Zeke’s Seafood Restaurant was featured on Kitchen Nightmares in 2011 and Gordon Ramsay tried to save it from closing down. But what happened to it after the cameras stopped rolling?
Zeke’s was New Orleans’ favorite seafood restaurant specializing in Creole food for years. When the restaurant founder died, though, it was passed down to a new owner, and things changed slightly.
The new owners tried to cut costs by purchasing frozen food instead of fresh organic food. Naturally, people were soon complaining about the drop in the food quality and taste.
The Kitchen Nightmares restaurant had been a staple of the neighborhood for years, but faced great trouble. So, could Gordan Ramsay save Zeke’s, or did it close down after the episode aired?
Gordan Ramsay couldn’t save Zeke’s restaurant
Chef Gordon Ramsay introduces a new menu to the staff and owners of Zeke’s restaurant.
Chef Ramsay stepped up to save the place, he redid the dining area and even introduced new dishes to Zeke’s menu.
However, even that wasn’t enough to keep the restaurant going. Restaurants that get revamped on Kitchen Nightmares mostly revert to their normal routines which leads to closures. The demolition of La Gondola from Kitchen Nightmares Season 3 was also announced in 2024, to the disappointment of many fans.
During the 2011 episode, the employees hinted at the fact that the new owners cared more about the restaurant’s profit rather than its legacy. Viewers speculated that there was a high chance that became Zeke’s downfall.
In 2012, Zeke’s owners sold the restaurant to someone who demolished it to build something new entirely. Since the closure, the staff of Zeke’s moved on to better adventures.
Daryll and Ellen opened LUCA Eats in New Orleans in 2016, whereas Porter and Luke opened their own restaurant in January 2013.
For more from the show, here’s what we know about Kitchen Nightmares Season 9. You can also find out if Kitchen Nightmares is scripted, and who pays for the renovations on the show.
