Season 1 |
Season 2 |
Episode Guide
Slovenia
Okanagan Valley
Finland
Muskoka
Hawaii
St. Croix
Arizona
Depending on how you felt about Restaurants On The Edge, you’re either going to really enjoy or really dislike the second season of this reality TV show. Combining elements of travel and cooking programs, Restaurants On The Edge is an enjoyable enough effort and essentially continues the exploits of our three musketeers as they continue to transform restaurants and attempt to change the fortunes of their owners. This time around we’re graced with 7 rather than 5 episodes and there’s certainly enough here to enjoy across this globe-trotting adventure.
From the sticky, sun-drenched desert of Arizona to the dizzying heights of the Austrian Alps, much like the first season the biggest strength with Restaurants On The Edge comes from the sheer number of different locations explored. Learning about the history and culture for each of these countries remains the highlight, but structurally the show remains very much the same this time around as it did before.
Each episode introduces that chosen country with lavish establishing shots, before our three hosts taste the food and weigh in with their opinions on the restaurant they’re looking to transform. From here, our trio branch out with the usual array of customer reviews, wine tasting, local market sampling and more. It’s a pretty simple concept but those looking for something closer to Kitchen Nightmares will certainly not find it here.
Given the number of varied locations showcased in this season, it’s a little disappointing to see two episodes focusing exclusively on Canada. Don’t get me wrong, the country is certainly beautiful and features a lot of gorgeous and breathtaking vistas but this does feel like a bit of a missed trick too.
It also doesn’t help that the trio don’t return to the restaurant after they’ve finished the renovations and at times the episode leaves big question marks over whether those establishments have actually gone on to be successful or not. The final episode in Arizona is arguably the biggest culprit for this too, ending with a shot of an empty parking lot. Again though, the success of these places come back to the owners themselves and given the high failure rate of restaurants worldwide, it’s a little disappointing that we don’t get to see if any of these actually survived.
To be honest though, Restaurants On The Edge continues to balance itself on the edge of the travel and cooking genres. It’s a show that sometimes leans a little too heavily into the travel aspect, especially given the sheer amount of time dedicated to the different locations, but also one that offers up a unique perspective on how local culture can shape a restaurant for the better. It’s not perfect but if you enjoyed the first season, you’re almost certainly going to enjoy this follow-up too.
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Verdict - 6.5/10
6.5/10
How did this get a second series? The first was watchable-this is terrible. Nothing happens except the restaurant gets painted blue, she walks around with a tape measure and glances constantly at the camera, then she buys bits from some local wood maker or whatever she’s just happened to meet. Dennis sprinkles cheese on something and the other one drinks beer or wine. Gordon Ramsay, it isn’t.