Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Restaurants work hard to triumph in reality competition.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Best New Restaurant
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Hosted by Tom Colicchio, hour-long series BEST NEW RESTAURANT pits 16 fledgling eateries against each other in a competition that will net the winner $100,000 and a feature in Bon Appétit magazine. On each episode, Colicchio first visits each restaurant on its home turf and challenges it to service a full house in two hours flat. Next, a diner with a hidden camera visits and captures footage of any mistakes. Finally, each restaurant competes head-to-head at a dinner in NYC; the winner of that round goes on to compete in the semi-finals for the money and bragging rights.
Is It Any Good?
In marked contrast to the show for which Colicchio is best known (Top Chef), Best New Restaurant keeps the focus on food and service, not conflict among the contestants. Turns out it's quite a pleasure watching talented professionals working hard. They're under stress but not given tasks that seem impossible (looking at you, Project Runway). At all times, the importance of making guests happy and of upholding professional standards is stressed. Who knew chefs were supposed to taste each dish before it goes out of the kitchen? Colicchio and the makers of Best New Restaurant knew -- and now you do too.
The moderate-tension environment also means that chefs snap at each other or servers only infrequently and pretty mildly. Thus this show is fine to watch with teens, tweens, and even interested grade schoolers. The only problem? Watching may make you hungry.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes a restaurant the "best." What combination of food, ambiance, and service makes one restaurant better than another? Do you agree with the decisions the judges make on Best New Restaurant?
Cooking shows are a constant in the reality genre. Why? What dramatic possibilities do they offer? Why are there not as many reality shows set in, say, an office?
Pay attention to the music Best New Restaurant plays. What type of music evokes what emotion?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 21, 2015
- Cast : Tom Colicchio , Jeffrey Zurofsky , Maggie Nemser
- Network : Bravo
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Cooking
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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