Alright, so folks know I love digging into stuff, right? Especially anything food and restaurant drama. Saw people online buzzing about that old Kitchen Nightmares place, “In the Drink“. “Whatever happened to it?” “Is it still even open?” Seemed like a perfect little project for me yesterday afternoon.
Getting the Ball Rolling
First things first, I grabbed my phone. Figured I’d do what everyone does – check online. Searched for “In the Drink Kitchen Nightmares”, plus added “current”, “still open”, “status” and the town name to be sure. Waded through a bunch of old news and clips from the show itself. Seriously, it felt like digging through ancient history.
Found the official website still kicking. That was a start. Their listed hours looked like regular restaurant times. Then hit up the major map sites – Google Maps, Apple Maps, that sorta thing. Reviews popped up. Some fresh ones from this month, couple from just last week. Okay, so it’s definitely not closed closed. That was the big question answered: Yep, still open. Big sigh of relief for the curious part of me.
The Real Deal – Going For a Look
Okay, online checks are cool, but I’m the kind who needs to see it with my own eyes, you know? Stuff ain’t real till you stand outside the place. Hopped in the car later that same evening, around peak dinner time – figured that’d be the real test. Parking was… surprisingly easy. Maybe too easy? Made me a bit nervous already.
Walked up to the front door. Sign was lit, open for business. Peeked inside through the window. Honestly? Place looked way less crowded than I expected for dinner rush. Few tables had people, couple folks at the bar. Reminded me instantly of that news about places getting hit hard lately, like that Xi Bei report where they were practically empty. Kinda depressing, man.
Talking to Someone (Or Trying To)
I ain’t the type to just stare from outside. Went right in and sat down at the bar. Ordered a beer – figured I should buy something since I was casing the joint. Bartender seemed busy, kinda harried, honestly looked like he was sweating even though it wasn’t that warm. I took a swig of the beer – tasted fine, nothing amazing. Looked around again. Decor felt a bit dated, maybe. Seemed clean enough where I was sitting though.
Saw the manager walking around. He passed by the bar again later, looked less stressed for a second, so I seized my chance. “Hey, saw you guys on Kitchen Nightmares ages ago,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Glad you made it through.” He gave a tight smile, real brief. “Thanks,” was all he said, and then he was off like a shot towards the kitchen doors. Definitely didn’t seem like he wanted to chat about the TV days. Fair enough. Didn’t push it. Just felt the vibe was… heavy.
Wrapping My Head Around It
Finished my beer, paid my tab. Walked back outside into the evening. So, what’s the deal with In the Drink?
- Still Open? Absolutely, Yes. You can walk in right now.
- Packin’ ‘Em In? No way, Jose. It was kinda dead for prime time, felt awkwardly quiet.
- Old Scars? Mentioning Kitchen Nightmares definitely got a reaction, but not the warm and fuzzy kind.
- How’s It Running? They’re clearly working hard to keep the doors open, but you can almost feel the struggle hanging in the air. Staff looked stressed, seats were empty. Like walking through a place holding its breath.
The whole experience just kinda hit me. Surviving that show is wild, major respect. But survival ain’t easy street. Felt like they were stuck between being that infamous TV place and just trying to be a regular local spot. And, honestly? Based on what I saw? The regular local spot part needs more love. It’s hanging on, but you could feel it needed something… more. Maybe just luck. Maybe a miracle. Whatever works.
