Guy Fieri responds to New York Times review

Guy Fieri shot back at New York Times critic Pete Wells for a scathing review of his new Times Square restaurant, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar (written entirely in rhetorical questions). Some are even calling it the most brutal restaurant review ever.

On today’s “Today” show in an interview with Savannah Guthrie, the spiky-haired Food Network star said: “I thought it was ridiculous. I mean, I’ve read reviews — there’s good and there’s bad in the restaurant business, but that to me went so overboard, it really seemed like there was another agenda.”

He added: “I’ve been in the restaurant [industry] for 25 years. This is an ever-changing, evolving process.... Do we do it perfect? No. Are we striving to do it perfect? Yes.”

Guthrie pointed out that Yelp lists American Kitchen & Bar with 2.5 stars out of five (an average of 56 reviews). “We’re trying as hard as we can to make it right, to do it right.... Let’s see where we are in six months.”

Fieri also said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal: “I normally do not respond to reviews or critics, however, given the tone of Pete’s piece, it’s clear to me that he went into my restaurant with his mind already made up. That’s unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times ad sales team held a 160-person event at American Kitchen & Bar on Wednesday night, notes Poynter. A New York Times spokeswoman confirmed: “The Times ad sales department hosted an event for clients at the restaurant last night. It was planned two months ago.”

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Did you read Pete Wells’ review of Guy Fieri’s new restaurant?