Gordon Ramsay Tried to save Kindred, But the Restaurant Shut Down Anyway
When Gordon Ramsay and his Kitchen Nightmares team arrived at Kindred, a vegan restaurant in New Orleans, hopes were high for a turnaround. Known for his no-nonsense approach and sharp culinary insights, Ramsay has helped countless struggling restaurants get back on their feet. But for Kindred, even Ramsay’s expertise wasn’t enough to keep the doors open. Just months after the show’s intervention, the restaurant announced its closure, leaving many wondering what went wrong.
The rise of Kindred: New Orleans’ ambitious vegan restaurant
Kindred opened its doors on Jan. 3, 2020, in the heart of New Orleans, a city renowned for its rich culinary heritage. Unlike the traditional Creole and Cajun fare the city is known for, Kindred took a bold step by offering an all-vegan menu. The restaurant aimed to carve out a niche in a market where plant-based dining was growing but still faced significant challenges.
Initially, Kindred drew attention for its innovative dishes and commitment to sustainability. Locals and visitors intrigued by the vegan movement gave it a try, and the restaurant quickly became a topic of conversation in New Orleans’ food scene. However, beneath the surface, operational challenges began to emerge. Financial difficulties, inconsistent management, and the unique hurdles of running a vegan restaurant in a city known for its rich, meat-heavy cuisine began to take their toll.
By 2024, Kindred was struggling to stay afloat. Poor reviews cited inconsistent food quality and service, and the restaurant’s financial health was in decline. That’s when Kitchen Nightmares stepped in.
Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares intervention
In September 2024, Gordon Ramsay and his Kitchen Nightmares team arrived in New Orleans as part of their ‘Road to Super Bowl LIX’ series, focusing on local eateries ahead of the big event. Ramsay’s reputation for turning around struggling restaurants brought a sense of hope to Kindred’s owners and staff. However, the problems at Kindred ran deeper than anticipated.
Upon arrival, Ramsay was quick to identify the key issues. The kitchen was disorganized and poorly maintained, and the management lacked clear direction. The owner described the kitchen manager as ‘the most lackadaisical person’ they’d ever worked with, highlighting internal conflicts that spilled over into daily operations. Ramsay, known for his high standards and blunt feedback, didn’t hold back. He criticized the restaurant’s cleanliness, menu execution, and overall leadership.
Despite these challenges, Ramsay and his team worked to implement changes. They revamped the menu, improved kitchen procedures, and provided staff training aimed at enhancing service quality. The Kitchen Nightmares episode, which aired on Jan. 28, 2025, showcased these efforts, painting a picture of a restaurant on the brink of recovery.
But reality was less optimistic.
Why Kindred shut down just months after Kitchen Nightmares
Despite the high-profile intervention, Kindred announced its closure on Dec. 24, 2024, even before the episode aired. The restaurant’s Facebook post read: ‘New Orleans, thanks for five years! But, our time is coming to an end. We will be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week 5 p.m.-10 p.m. We hope you visit us one more time before we shut our doors for good! Thanks again!’ The restaurant officially closed on Dec. 28, 2024.
Several factors contributed to Kindred’s closure. Financial instability was a major issue, with mounting debts and dwindling customer numbers making recovery difficult. While Ramsay’s changes addressed operational inefficiencies, they couldn’t fix the underlying financial problems. Furthermore, internal management conflicts persisted, undermining the restaurant’s ability to maintain the improvements made during the show.
Kindred’s experience isn’t unique. As of 2024, approximately 79 percent of the restaurants featured on Kitchen Nightmares have closed, highlighting the limitations of reality TV interventions in solving deep-rooted business issues. For many restaurants, a makeover isn’t enough to overcome structural challenges like poor financial planning, weak leadership, and market misalignment.
Kindred’s closure is a stark reminder that a TV makeover, no matter how high-profile, isn’t a guaranteed fix for a struggling business. While Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares provides valuable insights and immediate improvements, long-term success depends on the restaurant’s ability to implement and maintain those changes.
For aspiring restaurant owners, Kindred’s story offers several key lessons. First, passion alone isn’t enough. Running a successful restaurant requires strong management skills, financial planning, and the ability to adapt to market demands. Kindred may have had a great concept, but without the operational backbone to support it, the restaurant was doomed to struggle.
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