Burger Kitchen. Is it still under the crazy management from "Kitchen Nightmares?"

[PinotPlease]

The S.O. and I went to Burger Bar about a month and a half ago with one of 2 Groupons we had. We found the burgers to be tasty, the Belgian beer selection to be fun and the service to be okay. Then the other day, we flip on Kitchen Nightmares to see none other than Burger Bar, and a family and kitchen situation so psychotic they had to stretch it over two episodes, which may be a first for that show. Are those crazy people still running things? If so, I'm seriously questioning my tastebuds, since what I had didn't taste like watery pre-frozen New Zealand Waygu, or whatever that wack-ness was they were serving on the show. But maybe it was one of those happy Ramsey endings tied up with a bow? Maybe he kicked some ass and some sense into those people? Or maybe it's new ownership. Does anyone know?

[granadafan]

I bought Voice Daily deal. Are they still honoring the coupons? Mine expires at the end of December.

[Ogawak]

They seem to. My discount was from Living Social. Apparently others used Groupon. The best thing is to call them.

[Peripatetic]

BTW, was anyone here at the table credited as "Chow Food Bloggers"?

[Dommy]

Yes. But I was barely on air...

--Dommy!

[Peripatetic]

That must have been interesting.

I long ago stopped watching KN, but saw this episode largely by accident. Even though it had a few seemingly staged situations, some sleuthing seems to suggest it was a substantially authentic nightmare.

[Dommy]

It was... an experience more than anything because for the most part the producers kept us in the dark about things. We had no idea about the drama behind the scenes either... we just got plied with a still mooing burger... LOL!

I will say I really liked the Veggie Burger they made me. :) Also the Pickle Chips were pretty good although a bit greasy. But the iTouch POS was a little weird and they had NO one bussing during the filming... One of the crazy ownders should have done THAT. Anyway, I'm glad they sold though, with Short Order and Umami coming to the neighborhood.... it's going to be a burger rich part of the nieghborhood...

--Dommy!

[ns1]

was the experience worthwhile?

I hesitated on the thought of paying my own money for possibly mediocre food (or worse...I've watched KN, I know what goes on in the back...)

You did have to pay, right?

[Dommy]

Yes, we did get a check... I would consider it worthwhile because it is quite the experience and we had lots of laughs... We knew what we were getting into and we thought it would give good cred fo the site.... But for strictly a dining experience not at all. For meeting Gordon Ramsey? He WAS working the entire night and in the end of the night we were happy to excape to Little Next Door for a drink... LOL!

--Dommy!

[PinotPlease]

Dommy! Always in the thick of things! Thanks for the 411, especially on being a Kitchen Nightmares special guest. I always wondered what that was all about. Now I'm wondering if Short Order will use the same "Nancy Silverton" burger meat blend that they sell at Huntington Meats, that's graced our grill to great success for many a summer!

-----
Huntington Meats
6333 W 3rd St # 350, Los Angeles, CA

Short Order
6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[Peripatetic]

> I'm wondering if Short Order will use the same
> "Nancy Silverton" burger meat blend that they sell
> at Huntington Meats

According to Mr Taster:

"Incidentally, I was told by the Huntington Meats guys that Silverton will NOT be using the 'Silverton Blend' to make her burgers, but rather it will be a proprietary blend made specifically for her. Huntington Meats will still continue to sell the Silverton Blend, but under a new yet-to-be-determined name (like 'house blend' or something similar), so as to avoid any confusion."

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/770994

[JosephEBacon]

Wow, what Mr. Taster is posting about Short Order really has me curious to try them!

-----
Short Order
6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[Mr Taster]

Well, when I chatted with one of the staff at Short Order last night, she told me that they were still using the Silverton blend. To be fair, I spoke with the meat cutter at Huntington several months ago, things have probably changed. I don't know-- I'll ask Huntington again and post back.

Mr Taster

[Burger Boy]

So who owns it now? Do we know? I look at the menu and have no desire to go. The original BK menu had some interesting looking stuff, I mean the very first menu I saw when they opened. Oh well.

[Ogawak]

I too was interested in the original menu, having no idea how badly everything was being run. I bought the half off back in the spring, and when I was notified it was expiring, decided to check it out. That's when I found out the management changed, as did the menu. Not that interesting, but the execution of the burgers and fries were actually very good. No information as to whether the Saffrons still own it.

[JosephEBacon]

I don't know what the menu is because I keep getting a note on my browsers saying I don't have the correct plug in. And when I click on the link, I get a blank screen!

[Peripatetic]

According to this Eater LA post, the management behind Libertine took over Burger Kitchen in late August:

- http://la.eater.com/archives/2011/08/31/burger_kitchen_under_new_management_changes_en_route.php

It's unclear whether the ownership changed. The epilogue to last night's episode made it sound as if the Saffron family was still running things, but this is clearly at least partially untrue. The info on file at the ABC hasn't changed, but I don't know how timely it is:

- http://www.abc.ca.gov/datport/LQSData.asp?ID=19349519

You might also want to check out this recent thread:

- http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/812552

[Dommy]

Yeah, they filmed the episode in early August....

--Dommy!