America's Next Great Restaurant

Season

2011

USA

5.6

Contestants vie for the opportunity to see their original restaurant concept be realized with the opening of a restaurant chain in three locations: Hollywood, Minneapolis and New York City. Funding the restaurant concepts are four accredited investors: chefs Bobby Flay, Lorena Garcia, and Curtis Stone, as well as Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. Flay, Stone, Ells and Garcia also serve as mentors, working with the competitors to further develop their ideas. Each contestant's concept is put through rigorous business and cooking challenges to determine whether it has what it takes to become America's next great restaurant.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Pilot

Twenty-one contestants make presentations of their restaurant concepts to the investors, who narrow down the group to a final ten.

S1 • E2

Episode #1.2

The top ten hopeful restaurateurs are tasked with their next test -- to create a logo and hire an executive chef for their restaurant. Following these two tests, the contestants and their new chefs must then cook for a crowd of thousands at CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood. They must impress investors Bobby Flay, Curtis Stone, Steve Ells and Lorena Garcia with the decisions they made in order to stay in the competition.

S1 • E3

Episode #1.3

The remaining nine restaurateurs are tasked with their next test -- to work a crazed lunch shift at Chipotle and learn the brand. Investors Bobby Flay, Curtis Stone, Steve Ells and Lorena Garcia and the public will rate the restaurateurs performance. After experiencing how to run a successful restaurant, they must create their own slogan and signature dish for their restaurant and impress 100 people from "The Taste of LA." After this test the investors will again evaluate their performance and decide who will continue on in the competition.

S1 • E4

Episode #1.4

The remaining eight restaurateurs are tasked with their next test - working with a design team and construction crew to create a mini- version or "pod" of their restaurant while also putting together a complete meal. The restaurateurs' pods and meals will come to life at the annual "Dine LA" event in Los Angeles where they must impress designers and foodies who will vote for their favorites.

S1 • E5

Episode #1.5

The seven remaining restaurateurs are tasked with their next test - to create their restaurant's uniform and partake in a photo shoot capturing their restaurant's image. The restaurateurs' photos, uniforms and a new dish will then be showcased to 100 diners.

S1 • E6

Episode #1.6

The six remaining restaurateurs are tasked with their next test - to create their very own food truck, with the help of a graphic designer, and sell their food at busy Los Angeles hot spots. In addition to designing the food truck they must also have well priced "take-away" menu items that will yield the highest profit.