Last night, Rocco DiSpirito's reality show, The Restaurant, premiered and the Times' food critic William Grimes reviewed the show in the weekend's Arts & Leisure section. (Gothamist is curious if one of the TV critics Alessandra Stanley or Julie Salomon or even Caryn James - who we haven't seen much of lately - will be reviewing Rocco's On 22nd Street, the restaurant, as a restaurant then?) Biff loves the "thrilling" glimpse into what goes into making a New York restaurant buzz, but was also reminded of "the unholy alliance of creativity, money and public relations that dominates New York's restaurant economy." The LA Times on the show and Newsday on Rocco's mother, Niccolina, who was his mentor of sorts.
Go to Rocco's, without TV camera crews underfoot. We wonder if the star-hungry staff has remained.
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Rocco's is a godsend to me - I have searched high and low for a place where I could get spaghetti and meatballs served to me by a chick wearing a "HOOCHIE" belt-buckle - all with plenty of cold Coors Light at hand
Ya gotta love the utterly shameless product-placement plugs that they scattered throughout the show (starting in the opening credits, no less).
I could hardly believe that that, when someone wanted a beer, rocco sent out for a bunch of coors . . . coors????? talk about scripting of reality tv.
I'd like Rocco to wear a Hoochie belt.
Alessandra Stanley did review the show:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/19/arts/television/19STAN.html
(Found via http://www.tvtattle.com)
John here,KM from roccos drop me an e mail!
Thanks Bosef, but I meant like would Alessandra Stanley review Rocco's as a restaurant, you know the food and stuff, 'cause Biff doesn't know the TV beat...oh, nevermind.
Hello Rocco and family,
I want to work in your restaurant.I'm well versed in Italian cusine. I was raised in Queens by my Italian grandparents. I am an experienced waitress and bartender. The country club I work for is closed for season. I love the show-hits close to home!
When your sponser is coors. you can only go out for coors. The coors girls at the opening ??? Please its sad that this show would never seen the light of day on its own but this doesn't mean that the corperate enity that sponors the show should fuck with the show in which i think they did. You really think if rocco gets behind in his credit payments there going to come down on him?
Coors and america exspress want to see a profit and don't care really what happens.
I'm A Chef and have been a General Manager I'm
originaly from New York I live in Tulsa Oklahoma
I've been keeping up with your show I'ts great.
However,everybody from your busser to your General
Manager needs to show sensitivity to staff and to clients needs.
been watching the show. i am the sous chef of a casual upscale restaurant in south fla. i work under one of jeffrey's old chefs. jamie from red square. looks fun but you have got to make your cooks dance. hope things are looking up.
i love the show. i love rocco. i don't love the restaurant so much.
The show is sad. I would't walk in there for a basket of chicken fingers. Rocco's self-love leaves a worst taste in your mouth than does the food. Hopefully he'll run out of credit with his over zealous sponsor American Express and the place will eventually turn into another Starbucks.
Boo to Rocco and boo to NBC for such a pathetic show.
one word for this show and embarssing display of corporate america...shameless.
Having worked in restaurants for over 20 years starting in the back of the house and moving to the front of the house...finally settling in front of the house management, I will say that this is the worst run restaurant I've ever seen.
A table has nothing come out right and instead of assisting the table, your owner blames a server right in front of the guestand proclaims him to be a fuck up. When another table has troubles he sends his mother over to smooth it. While I find her to be charming, If I had the same troubles and this was the solution, I'd be infuriated. Perhaps he should get his ass into the kitchen to see what they are doing and how are all of the orders comming out screwed up
Another problem that I had was the blatant disreguard that your management staff has for the servers. It's as if you think they are 100% expendable. They are the backbone of your restaurant and unless you realize that...and quickly...I predict that yours will be one of the 90% of restaurants that fail.
hey just like to say that i HATE reality tv, but ive found myself watching this show every sunday, maybe because it isnt all peopl ein their early 20's living in the same house .. the drama is cool, but some poeple on the show seem liek dick heads! anyways, props to all of you people that work in a restauraunt, i used to be a dishwasher and that was enough for me .. Topher dont quit!! you rule man!! you too Gideon!!
Rocco needs to heed what his wait staff, runners, cooks, dishwahsers are saying. I know he has two successful businesses but this show may hurt him more than help him.
We thought U was "THE MAN ROCCO" but whah happen? u seem to be fallin' off, ur so concerned with making this Restaurant a place like home that ur forgetting about the family which is supposed to be 2gether, in this case would be your Staff.. without the unity of your staff, your Restaurant isnt going no where.....
Although We never been there. We watch the Show every Sunday NIght and are looking forward to Visiting ROCCO's Ristorante, so we can compare and criticize and we're damn good at it ;) DONT QUIT NOW PAPITO FRANCES...
I agree with everyone who thinks Rocco's staff is treated like shit. One week Topher is his golden boy and the next week , because of a computer screw up, he is a fuck-up! ? And what about Gideon? He broke his arm on the premisis and no one cares? Can you say worker's comp? Based on the personalities and what i see of the running of the place, I would not eat there. Rocco needs to stop posing for pictures and actually run his restaurant.
Rocco....the decisions you've been making recently have been very unprofessional. If you are really concerned with the good standing of your Restaurant you should pay a little more attention to your employees. Yes, i agree that it is very important to please the guest but, do not forget the important role your employees play in your restaurant. Another thing...instead of chasing down that one chic to come back you should try focusing on who really should be working for you. and....Management should sit down and listen to what the staff have to say. The key to success is communication. AND....one more thing....We hope to be satisfied in our visit to Roccos.
Jeez, I find Rocco and his head henchmen appalling. Rocco so self-involved that he doesn't see his own liability in poor Gideons accident.I hope the kid goes right to workmans comp. Rocco, your places deserves to fail....you're a lousy boss and a crummy human being
i am so frightened by rocco and his actions-first off-do not touch your employees-male,female, gay or straight-can you say sexual harrassment! how dare you blame the server on anything-whether or not it is his fault-you should have had the balls to say we are so sorry and it is personally my fault-not my employee is a f*** up-how dare you!not that it matters but rocco didn't even pick up that the ny critic was appalled by him sitting down with her-but instead up trying to wish the table away how about going to the kitchen where they are obviously in the weeds and help-did anyone go to the table and address the matter and we just didn't see that part? did you comp their meal? how did you get 300 covers on the second night of opening and no one ever talked about this-rocco-get the hell out of the booth and start manaaging your restaurant-shame on you for sending a little old lady over to a table to take a complaint-it wasnt your mothers fault-take responsibilty of your actions!
What a bunch of stupidity. Rocco is such an ASS.
There are so many things wrong with this resturant it is hard to know where to begin. The fact that the owner spends more time hitting on & being hit on by the female customers is nauseating to watch, not to mention unprofessional. The fact that they show no one customer happy with their food is sad most everyone has the same complaint it is cold!!! Get a clue Rocco no resturant will remain open no matter how much you flirt with the customers if the food is terrible. I am Italian & have worked in an Italian resturant (as the pastry chef) & being even compaired to The Olive Garden is a tremendous put down. The staff is for the most part treated poorly. I really do not understand why any of them stay (execpt to be on TV). The cherry on the top of this herendous sundae is the fact that when Rocco is dealing with unhappy customers he either uses foul language or gets his mommy. Both his tactics are very unprofessional.
there's nothing to this rocco guy other than a typical egotistical prick. he's transparent and i doubt we'll learn anything new about him other than what we've already seen. not much depth.
the staff is much more interesting to watch.
i will say the production is 10 times better than most of nbc's slew of crappy reality tv shows, and all their over-used gimmicks like slowing down people's facial expressions and overly dramatic music scores.
I feel sorry for the staff. The family amotsphere that was talked about during training sure disappeared quickly. I was a little surprised that the staff thought that the line would not be drawn between them and management. Most of the staff are young and don't have experience with management. Although Rocco's management is uncaring, unprofessonal and ineffective, I think the staff are more reactive than others who have had prior experience.
So why do so many people think that this comment section is a direct line to Rocco himself? Very strange.
One of the really unfortunate things (I think) is that as maliciously enjoyable as the show may be to watch, it would be far more enjoyable to watch a show about a real restaurant opening, i.e. one where the staff were ALL foodservice professionals and there was no bullshit "deadline" to open and the chef wasn't primarily concerned with his personal exposure, etc.. What happens behind the scenes in restaurants is interesting enough without having to manufacture "drama".
It's true: as a former 4-star-restaurant line cook (with a celebrity chef), it's been really frustrating for me to watch how Rocco conducts himself in The Restaurant. My old chef would do the schmoozing when necessary, but if there was an issue with someone's food, he didn't blame the server--he FIXED it. If a guest wasn't 100% satisfied with the experience, we invited them back for a meal on us. And the second time around was always flawless. Because we cared, because we knew our chef realized what was at stake: his reputation. And he treated the staff so well that we would do anything we could to make him happy. Rocco is so overwhelmed by his burgeoning sex-symbol status that he has forgotten what makes a restuarant really work: happy guests. And the first step towards that goal is happy employees. Seems so simple. Remember when Rocco was an up-and-comer, who didn't care about the fame, just the food? Sigh. How things change.
It's about time Rocco realized where he needs to be, the kitchen, getting things fixed and showing his staff how it is done. Amazing looking at all there faces when watching him cook and actually training them.
This restaurant could be a wonderful place to eat. Too bad its all screwed up. On the other hand, someone is making the big bucks and its not the staff.
With two major sponsors (yes we get it!) Rocco could care less if the "restaurant" makes it or not. All the money to be had is with the show not the establishment. He also did a great job picking the talent to act as his stars. It's too bad that the "stars" are working as if this is a real job. They are in the wrong mind set. This is a TV gig!! To bad no one told them that they will be bashed, bruised and taken advantage of.
And then Rocco jumps in to save the day, just like Mighty Mouse. End of Story.
Dear Rocco,
Hi, Have Been Watching Your Show From The Beginning. I Think Your Doing A Great Job. It's Too Bad The Hardships Your Going Through. I Can
Only Imagine. (job realted of course)
The Reason I'm E-Mailing You Is To Let You Know How Much I Love our Show, And I Think Your Cute. Plus; I'm A Very Hard Worker And Conscienciuos Wprker, And People Like Us Are Hard To Find. If I Had The Opportunity To Work For You I Think It Would Be Awesome!...............Just My Opinion...........And Everyone Has One Right!
Rocco,your 15 minutes of fame is about up.Your an embarrassment to the restaurant business.You strike me as a very selfish person,the people that work and represent your establishment deserve some semblance of respect.Your obviously
doing this show for your own gain-that is till your sponsors drop you,it will happen!
Rocco,
Thanks again for the red Vespa. It rocks, and so do I.
BTW, now I really quit.
L.
P.S. Putz.
Rocco,
I know you're controlling this Internet because you are a control freak who isn't even involved in making things work but want the credit and glory. Well, my life is too important to waste it in your Internet and your restaurant.
Goodbye again.
Topher
As this show has gone on, I have found myself hating Rocco more and more. He is a poor manager and an even worse boss. My heart breaks for those employees. Everytime I see his Americsn Express commercial talking about the high turnover, I want to scream "It's because you are such a crappy manager!".
I also think the commercial says a lot about his own restaurant food - he's making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I predict this restuarant doesn't last a year once this show goes off it there aren't some major turnarounds made by Rocco. He needs to be IN the kitchen resolving the cold food problems - how can he preach what he doesn't DO?
My sister and I came to NY for the day this month, we live in Baltimore. Came to Roccos out of curiosity. Our father grew up close to Mamma. Every once in awhile we need that real Italian fix. So thank you Mamma for the warm smile and embrace. We also enjoyed the wine and food. There is something there, it would be a shame not to work out the kinks. After all we come to NY all the time. Thanks
Rocco, you are a fuck up. Get back in the kitchen and run your resturtant and stop flirting with all the women in your resturant. You mangt abilities suck, a high school drop out working as a shift manger at Mc Donalds can run a resturant better than you can. An get rid of the paper baskets that you were serving food in, reminds me of Long John Silvers resturants. Oh yes Gideon, get a lawyer and sue the hell out of someone, sue Rocco, sue NBC, sue American Express. Topher you were a pretty cool guy,and Lola you area hottie, Gideon, Topher, Lola if you want drop me aline sometime, not that I expect you to, but what the hey... Roy racerx69us@yahoo.com
two words for you Rocco....
Bobby Flay
Where can I get a belt buckle like the one that had "QUEEN" on it? I would love to have one.
THanks =)
I have been in this business for 18 years, watching your show has had me appalled, brought me to tears, and even made me want to catch my breath. I think the adventures we were able to witness through your hardships is absolutely fantastic! It shows people what it really takes to make it in this business. I am coming to the city today, I am going to make it an absolute point to drop by Roccos for at least a cocktail. It is a must. I only hope to meet Mamma and maybe taste a meatball or two, :) Looking foward to meeting you.
Rocco needs to own a Mcdonalds, not a real resturant. The way he talks to his employees is dredful. Calling them F*** ups in front of guest. This is a unprofessional man and establishment.
I just wanna try some meatballs :)
Now that the cameras are away, I hope that all the over- promoting will go away and the restaurant will come together...good service and happy employees. It seems like a nice place to eat as long as the employees are happy- if they r, than the resturant should make it.Good luck
well first of all...okay so Rocco and management didnt make the smartest decisions. im sure if we were in his/their place having to deal with all the problems...about customers, staff, inventory, money and all the cameras....it would be really difficult to come up with a resonable answer. The camera being there all the time can bring the worst out of someone.. just dont be so quickly to point the finger at anyone. And its not like NBC didnt know which tapes or episoded they wanted to air....they had it all planned...something to keep the public interested in...the fall of a reality tv show instead of the good wins... But also, all the staff did was complain about everything. They couldve worked together, dropped the anger and worked something out. I should know...i have worked in the restuarant buisness for many yrs. So at least give him credit for trying to deal with alot of tasks at once. Its a new buisness for him...nobody said it was going to run smoothly and perfect. Hopefully everything will work out for him one day. Everyday is a potential beginning for a new life. People....figure it out!
While a dedicated foodie, I wouldn't set my size 8 foot in Roccos, even if he personally came an fetched me on his, no longer his, pink vespa. I like Union Pacific but this place, Roccos, does not rock. And the callous way he dealt with Gideon who slipped, and still mats, were not instantly in place, is hard to understand or believe.
The man, the restaurant, would not be an environment I would choose to spend my $$$'s and my time in. No thanks.
Is this show still on????? if so when and what channel
Where can I buy the red pots and pans?
HI ROCCO:
WELL I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I'M DYING TO GO TO N.Y TO GO TRY THOSE MEAT BALLS THAT MAMMA MAKES. I'LL LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE.
PS:TELL ME WHEN THE NEW SEASON STARTS PLEASE:)
LOVE YA
RE: Where to buy the cookware
www.roccodispirito.com >Shop Rocco
It's a restaurant in New York people! It's just a good poster child for us all to know what people, service and food is truly like throughout that "apple state". When people go into a business together 50/50 Jeffrey practiced bad business when he did. Over steppiing, bullying and that punk intern he has. What a joke.
Dear Rocco,
I have been glued to the screen since your show started and I think you are amazing I will never see your place as I live in Canada but if i ever get to New York I would love the chance to visit your place.Keep your chin up and always smile and you will continue to do great.Canada loves rocco.
Randi Bolton
is this show for real real or is this whole story about the financier realizing his share of the restaurant was not making money and how long did it take mark burnett to get his fake reality staged mind to set this whole melodrama up? Is the TV audience soo blind to see that this is all a corporate dog and pony show? GIVE ME A BREAK
Rocco:
I know what you are going through. Your costs are out of wack and even though volume is there, you can't squeeze a profit. Seems like your labor costs are out of reach (over staffing and reservation coordination), your food pricing seems low for what you serve ( charge what you gotta get) and you need a general manager that knows what's going on in all areas and keep checking on customers ( current gm is very poor)
I don't know what other costs are running, but with the volume you obviously have, you should at least be making a buck. I've been in this business along time. Keep your head, cut the deadwood, keep the customers happy and move on!
peace!
You know when the customers talk about portion control, the number one margin rule, you have a problem.
Rocco give it up, you have no idea how to run a restaurant,as a chef myself your more interested in shamoozing with the patrons than dealing with the kitchen staff, U should be the host at best because my day starts at 5 am open 4 breakfast at 6am lunch and early dinner closes at 6pm and home by 7:30/ 8:oo 7 days a week not this b/s of showing up at 10:00pm throw some s/p on a dish and out the door again.At best Rocco u should get another job just to pay Jeffy back.and whats worse is Momma defending you
Ha there Rocco -- Keep up the good work .I love your Mothers meatballs -Please tell her ,I would love Your mom's recipe Thanks Chef'Lageno
Rocco Rocco You are so cute. I think you are awesome but try to stay at Rocco's more. Hi mom I can't wait to meet you.