The roads of Flavortown are now empty.
After five years of serving millions of tourists in Times Square, Guy Fieri’s infamous NYC restaurant, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar, closed its doors on New Year’s Eve.
When asked about the closure, the corvette-driving, visor-wearing celebrity food personality, widely known for hosting Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, was his usual optimistic self. In a statement on Entertainment Weekly, Fieri said, “I’m proud that for over five and a half years, Guy’s American in New York City served millions of happy guests from all over the world.”
Over its short lifespan, the restaurant garnered mixed reviews, ranging from positively delighted to absolutely scathing. One of the restaurant’s biggest fans was American model Chrissy Teigen, who tweeted, “I’ll swear on anything that I really liked this restaurant. Went as a joke, came out covered in ribs and nacho hybrids.”
Some patrons, however, weren’t as pleased as Mrs. Teigen. In 2012, The New York Times gave the restaurant a zero-star rating, accompanied by a review that shredded the restaurant to pieces. A notable excerpt from the review reads:
“Did panic grip your soul as you stared into the whirling hypno wheel of the menu, where adjectives and nouns spin in a crazy vortex? When you saw the burger described as ‘Guy’s Pat LaFrieda custom blend, all-natural Creekstone Farm Black Angus beef patty, LTOP (lettuce, tomato, onion + pickle), SMC (super-melty-cheese) and a slathering of Donkey Sauce on garlic-buttered brioche,’ did your mind touch the void for a minute?”
Yikes.
In any case, it’s always hard to say goodbye. So goodbye, Flavortown. Onward and upward. And as Guy always says, “Peace, Love, and Taco Grease.”
