Whelp the show had some good ratings last night. We'll see if it sustains.
I found it just Kitchen Nightmares with a few wrinkles, I just don't know if I like the wrinkles that much. Gordon dressing up as a customer is a little eye-roll inducing, but not horrible, but I don't like the fake "surveillance" cameras the show tries to pass off. Some are real, obviously, but the fake filter on some to try and sell itself as "secret" is just a stylistic choice I really don't like. Just a little too forced and fake for my takes.
I also think it's a big ask on the cooks and chef to not have any sleep. That's why the service and cooking was shit, I would be half-awake and testy too and then you have the owner and Gordon going in on them. It didn't kill them here but I worry about future episodes and especially if older people are involved.
I like the follow up video at the end.
Can't say I loved it but I'll give a few more episodes. First episode of anything is always rough.
Side note: I recognized the restaurant in Episode 2, looked up when I saw it and it was a place I went to when in NO a few weeks back. ...so I hope whatever Gordon did stuck. Food was alright, BTW. Not the best Po Boy I had in town but not a bad one.