Mama Della's - Restaurant Impossible Update - Open or Closed?

In this Restaurant Impossible, Robert Irvine visits Mama Della's NY City Pizzeria in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Mama Della's is owned by Barry Kalt.

Barry named the restaurant Mama Della after his mother.

They proudly use their own family recipes in the restaurant as he wanted to bring authentically to the restaurant.

Barry also wanted to have the restaurant for his son Andrew who is a chef and it allows him to work with him.

Barry's son Andrew was happy when his dad asked to be a part of the business.

However, it is so difficult for them both to work together.

Barry is always there looking over Andrew's shoulder every second and his management style is either his way or the highway.

A few months into the business, Andrew had enough and couldn't go on with the business so he left.

Barry hopes that someday his son will be back and will work with him again at the restaurant.

Robert arrives to discover that the restaurant that looks boring.

There are cheap tablecloths and the restaurant is filthy.

Robert asks to speak with Barry for a brief about the restaurant.

Barry tells him that it is an authentic Italian- American, family-run restaurant and they have been open almost two years.

Barry thinks people aren't coming to the restaurant because they seem to have problems with him.

He thinks that they don’t like the way he takes and sees things.

It is clear to Robert that Barry is reluctant to change in respect to things his mother put in place at the restaurant.

Robert wants to observe a service to find out what the issues are at the restaurant.

It is clear from the guests that they aren’t impressed with the food or Barry’s attitude.

Robert decides to sample the food for himself and he isn’t impressed with any of it.

He thinks that the food tastes awful and the dishes are bland, too spicy or are overcooked.

Next, Robert meets with his designers Cheryl and Tom to discuss the plans for renovating the restaurant.

Robert asks the staff to help move the furniture out of the restaurant so that the design team can get to work.

Barry takes one last look of the dining room before it will be unveiled to him later.

As Barry had pushed to Robert that the restaurant was a family restaurant and uses the family recipes he wants to focus on the family element.

However, despite Barry buying the restaurant for his son Andrew, he no longer works at the restaurant.

Robert wants to get to the bottom of this and wants to be convince Andrew to return to the restaurant.

Robert asks to meet with Andrew to find out why he doesn’t want to work at the restaurant anymore.

After a heartfelt conversation about the restaurant, Andrew agrees to return to the restaurant and work alongside his father.

Robert checks in with the design team and they are making progress on the restaurant.

After this, he wants to work on the new menu but he isn’t sure if Barry will be willing to make changes to the menu.

He works with Barry in the kitchen and introduces the new dishes but Barry is finding the changes difficult.

However, Barry does finally admit that the taste of Roberts dishes is better.

Barry and Robert walk over to the other side of the restaurant and to his surprise Andrew is there.

He tells them that they need to talk about their differences if the restaurant is going to work.

Before he leaves he tells Barry that he needs to prove to him that he can change otherwise Robert can’t help him.

The next day, Robert arrives and checks in Barry to make sure that he is on board with the changes.

Barry decides that he will change as he wants the restaurant to succeed.

Robert leaves him to check in with the design team and he is impressed with the progress that they have made so far.

Robert meets with Barry to discuss the online reviews of the restaurant.

The reviews highlight that Barry has a bad attitude towards customers.

This has put off a number of customers from returning.

Robert asks Andrew and Barry to work together in the kitchen to come up with a new dish.

If the dish is well received then it will be added to the menu for the relaunch.

They make the dish together and have a great time working together.

Barry tastes the dish and thinks that it is the best dish that he has tasted in a long time.

Robert tries the dish and decides that it should be added to the menu for the relaunch.

The design team has finished with the transformation and it is time to reveal it to the owners.

Barry is in tears at the changes that have been made at the restaurant.

He is grateful to Robert for the changes that he has made at the restaurant.

On relaunch night, the diners are let into the restaurant and they love the changes that have been made.

They compliment both the decor and the food and promise to return to the restaurant.

What Happened Next at Mama Della's NY City Pizzeria?

A month later, sales had increased by 30%.

They kept Robert's menu and continued to serve some of their customer favourites.

He loves the new interior but doesn't think it fits the theme of a NY pizzeria as well as the previous decor.

Andrew is no longer working at the restaurant.

Mama Della's NY City Pizzeria closed in February 2015 after closing for the winter season and failing to reopen.

Owner Barry Kalt was hoping to secure investors in order to reopen the restaurant but this does not appear to have happened.

Reviews were mostly positive about the food and decor but there are negative comments about Barry's behaviour.

Mama Della's NY City Pizzeria was Restaurant Impossible season 8 episode 4 and aired on 26th March 2014.

Click for more Restaurant Impossible Restaurants

Next episode - Gratifi Kitchen and Bar

Previous episode - Pasion Latin Fusion