Gordon Ramsay might be able to rescue Cobble Hill’s Mama Maria’s restaurant on “Kitchen Nightmares” tonight, but he might not be able to save the chicken livers and scallops risotto.
These two Ramsay-inspired creations have been hanging on for dear life since Ramsay revamped the menu in June.
Unlike many of the cleaver-wielding restaurant owners from past shows who choose to ignore Ramsay’s suggestions after he leaves town, John Esposito, the affable owner of the Court Street bistro, agreed to stick with Ramsay’s suggested menu and décor — at least until the show aired.
There’s been a 10 percent increase in business since the show taped in June, Esposito says — thanks to the initial buzz about Ramsay’s appearance this summer for his Fox reality show.
While some of Mama Maria’s regulars have embraced the new menu Ramsay instituted, Esposito says, they’ve also convinced him to bring back some old-school standbys — like chicken cutlet parmigiana as well as ditching the kale and giving them romaine in the Caesar salad.