Restaurant Revolution
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Reality television, Cooking |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Cooking reality TV show |
| Owner | Seven Network |
Restaurant Revolution was a cooking reality TV series from Australia that premiered on the Seven Network in 2015. The competition featured five teams, each with an existing connection, striving to bring their restaurant visions to life by creating and managing pop-up dining establishments where patrons could sample their cuisine, service, and ambiance. The program was presented by the Scottish-born restaurateur Jock Zonfrillo.
Judgment was delivered by a panel of culinary and hospitality professionals: chef and restaurateur Neil Perry, front-of-house expert Erez Gordon, food critic John Lethlean, and brand strategist Jess Ho. Teams were assessed based on expert evaluations combined with their weekly profitability.
Restaurants and contestants
Each team represented one of Australia's five largest capital cities. Their restaurants were constructed from shipping containers situated in prominent city spots, all sharing the same layout with seating for 60 guests. Teams had full control over the concept, décor, and overall environment. All venues opened to the public on 14 July prior to the show's broadcast.
| City | Location | Restaurant | Contestants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Centenary Square, Parramatta | Somewhere Nice | Dom Aboud |
| Adelaide | Victoria Square, Adelaide | 28 St | David, Asa, Reine and Anthony Donehue |
| Brisbane | Corner Russell/Grey St, South Bank | Puerto | John McIntosh, Justine & Maggie Yeong |
| Melbourne | Lower Esplanade, St Kilda | Scarfo | Nathan Scarfo & Maz Koutsonikolas |
| Perth | 103 Oxford St, Leederville | La Linea | Carmen & Nicole Watts |
Competition details
- Restaurant Pre-opening - During this phase, teams accumulated funds to develop their restaurant interiors, procure supplies, and train staff. Across the first two challenges, a total of $100,000 was at stake. Experts distributed these funds based on the teams' presentations of their restaurant concepts including cuisine and customer service: $40,000 awarded to first place; $20,000 to second; $15,000 each for third and fourth; and $10,000 for last place. The final 'last chance pitch' provided $40,000 divided among the top three teams; two teams received no financial support.
- Team Lunch - Each week one team hosted a lunch event for all competitors to evaluate food quality and service standards. Teams had $50 in tips to allocate as they wished. Starting Week 5, every $10 in tips translated into an additional point added to a team’s final score.
- Weekly Reviews - Industry experts visited each pop-up weekly to rate food and service on a scale up to 10. Additionally, a fifth anonymous 'secret critic' assessed one team weekly. Rankings were also determined by profit margins; the highest margin earned 5 bonus points descending to 1 point for the lowest. The leading team received an extra four-seat table for the following week; conversely, the lowest-ranked team lost a table (marked off). Beginning Week 2, chef’s special challenges awarded 2 bonus points to the team selling the most of the featured dish.
- Week 2 Chef's Special – Develop a new menu item priced at a minimum of $15.
- Week 3 Chef's Special – Create a dish that reflects their home state.
- Week 4 Chef's Special – Design a burger that embodies their restaurant’s identity.
Episodes and ratings
Restaurant Revolution experienced disappointing viewership upon its debut, which led Seven to cut back the broadcast frequency from four nights to a single night per week and modify the broadcast time accordingly.
| Progress | Pre-opening Week | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Final Results | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash earnings | Expert scores | Profit (1-5) |
Total | Team Lunch | Expert scores | Profit (1-5) |
Total | Team Lunch | Expert scores | Profit (1-5) |
Total | Team Lunch | Expert scores | Profit (1-5) |
Total | Team Lunch | Total Tips | Expert scores | Profit (1-5) |
Total | |||||
| Team Restaurant | First Pitch | Cook For Cash | Last Chance Pitch | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adelaide 28 St |
$40,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | 6 (John) |
3 | 9 | Tipped $0 | 7 (Jess) |
4 (+2) |
13 | Host | 8 (Secret Critic) |
4 (+2) |
14 | Tipped $20 | 9 (Erez) |
1 | 10 | Tipped $10 | Tipped $10 | 8 ($80) |
7.5 (Neil) |
3 | 10.5 | Winner (64.5) |
| Sydney Somewhere Nice |
$20,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | 5 (Erez) |
5 | 10 | Host | 5 (Secret Critic) |
5 | 10 | Tipped $10 | 6 (Jess) |
3 | 9 | Tipped $30 | 8 (Neil) |
5 | 13 | Tipped $10 | Tipped $20 | 5 ($50) |
8 (John) |
5 | 13 | 2nd (60) |
| Ratings Week |
Episode No. | Episode overview | Original airdate | Timeslot | Viewership | Position (Night) |
Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Premiere/Initial Pitch - Five competing teams unveil their restaurant concepts in key Australian cities, presenting their ideas to judges for a chance at part of a $100,000 prize pool. | 28 July 2015 | Tuesday 7:30 pm | 676,000 | #12 | ||||||||
| 2–3 | Cook For Cash - Judges visit each establishment, with teams given one day’s notice and one hour to prepare a three-course lunch. The $100,000 prize money was allocated based on expert evaluations. | 29 July 2015 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 515,000 | #18 | |||||||||
| 4 | Final Pitch Opportunity - Teams deliver last pitches competing for a $40,000 cash prize pool. Only three teams were awarded funds. Recruitment days were also held to hire staff and management. | 30 July 2015 | Thursday 7:30 pm | 415,000 | <20 | |||||||||
| 2 | 5 | Official Launch - Teams complete preparations and open their restaurants with VIP guest events. | 3 August 2015 | Monday 7:30 pm | 522,000 | #20 | ||||||||
| 6 | Expert Evaluations Week 1-1 - Judges Neil Perry and Erez Gordon assess Brisbane and Sydney restaurants respectively during lunch and dinner services focusing on food quality, service, and ambiance. | |||||||||||||
| 7 | Expert Evaluations Week 1-2 - John Lethlean and Jess Ho evaluate Adelaide and Perth venues; Sydney is assessed by an anonymous 'Secret Critic'. | 6 August 2015 | Thursday 8:00 pm | 427,000 | <20 | |||||||||
| 8 | Week One Outcomes - Experts rate restaurants out of ten; profit margins contribute additional points. The top-scoring team earns an extra table next week; the lowest scoring loses one. | 3 | 9 | Sydney Team Lunch - Teams dine at Dom's restaurant in Sydney with tipping up to $50; Perth and Brisbane tipped $20 each, Melbourne $10, Adelaide none. | 13 August 2015 | Thursday 8:00 pm | 312,000 | <20 | ||||||
| 10 | Expert Visits Week Two - Judges rotate visits among cities; Sydney is again evaluated by the 'Secret Critic'. Scores assigned out of ten. | |||||||||||||
| 11 | Week Two Results - Scores combined with profit margins and bonus points for 'Chef's Specials' sales. Adelaide leads while Perth ranks last. | 4 | 12 | "Adelaide Team Lunch" - Teams visit Adelaide's restaurant with tipping up to $50; Melbourne and Brisbane tipped $20 each, Perth $30, Sydney $10. | "20 August 2015" | "Thursday 8:30 pm" | "298,000" | "<20" | ||||||
| "13" | "Expert Visits Week Three" - Judges continue evaluations; Melbourne achieves highest expert score so far (9/10). | "" | "" | "" | "" | "" | ||||||||
| "14" | "Week Three Results" - Combined expert ratings and profits determine weekly outcomes. Adelaide wins again; Brisbane ranks last. | "" | "" | "" | "" | "" | 5 | "15" | "Brisbane Team Lunch" - Brisbane hosts with an 'East meets Mex' theme; most teams tipped $20, Sydney gave $30." | "27 August 2015" | "Thursday 8:30 pm" | "297,000" | "<20" | |
| "16" | "Expert Visits Week Four" - Ongoing expert rotations across cities including the 'Secret Critic' visiting Brisbane." | "" | "" | "" | "" | "" | ||||||||
| "17" | "Week Four Results" - Brisbane and Sydney tie for top position; Perth places last. Bonus challenge focused on signature burgers." | "" | "" | "" | "" | "" | 6 | "18" | "Perth Team Lunch" - Perth hosts team lunch at La Linea." | "3 September 2015" | "Thursday 8:30 pm" | "275,000" | "<20" | |
| "19" | "Melbourne Team Lunch" - Final team lunch hosted by Nathan and Maz in Melbourne." | "" | "" | "" | "" | "" | ||||||||
| "20" | "Week Five Results" - Tips converted into points ($10 =1 point) finalize weekly scores." | "" | "" | "" | "" | "" | 7 | "21" | 'Grand Final' - Experts conduct final visits across all cities. Teams complete their last service before combined scores decide the winner of the $200,000 prize." | '10 September 2015' | 'Thursday 9:30 pm' | 183,000' | <20 |
See also
- List of Australian television series
- List of cooking shows
- My Kitchen Rules
- My Restaurant Rules
- MasterChef Australia
- The Hotplate