Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant – 24 Hours to Hell and Back Update – Still Open?

Episode Recap

Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant was a Tappahannock, Virginia restaurant featured on Season 3 of Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back.

Though the Lowery’s Seafood 24 Hours to Hell and Back episode aired in January 2020, the actual filming and visit from Gordon Ramsay took place earlier in October 2019.

It was Season 3 Episode 1 of 24 Hours to Hell and Back.

Located in Tappahannock, Virginia, Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant opened over 80 years ago.

The owner’s grandparents opened the restaurant close to the best fishing locations in town.

Owner Duby Lowery is assisted by his brother David who is the manager. 

Because Duby was given the restaurant and not David, a rift has formed in the brothers’ relationship.

Anthony’s line cook thinks that servers Arlene and Pam are the only reason the restaurant is still running.

Arlene and Pam have been at the restaurant for over thirty years, so they’ve become real fixtures of the place over that time.

Duby’s parents fund the restaurant, and they blame Duby for the restaurant’s failure.

They say he is slacking off and can do better.

Gordon Ramsay arrives at Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant undercover as a retired person.

When he enters, he is immediately put off by the overwhelming smell of seafood. 

I mean, it’s obviously supposed to be pretty seafood-heavy given the name, but you still don’t want to be smelling fish the entire time, right?

Gordon orders the crab cakes, the ribeye, and the oyster bowl.

The steak comes out overcooked, and the crab and oysters are spoiled.

Gordon then reveals his identity and says he has a dreadful experience.

To start turning things around, Gordon then takes everyone out to the Hell on Wheels bus. 

They watch the kitchen’s hidden footage, see expired foods, and even overhear a staff member admitting to a salmonella outbreak. Yuck!

The customers are disgusted and refuse to return, but Gordon invites them to come back in 24 hours for the relaunch. 

Duby is barely at the restaurant, and there is a lack of leadership.

Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant doesn’t buy from suppliers because they cannot afford to pay them.

Many of the staff don’t get paid on time, either, which obviously isn’t great for morale. 

Duby begins to get defensive, so Gordon has to talk him down. 

The kitchen is covered in grime and grease and just generally a disgusting disaster.

The walk-in refrigerator smells and has black mold. Raw beef is stored near cooked, fried chicken.

There is over $1,000 of wasted produce in the fridge, which is part of what explains why Lowery’s Seafood Restaurant is doing poorly financially.

Gordon then discovers the oysters he was served yesterday covered in slime. He is angry as those oysters could have poisoned him. 

After the staff finishes cleaning the kitchen, Gordon takes the team to the Hell on Wheels bus to learn and practice the new menu.

Line cook Anthony is promoted to head chef, and David is trained as the kitchen manager.

Gordon brings in David and Duby’s mom. She wants to help the brothers mend their relationship. 

On relaunch night, Gordon catches Anthon almost serving raw chicken.

Gordon has to give him a pep talk and remind him to slow down and only to send out quality food.

So far, the customers and the brothers are happy. A

nthony continues to struggle, though, and walks out after he sends out chicken that is raw in the middle.

He comes back and overcooks a fish dish; he then leaves for good. 

So was the Lowery’s Gordon Ramsay visit a long-term success? Keep reading to learn what happened next and if it’s still open in 2023.