I wouldn’t let that guy manage a food fight at a preschool.”
Jorge admitted Ramsay’s words served as a “wakeup call” and promised to change. Meanwhile, the “Kitchen Nightmares” team got to work fully renovating the restaurant’s interior and adding new menu items like honey glazed wings, pulled pork sliders and a chicken Caesar wrap.
The changes earned rave reviews from the In the Drink employees. Solange said she was left “shocked” and “speechless” by the new-look restaurant, while everyone agreed the upgrades made it feel like a legitimate eatery.
“We don’t have bowling alley food anymore,” Nadia said. “We now have golf course, elevated, vibrant food.”
The episode ended with Jorge officially naming Nadia the manager and reaffirming his commitment to running In the Drink properly. Ramsay, while leaving the restaurant at the end of the week, expressed confidence Jorge would follow through on his pledge.
“If he can learn to trust his team, delegate, and take advantage of these amazing surroundings, I promise you he can go from In the Drink to a hole-inone,” Ramsay said.
“Kitchen Nightmares” originally aired for seven seasons, from 2007 to 2014, before it was revived for a new season that premiered Sept. 25. In the Drink was the third restaurant to be featured in season eight and the second in New Jersey, following Bask46 in Woodland Park on the Oct. 2 episode.
The next episode of “Kitchen Nightmares” will also spotlight a New Jersey restaurant. Da Mimmo, in Dumont, will be the subject of the show’s Oct. 16 episode.