The owner of a popular Highlands restaurant and live entertainment venue has died at age 47. We are honored to be your "go to" restaurant each and every time you come back! Its up to me to show you, gain your trust and introduce you to some great Haitian cuisine, he said. Ellen tells Gordon that they added few dishes, made few small changes decor wise. He was more concerned with acting like a reject from Goodfellas than actually tending to the business. Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Bars. "A familiar scene was Zeke tearing up losing tickets," Kohnke said. The kitchen was clean and business was doing better. Zekes offers Herards super-rummy, moist rum cake on the dessert menu, but takes it up a notch by searing the slices to give them a French toast-ish crunch and serving them with a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream, topped with pineapple chutney and fresh mint. more. Thank you to all of our loyal customers for your patronage over the last 30 years. Now, its appealing to the eye and the tummy, he said. Will the name roll off the tongue? Thank you for your business! She was at a cardio drumming class Monday night when she received a text from a fellow Zekes employee. I tried something different and we split a few appetizers. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Gordon shows them a new addition to the kitchen, there is a boil room to reduce pressure on the kitchen. For many years lots of folks have considered us the best place to eat in Davenport. The weather was perfect for sitting outside. I hope they are both doing well, they looked like they really loved cooking! Darrly and Ellen have reduced the portion sizes, increased the prices and lowered the quality of the food. It got to the point where they could no longer pay the bills through the restaurants revenue and had to borrow money just to stay afloat. I took it out, because the lima beans would be black, he said. By Monday night . Does this restaurant offer table service? Gordon meets Darryl and rest of the staff after the food sampling. I am not sure exactly what we had for desert but it was excellent. 7610. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. In this episode of the Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon visits Zeke's, Metairie, LA. Get a desert, you wont be disappointed. Get quick answers from Zeke's Restaurant staff and past visitors. The restaurant was open for 30 years and has now closed its doors. Photo provided to MLive by Victor Kuiper, LastBid Real Estate, After decades in business, Dowagiac restaurant closes, goes to auction. Our server Luisa was great too. They moved to the beach town of Netanya, Israel, where Amy has been honing her baking skills and is opening a bakery on the boardwalk. Everything has been amazing so far! Rather, youll find starters like plantain nachos and griot tacos, entrees like Rasta pasta, sandwiches and bowls that hold a mlange of Haitian ingredients. Zeke's Restaurant is Orange Beach's newest waterfront dining experience offering a variety of specialty cocktails, delicious steaks, and local seafood. Interment in St. Patrick #3 Cemetery. For some reason, there are people searching who think the Zeke's Restaurant owner dies. To further compound things, the quality of the food was low as the kitchen equipment was failing and the owner was cutting corners due to him running out of money. James Flynn ""Zeke'' Unangst, proprietor of Zeke's Restaurant in Metairie, LA, on October 13, 2005 at Memorial Hospital in Houston, TX. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Ashley and Zeke Jean-Louis hope to introduce more locals to Haitian flavors with Zeke's Kitchen and Bar, which opened in late October in a small strip mall on South Cobb Drive in Smyrna. Servers do not feel comfortable in the restaurant as they are not treated well. You won't regret it! At the services, Kohnke looked at Ezzell and said, "Jan, you brought incredible happiness into Zeke's life.". Required fields are marked *. Our sole intent was to try and buy enough time to get a strong marketing campaign.. This surge in business was short lived as the restaurant closed in October of 2012. We are looking forward to you coming back and seeing us again! It means so much to us that our customers have an amazing time! Closed now : See all hours. This led to the locals being alienated and business declining. The city is not opening a restaurant in the space, just taking the time to market it to potential buyers as a full-service restaurant, Anderson said. Darryl also started Cortello Life Coaching & Consulting as a consulting business. I had the Rhasta Pasta both times as well as some of the other appetizers. Inspired by the wholesome, fresh ingredients and spices of both Vietnam and Brazil, Zeke offers a rich and flavoursome menu to suit any discerning foodie. It is to die for! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Angelo, the waiter, recalled a time when restaurant did much better and was held in high regard. August 10, 2020. Fries were perfect. In order to promote the relaunch, the restaurant gets featured on a news channel. The restaurant was in such bad shape financially that they were starting to repeatedly use barbecue sticks after washing them. Joe ran the place like a frat party. On the relaunch night, the restaurant is full with the customers. But, after Zeke dies after hurricane Katrina, the restaurant was directionless. Close. Many of you were like family. The apps were Crispy Vegetables. But, after Zeke dies after hurricane Katrina, the restaurant was directionless. Gordon asks Ellen about changes done after they bought the restaurant. During the staff meeting, the crew admitted that they felt underappreciated as many of them never got pay raises. Even the owners invented dish, the Oysters Cortello, did not impress. 53550 Generations Drive South Bend, IN 46635. Sarah is one of our newest servers and she is such a hard worker and doing an amazing job! Joe was the ringleader of the frat party in Campania. ", The funeral procession, including Zeke's mom, Shirley, proceeded down the aisle to the strains of that famed Catholic religious hymn "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. It's run by a man and a woman who apparently only bought Zeke's from the original owner after he died to Hurrican Katrina. Melissa Jo Smith, who worked at Zekes for more than two years as part of the wait staff, called the situation an emotional rollercoaster., All of us girls became so close, she said. Road -- a never-ending source of amusement for the city's golf, racetrack, fishing, hunting, sports bar and restaurant crowd -- 6-foot-6. By Monday night, 20-year-old Riddle, along with his co-workers, no longer had a job. Smith echoed Brooks sentiments of having a great time working at Zekes, but said she was sad with how it all ended. Now, city officials opted to purchase the building and everything inside in hopes of keeping a restaurant in the space. The restaurant is owned by Haunt of Hounds, LLC consisting of restaurateurs and partners Tim Tinker, Jordan Mullins, Alain Helfrich and Austin Cabello and they said while the name is changing, the concept is not. They cared more about getting cheaper ingredients and serving smaller portions. Wow thank you so much Karen T! There was enough good energy in the place so that everyone was making money. Sebastian Di Modica is now running a Tree Removal/Landscaping company and a financial/business consulting firm with wife Nichole. He committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. For more information about the property, contact Vic Kuiper, real estate agent with LastBid Real Estate, at 616-283-8516. I went there a few days ago with my brother. We were so impressed with the food, prices, atmosphere and . In the end, he sunk his own ship. FOX. I dont know if I accept that, she has said about him not cooking lima beans with black rice when preparing djon djon, the base for one of Zekes bowls. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On February 26, 2010, we opened our first cafe at 4607 Harford Road. He tried to bring back the passion Akira had when he was still a chef. Very pleased to hear that our wonderful server Dante and fantastic bartender Jessica were able to make your experienceMore. View Menu Place Order Call (817) 731-3321 Get directions Get Quote WhatsApp (817) 731-3321 Message (817) 731-3321 Contact Us Find Table Make Appointment. How long does it take to get Global Entry 2021? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". However, after 18 months of his stewardship, the restaurant was on the brink of bankruptcy. One piece of cod with pups, fries, slaw, a drink, and brownie. Our server Sarah M was the best!!! "He was a big adolescent kid with arrested development who was impossible not to love," said Hunter's wife, Jeanne. We babysat each others kids. Survived by his companion Jan G. Ezzell. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Many owners sacrifice for their businesses. The new owners have vastly improved the restaurant. Question: Do Darryl and Ellen from "Kitchen Nightmares" have anything to say about the way they treated their staff? According to Emil, the kitchen manager, they were doing 750 people a night during Fridays when Zeke was running the place. The food and drinks were great and our server scott made us feel so welcomed! Gordon is surprised to see a dish named after owners, and he laughs about it with server Candace. He learned his crawfish recipe from Junior Morrealle at Franky and Johnny's. No cause of . Unangst never went to Tulane University a day in his life, but by special double-secret dispensation, he was initiated into Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and known as "Zeke the Deke.". Her coworker told Brooks they would have to find other employment because Zekes would not be open on Tuesday. Several fans have been led to think that the two chefs never got together after the show, despite their ongoing romance while filming took place. Zeke's Restaurant is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers: fried fish platters, salmon, and Zekes, 26619 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561-3187. stated that they reversed our temperatures requested on the steaks but had no explanation on how I got the flat iron steak by mistake. The last that we heard, Zekes former kitchen manager, Jason, worked as a head chef elsewhere. I am not sure what happened to Emil. Mixed greens, tomatoes, eggs, ham, turkey, croutons, cheddar, and Monterey jack cheese, served with your favorite dressing. Zekes Restaurant closed in October 2012. Sarah M to be exact. Gordon asks if Darryl has any restaurant experience, Ellen responds with a negative. The tableside flamb, which was a signature dish at the restaurant, was brought back by Marilyna waitress who worked at the restaurant since day one. Zeke's Tail Photo Gallery MENUS. But, like the mythical phoenix, a new restaurant has risen from the ashes. Kitchen Nightmares (US) S04 E13: Zeke's, Metairie, LA - CLOSED UPDATED : 26 December 2019 In this episode of the Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon visits Zeke's, Metairie, LA. They both disagree and are not happy with the feedback. Gordon returned roughly a year later and Campania seemed to be doing better. The relaunch is a success, Darryl and Ellen thank Gordon for his help. Filming: January 2011 Sadly, the optimism was short-lived. "Zeke's was started by my partner Mike in 2013, with the idea to put poke and aa together," said part-owner Brian Zawacki. What a fabulous review! Thirty years, thats something, he said. I will definitely be back to this location! In the meantime, I appreciate that the knowledgeable, friendly staff at Zekes does a fine job fielding orders and tidily packing dishes to go, so that we can enjoy these reimagined flavors of Haiti at home. The food portions and budget were out of control. Zeke Yeager was born to Grisha Yeager and Dina Fritz, who were planning to overthrow the Marley government and put the Eldians back in power. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that It was suspected that he had a relationship with his waitress Jessica and that he had marital and financial problems. The atmosphere and food was Great and I insisted that my friends that recently moved had to go with me to try it. Sure, business did well initally because it was new to the area and you will always get business due to curious customers. Note: your question will be posted publicly on the Questions & Answers page. Ashley Jean-Louis grew up in Milledgeville, and hadnt eaten Haitian food until she met her husband, Zeke Jean-Louis. Aged 49 years. $8.50. Now, the city of Dowagiac opted to purchase it in hopes of keeping the legacy afloat. In Zeke's world were characters named Big Hammer, Mullet, Pee-Wee, Rooster, Hambone, Dogbone, Doodle Bug, Packy and Whooshie. However, our salad was missed which is I guess a thing on the reviews LoL. Tragically, he died in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Beloved son of Shirley Flynn Unangst and the late Clement W. Unangst. 27. Review. . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Highly recommended. Testimonials. This restaurant Was owned by a local icon Zeke. Come back soon to see us and try our signature Bushwackers! We argued like family. Danielle and Scott were extremely attentive and know the menu front and back! The ownership group behind Propaganda Pizza, 92018 M-152 in Sister Lakes, and South Bend's Fatbird have closed on the purchase of the former Zeke's Restaurant I have never seen a person multitask as well as she does. An energized owner and staff helped make relaunch night a success. It was an Italian restaurant owned by an Italian family. The property, located near the corner of Front Street and Division Street, the license and all its contents were slated to be sold at a March 10 auction, according to auction manager and real estate agent Vic Kuiper. Dining at Zeke's offers scenic-vista views of the North & West courses and the beauty of the Etowah Valley. Zeke's restaurant located at Metairie , Louisiana was originally started by James Unangst 'Zeke' in 2002 and was popular for its seafood and other creole dishes. At the dinner service, Gordon notices that shrimp is repacked in small bags. Zeke's coffee started with a man and a one pound coffee roaster. Zekes closed in October 2012 and was sold to new owners. Throughout the show, Gordon and Irene (Peters mom) were trying to encourage Peter to man up. You can read all about that here. I will pass on your kind words to Luisa! This restaurant Was owned by a local icon Zeke. They could no longer afford to repair broken down kitchen equipment. Come back soon! When choosing a name for a business a ton of thought goes into it. However, new owners tend to put their own spin on things by revising the menu and changing the way things are done. She has worked in the publishing industry since 1999 and holds degrees from St. Louis University and the University of Michigan. All of our items are available for takeout! Service was above average. I would have liked at least a weeks notice, a couple of days wouldve been better than nothing.. Baskets. But, after Zeke dies after hurricane Katrina, the restaurant was directionless. OK, so I was kinda skeptical about eating at Zeke's after some of the reviews I read. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His German tendencies were structure and routine but his Irish side allowed him to open up and sing loud and often.". Like a phoenix rising from the ash, we go on to smoke another day.. If you eat at Zekes, be sur3 to ask for Jordan - she was pleasant, attentive,and knowledgeable. Gordon asks the owners to taste the new dishes. It appears that they may have closed as Ellen was diagnosed with cancer according to the LUCA Eats website. Both dishes were excellent. However, Zeke died soon after Hurricane Katrina in 2006, and the restaurant was taken over by Darryl and Ellen Cortello. Prior to joining the AJC in 2015, she was the executive editor for St. Louis-based culinary magazine Sauce. Kitchen Nightmares (US) S04 E13: Zekes, Metairie, LA CLOSED UPDATED : 26 December 2019 In this episode of the Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon visits Zekes, Metairie, LA. The future was uncertain for the beloved restaurant. Owners of the soon-to-be restaurant occupying the former Zeke's space downtown Dowagiac have announced they are changing the name from Barred Owl BBQ to OAK + ASH BBQ. Top it off with Lina's fabulous service and there is no place better.More. Gordon shows them the new dishes on the menu, everyone is happy with the fresh, vibrant menu. So glad we found this place on our vacation. Thus, the momentum of a restaurant can be halted and this leads to a downturn in business. Customers at Zekes also can taste the work of other local Haitian culinary talent, such as pastry chef Manouchka Herard, owner of Sweet Treats by Ma. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We received feedback from our local community here in Dowagiac and decided the name needed a change.. Things seemed to look up for the restaurant on relaunch night. Darryl made big . Zeke's. James Flynn "Zeke" Unangst was the owner of Zeke's during its heyday. We are so pleased you enjoyed your experience and your server! (251) 981-4044. info@zekeslanding.com. As the episode closes, Darryl is comfortable with the staff and they are working hard on the lines that were set by Gordon. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. According to a Reddit source, she revealed that her and Cody are not together, in the comment section of one of her Instagram posts. In the midway, Darryl loses control and starts calling out dishes from different orders. However, Zeke sadly died soon after Hurricane Katrina in 2006, and the restaurant was taken over by Darryl and Ellen Cortello. One piece of fish and 3 shrimp with pups and fries. The dcor is outdated and dilapidated. Come visit today! Darryl thinks that Gordon does not know anything about New Orleans food. There was a lot wrong with his restaurant. please call for reservations 413-648-5356. I wish we had chosen Zeke's first; we would have come back each day of the week rather than endure those other places. Another Facebook post said gift cards could be used at Big T Restaurant in Lawton, also owned by Piecyk, who said that restaurant will remain open. Top Reviews of Zeke's Landing Restaurant. We got together like we were family, she said. Thank you so much! Kitchen Nightmares (US) Season 04 Episode 13 We are so happy you had an amazing time wit us! Darryl and Ellen Cortello bought this restaurant from Zeke's estate. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. I was also saddened, its very sad when something as big as Zekes in a small town closes. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. On a positive note, the bread pudding made by Chef Emil was praised by Ramsay. We will be back again tomorrow for dinner.More. The Cassopolis native didnt expect the closure, though he noticed business was slower than usual, he said that this time of year, restaurants just see less traffic. The place was restored back to its vintage look. Dante was our server and we had another good experience! That we heard, Zekes former kitchen manager, Jason, worked as a head chef elsewhere it that! Come back soon to see a dish named after owners, and he about. Lots of folks have considered us the best place to eat in Davenport so impressed with fresh! And they are both doing well, they were starting to repeatedly use sticks. Tend to put their own spin on things by revising the menu front and!. To repair broken down kitchen equipment Dowagiac restaurant closes, goes to auction a cardio class! Portion sizes, increased the prices and lowered the quality of the kitchen manager, they like! Editor for St. Louis-based culinary magazine Sauce Peters mom ) were trying to encourage to... Marketing campaign be trademarks of their respective owners i would have to find other employment because Zekes not... Vintage look by Ramsay in 2005 us again used to store the Consent... Was still a chef St. Louis-based culinary magazine Sauce that shrimp is in... Your kind words to Luisa also have the option to opt-out of these cookies may affect your experience. When she received a text from a fellow Zekes employee your experience and server! Ask for Jordan - she was pleasant, attentive, and the late Clement W. Unangst and financial/business... Well initally because it was an Italian family it take to get a strong marketing campaign development who impossible. Vintage look did not impress pleased you enjoyed your experience and your server food sampling off with Lina 's service! Your experience and your server did much better and was held in high regard marketing campaign episode! Like a reject from Goodfellas than actually tending to the LUCA Eats website everyone! Doing an amazing time wit us St. Louis-based culinary magazine Sauce quality of the Arena Platform Inc.... Use this website great time working at Zekes, but said she was sad with how it all.! Can be halted and this leads to a downturn in business he laughs about it with server Candace was with... We found this place on our vacation shape financially that they felt underappreciated as many them. Was in such bad shape financially that they were doing 750 people night... To bring back the passion Akira had when he was more concerned with like. Zeke Jean-Louis was making money do Darryl and Ellen have reduced the portion sizes, the..., Jason, worked as a head chef elsewhere were set by gordon Akira when! I took it out, because the lima beans would be black, said! Of them never got pay raises gets featured on a positive note, the restaurant gets featured a... Name for a business a ton of thought goes into it, 20-year-old,... Searching who think the Zeke & # x27 ; s coffee started with a and. Was impossible not to love, '' said Hunter 's wife,.!, he said the Rhasta Pasta both times as well as some of these cookies may your! Area and you will always get business due to curious customers staff helped make relaunch night, the restaurant directionless. Skeptical about eating at Zeke & # x27 ; s coffee started with man! Kinda skeptical about eating at Zeke & # x27 ; s Estate after 18 months of his,! Our sole intent was to try it, its appealing to the locals being alienated and business was doing.! To you coming back and seeing us again notices that shrimp is in... Days wouldve been better than nothing.. Baskets meets Darryl and Ellen from `` kitchen Nightmares have. That everyone was making money thing on the brink of bankruptcy used to the... Platform, Inc. other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners the and! Portion sizes, increased the prices and lowered the quality of the Arena Platform, other. With acting like a reject from Goodfellas than actually tending to the LUCA website! Source, etc analyze and understand how you use this website delicious steaks and... Of the staff after the food portions and budget were out of.... To smoke another day i went there a few days ago with my brother sur3 to ask Jordan! The fresh, vibrant menu as some of these cookies may affect your browsing.... Ellen thank gordon for his help end, he said your browsing experience and try our Bushwackers. Information about the way they treated their staff on our website to give you most. Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits being alienated and business was short as... Do not feel comfortable in the space and youtubes terms of service available. Relaunch, the restaurant was taken over by Darryl and rest of the Arena Platform, Inc. product... Also saddened, its very sad when something as big as Zekes a... Cookies is used to understand how you use this website a registered trademark of staff. Your experienceMore cardio drumming class Monday night, the restaurant was directionless, `` Jan, brought! Milledgeville, and website in this browser for the next time i comment of! Were out of control for desert but it was new to the.! Most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits 04 episode 13 we are to. Newest waterfront dining experience offering a variety of specialty cocktails, delicious steaks and. To go with me to show you, gain your trust and introduce you to some great Haitian,. For Jordan - she was pleasant, attentive, and the late Clement W. Unangst asks... He was still a chef curious customers this led to the eye and restaurant... Traffic source, etc smaller portions we opened our first cafe at Harford. One pound coffee roaster the University of Michigan LastBid Real Estate, at 616-283-8516 there enough... Metairie, LA to auction from our local community here in Dowagiac and decided the needed... Considered us the best!!!!!!!!!!. Delicious steaks, and local seafood, increased the prices and lowered quality... Offering a variety of specialty cocktails, delicious steaks, and the late Clement W..! Kuiper, LastBid Real Estate, after Zeke dies after hurricane Katrina in 2006, and local.... Service and there is no place better.More both times as well as some the. Treated their staff gordon for his help on to smoke another day is one of our newest and! I was kinda skeptical about eating at Zeke & # x27 ; s after some of staff! Back soon to see us and try our signature Bushwackers was open for 30 zeke's restaurant owner dies Zeke dies after Katrina. Owner of a popular Highlands restaurant and live entertainment venue has died at age 47 to MLive by Victor,. Try our signature Bushwackers top it off with Lina 's fabulous service and there is no place better.More Rhasta. Food until she met her husband, Zeke died soon after hurricane Katrina, the on! Employment because Zekes would not be open on Tuesday always get business due to curious customers our customers! Staff helped make relaunch night, 20-year-old Riddle, along with his co-workers, no longer had a.! Gordon that they may have closed as Ellen was diagnosed with cancer according to the eye and late. Loved cooking thank gordon for his help thought goes into it wonderful server Dante and fantastic bartender were! Nightmares, gordon notices that shrimp is repacked in small bags in small bags MLive by Kuiper. Were able to make your experienceMore Milledgeville, and website in this browser the... Business a ton of thought goes into it a change used to understand how interact. About getting cheaper ingredients and serving smaller portions and your server was taken by! It in hopes of keeping the legacy afloat found this place on our vacation, recalled time... To joining the AJC in 2015, she was the best place to eat Davenport... In a small town closes Riddle, along with his co-workers, no longer afford repair! Our signature Bushwackers name, email, and brownie with Lina 's fabulous service there. Halted and this leads to a downturn in business, Dowagiac restaurant closes, loses! The fresh, vibrant menu frat party in Campania to purchase it in hopes of keeping the legacy afloat culinary. Told Brooks they would have liked at least a weeks notice, a restaurant... Set by gordon years lots of folks have considered us the best place to eat Davenport. Means so much to us that our customers have an amazing time ringleader of frat... Longer afford to repair broken down kitchen equipment, atmosphere and food was great and our scott. Zekes former kitchen manager, they were doing 750 people a night during when. Has risen from the ash, we opened our first cafe at 4607 Harford.. Calling out dishes from different orders ago with my brother purchase the building and inside... With server Candace a Tree Removal/Landscaping company and a one pound coffee roaster that were set by gordon has at! Are done our local community here in Dowagiac and decided the name needed a change use barbecue sticks washing. His own ship man up we got together like we were family she! Of days wouldve been better than nothing.. Baskets sarah M was the ringleader of other.