(keep reading to learn what happened)
Season: 2 | View All Season 2 Episodes
Original Episode Air Date: January 2, 2019
The Trolley Stop Cafe Address: 1923 Saint Charles Ave New Orleans, LA 70130
Episode Recap
The Trolley Stop Cafe was a New Orleans, Louisiana restaurant featured on Season 2 of Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
Though the The Trolley Stop Cafe 24 Hours to Hell and Back episode aired in January 2019, the actual filming and visit from Gordon Ramsay took place earlier in 2018. It was Season 2 Episode 1.
The Trolley Stop Cafe is located in New Orleans, LA.
Ragnar owns the restaurant, which was opened in 1995 by his grandfather.
The restaurant sits on the longest trolley car route in the world, which is why it has its name.
Ragnar bought the restaurant with his savings because his grandfather was growing old and wanted the restaurant to stay in the family.
Ragnar stays home and works from there.
However, his employees do not believe he knows how to run a business.
Gordon comes into the Trolley Stop Cafe dressed as a police officer because police officers eat at a discount at the cafe.
The decor is mismatched, and they notice no managers are there and the owner is absent.
Gordon sends a police officer to Ragnar’s house to bring him to the restaurant, which is a nice bit of comedy. The producers are always trying to make things exciting haha.
There are hidden cameras that have caught old food on the grill and unsanitary food handling.
After waiting over thirty minutes for their food, the officers and Gordon are disappointed.
Gordon removes his disguise and tells everyone to stop eating.
He then takes everyone to the Hell on Wheels Truck, where the staff and the owner’s family tell Gordon more about him.
Ragnar arrives and says he only does the payroll for the restaurant. The hidden camera footage is shown to the customers and staff.
Everyone tells Ragnar to sell the cafe, and he apologizes.
Gordon invites everyone back for the relaunch the following evening.
Darren, the kitchen manager, is called out for his behavior by Gordon.
Ragnar confides in Gordon that he expected to get by easy on his grandfather’s legacy.
The staff is then brought in to take apart the old decor and clean.
As Gordon inspects the kitchen, he finds it filthy and covered in grease.
Darren says that he cleaned the appliances just months ago, but Gordon can tell that is a lie.
Ragnar comes back to the bar, and Gordon serves him and the kitchen staff moldy cheese found in the kitchen.
They all want to vomit. Gordon makes the kitchen staff deep clean the kitchen.
Darren then meets Gordon in the Hell on Wheels Truck to discuss the new menu.
The new menu is only using fresh ingredients.
Gordon Ramsay felt a kinship with Darren since they both come from low-income backgrounds and love to cook.
Darren shows interest while Gordon cooks a pork chop dish. Darren loved cooking with Gordon. He becomes emotional.
Gordon talks with Ragnar and tells him he needs to lead his staff by example that he can’t buy success.
Later, Gordon Ramsay shows the kitchen staff all of the new equipment purchased for them.
Aaron Sanchez, a MasterChef judge, advises the staff.
After the renovations, the interior of the cafe is now more modern. It is brighter and warm.
There is even a streetcar inside.
Food bloggers and critics come to the relaunch night.
Ragnar struggles with serving. The food critics and bloggers are served raw meat.
Darren has pulled aside, given a pep talk, and he cooks it the right way.
All in all the customers are very happy.
The Trolley Stop Cafe Update - What Happened Next?
Now that we’ve recapped the Trolley Stop Cafe Gordon Ramsay visit, let’s talk about what happened to the restaurant after the 24 Hours to Hell and Back crew left New Orleans.
Things started off well and Ragnar is doing a better job of being present and managing the restaurant.
The Trolley Stop Cafe kept most of the changes from Gordon Ramsay, but they did return a few old menu items because customers wanted them back.
However, the restaurant ran into issues with Hurricane Ida in late 2021 and had to temporarily close as a result. Unfortunately, they would never reopen.
Is The Trolley Stop Cafe still open after Gordon Ramsay?
The Trolley Stop Cafe closed for good on September 15, 2021, a little over three years after the visit from Gordon Ramsay and 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
The Trolley Stop Cafe closed because the building was sold while the restaurant was closed during Hurricane Ida. After Hurricane Ida had passed, the restaurant was still told to cease operations because of the sale of the building.
Overall, The Trolley Stop Cafe had a tough battle, having to face both Covid-19 restrictions and Hurricane Ida.
With obstacles such as that, it’s no surprise that it closed and it’s tough to put this one on Gordon Ramsay.
As of 2022, the The Trolley Stop Cafe New Orleans location remains empty. Once we know what’s happening to the property, we’ll add more details to our The Trolley Stop Cafe update.
If you want to see some updates for other 24 Hours to Hell and Back New Orleans episodes, you can check out these updates:
More Information
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-trolley-stop-cafe-new-orleanshttps://www.facebook.com/trolleystopcafe/
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And don't forget to check out the full 24 Hours to Hell and Back open and closed list.
Last updated: 2022-02-05 05:39
The food pics look positively disgusting and greasy.
Dry looking unappealing sandwiches,
who in their right mind would want that.
Total yuck.
Don’t review on a pic of food. And say shit when these guys are unfortunately closed due to the building being sold.
Heck yeah!!!
Hope Darren is doing well!!
The guy is grateful and humble. Not many like that around.