McShane’s Restaurant Impossible Update – Still Open in 2024?

Episode Recap

McShane’s was an East Syracuse, New York restaurant featured on Season 2 of Restaurant Impossible.

Though the McShanes Restaurant Impossible episode aired in November 2011, the actual filming and visit from Robert Irvine took place before that.

It was Season 2 Episode 13.

Located in East Syracuse, NY, McShane’s is owned by Cindy Baker.

The restaurant focuses on chicken dishes and has a signature chicken dish that is popular.

Cindy’s brother Kenny owned a thriving restaurant, so she asked him to help her open McShane’s.

He invested money because Cindy was struggling financially as a single mother. 

Initially, McShane’s was profitable, but things began to change around five years before the McShanes Restaurant Impossible episode.

Contractors were the majority of their customer base, but after many manufacturing jobs in the area shut down, the contractors stopped visiting the restaurant.

Soon the decor began to fall apart. To save costs, the owner started buying lower-quality food. 

Cindy asked her brother for more money, refinanced her home, and cashed in an insurance policy to keep the restaurant afloat. Basically, she’s all-in on McShane’s Restaurant.

When Robert Irvine arrives, he notices a stench coming from McShane’s.

He believes the smell is coming from the filthy carpet.

Robert and Cindy talk, and she tells him before owning the restaurant, she was a travel agent. 

Robert Irvine thinks McShane’s is in a prime location because many hotels surround it.

Local hotel staff members are invited into the restaurant so Robert can watch a service.

The service is poor, and the locals tell Robert they would not recommend the restaurant to their guests. 

Helga, Cindy’s mother, meets Robert to further talk about the restaurant.

Robert tastes the signature chicken dish and is pleasantly surprised.

However, the kitchen is inspected next, and it is filthy.

Old food and grease are all over the stove. Mold grows on food containers, and produce isn’t being stored properly.

The chef and cooks meet with Robert, who decides to call in a professional cleaning company. A temporary kitchen is set up in the parking lot while the professionals give the kitchen a deep cleaning.

Yvette is the designer and meets with Robert. She informs him she will need at least $100,000 to renovate the dining room, which is way over budget.

Unfortunately, she only has $8,000.00, and Robert needs to take two thousand from it for the cleaning service.

The employees assist the designers in taking out all the furniture and appliances. 

Cindy is upset, so Robert has everyone compare her chicken dish to his, and everyone loves hers by far.

The design team is making good progress, and so are the cleaners.

To find a new cook, Cindy placed a job advertisement for a new head chef in the newspaper, and she has gotten many responses.

Robert tells her to call in the prospective chefs the next day. 

The next day, the design team works on the booths when Robert checks in with them.

Robert is impressed with the cleanliness of the kitchen.

During renovations, someone discovered a gas leak, so a contractor came to fix it.

Two applicants arrive for the head chef role at McShane’s.

Beyond that, Greg, one of the cooks, is offered a chance to interview for head chef due to his loyalty to Cindy. 

The prospects have one hour to create a new dish Cindy will add to the menu.

Next up, Cindy and Robert Irvine go to the New York State Fair to promote McShane’s. 

To attract customers, they hand out free samples of food from McShane’s Restaurant.

Arthur is hired as a head chef back at McShane’s.

Greg is upset, so Robert gives him a motivational talk to cheer him up. He is encouraged to learn under Arthur.

Pork Osso Bucco and a new chicken dish are added to the menu.

Everyone gathered when the design team finished redecorating.

McShane’s now has a rustic feel, and the staff is delighted.

The customers love the new dishes and atmosphere. 

So was the McShanes Restaurant Impossible episode a success? Keep reading our update to learn what happened next and how the restaurant is doing in 2024 and beyond.