Next Great American restaurant...

[Tom Hendricks]

Anyone watching this besides me?

They are down to the final four and I'm kind of excited to see who finally gets their restaurant. Who do you think is going to win?

My choice is: Harvest Sol.

I personally think the concept is the best one to make into a quick casual restaurant. The only reservations I have are for the person behind the idea Stephenie Park. She is very intelligent, she has a JD from Harvard and BS in Economics. However for all her book smarts, she really falls short in defining her concept and managing her chef and ideas.

The only real competition to Harvest Sol is Spice Coast. Having enjoyed Indian food for a while, I would love to see something like this go main stream. I think America is finally ready for fast casual Indian food.

While I like Jamawn and his Soul Daddy concept, I don't think it is right for the fast causal market.

I also think that Brooklyn Meatball Company (Saucy Balls) has absolutely no chance at all. Who would go repeatedly to a Meatball restaurant?

 

[Amaris]

I'm hoping Spice Coast wins, and it's only partly because I love good Indian food.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I actually feel the opposite, I like the Brooklyn Meatball Company and Soul Daddy, but not the other two. I have never been a fan of Indian food, but if the concept or a similar one did become successful nationwide, I would consider giving it a chance. And Harvest Sol just sounds like the same old boring health food that restaurants keep adding to their menus.

Soul food and Italian food just sound so much more appealing to me by comparison. I could eat some good meatballs every day! That sounds really good actually, now I'm craving Italian food.

Also, besides a couple of places in mall food courts, there is no real fast casual Italian food place out there (at least not around my region). It's something that I could easily see myself choosing over the traditional hamburgers and fries fast food places quite often.

Having said that, I don't know if Joey is the right man for the job. He's made some awful choices and doesn't seem to quite have his game together, but he does seem to have improved somewhat this week.

I don't really know who is going to win at this point...honestly none of them seem like they have a good shot with all the criticism they have received from the investors.

Unfortunately I think they are leaning slightly towards Harvest Sol. I think that would be a mistake because I don't see that concept becoming a nationwide success. It's not new or different enough. I would like one of the other three to win because I could see those restaurants actually becoming very successful.

Despite having said all this I voted for Soul Daddy, as his food has been very popular with the people and because I recently saw a commercial for Denny's or IHOP (can't remember), where they were promoting their new chicken and waffles concept...seems like a funny time to come out with that.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Well my choice, Harvest Sol was sent packing this past week. After watching the episode, I think it was deserved. While I really liked her concept, she was unable to easily communicate what her concept was. She also failed to educate herself on what she was trying to accomplish. The main problem with her concept was her and for that, she was booted.

Now its down to Spice Coast, Brooklyn Meatball Co & Soul Daddy and to me its now a toss up between Spice Coast and Soul Daddy. While I believe that Brooklyn Meatball Co. meatballs are probably fantastic, setting aside this past week. I can't see building a brand on it. You watch I will be totally wrong and he will win, his enthusiasm is palpable.

Between the two, I would be happy if either wins. While I'm not 100% convinced on Soul Daddy's original concept, what it has evolved into maybe worth getting behind. However I can easily get behind Spice Coast, I think America is ready for a chain of fast casual Indian food. Maybe make Indian into something more akin to Italian here in America like it is in England.

Well in a few days we will find out who the winner is. Because of living in the NYC area regardless who does win, I will make my way down to the restaurant to try it out.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I finally just got the chance to check out the final episode. Not to much drama, I guess this will be a one off show. Don't expect it to be back, which is fine.

I'm very happy for Jamawn and his concept Soul Daddy. While in the beginning I was very hesitant about his concept, it kept evolving and changing and I think it has become a worth concept. While I still think that Sudhir and his Spice Coast was a better idea, his watering down of his concept shot himself in his foot. Nothing wrong with "borrowing" from Chipotle, but more or less just a straight out copy. He didn't deserve to win after doing that and that was sad.

I look forward to heading down to South Street Seaport here in NYC and checking out Soul Daddy. I will follow up and let you know how it is.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Whoo, I guessed right in the poll! The new restaurant sounds nice but I don't live near any of them so I won't be checking it out. I was a little disappointed that he didn't include fried chicken, as that is probably the only thing I would have ordered off the menu.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I agree, I was a little bummed that he didn't offer Friend Chicken. Not sure when I will get down there, maybe a few weeks.