It says it is by a "STEVE CUOZZO" ?

Hmm... maybe that was the guy that was with Stasi, then.

I think Cuozzo is the Post's actual food critic.

I did a google search with a sentence from the Post's abstract of Stasi's review, and found a syndicated copy of the review from back in June.

Next week should be interesting.

Then if memory serves, Stasi is the only person yet who has actually enjoyed the food.....?

Cuozzo hit it on the head (since it's what my wife and I were saying all along) by saying it's a poor excuse, albeit more expensive, for Carmine's.......

In the promos for this weekend's episode, it's all about "The Turnaround" as Rocco take charge!!!

I kind of feel bad for him, but Topher's drama queen performance there at the end was brave (or stupid) and just plain ballsey. (two snaps, a swirl and your out of here)

Topher looked like a deer caught in headlights when they not only didn't offer him a Vespa, but they didn't even bother to try and talk him out of leaving.

And is it me, or did the priest's blessings remind anyone else of Keitel blessing everything in sight in 'Mean Streets'.......?

and they never did resolve that whole leaky ceiling problem.

also is it me, but doesn't it seem like there is a lot of filler of typcial cliched New York City footage.

LOL, so true Giles. I keep thinking to myself "Hey, didn't I just see this shot used in ____"

Topher looked funny when they didn't offer him anything.

This show is growing tired for me. It's the same thing every week and it all seems so damn staged all the damn time.

It was kind of funny when they were all looking in awe when Rocco was cooking. Of course afterwards they show clips of positive customer feedback.

Right... that's 'cause the show's made for TV, which they left out as the tag line when doing all the promos. And while they are at it, add "every scene is staged, edited to perfection, and performed by professionals."

Tofu's scene's pretty good, but I like Caroline's scene better. "FLICK Rocco the fake ass italian bastard, FLICK the frech dick head, FLICK everyone in there.... and FLICK you too, you ass hole." Good stuff. Can't wait 'til next week when Rocco FLICKs everyone over w/ the new system.

Hilarious end to the episode, Rocco going, "Gee, I know what I'll do to turn this place around, maybe I'll actually cook."

Kinda had to guess that was gonna happen after he said earlier in the ep: "I have to stay out front because people are coming to Rocco's to see and meet Rocco".....

Heh, yes, then they had all the quick cuts of amazment on everyone's face... with the corny voice over and everything.

Okay, maybe I'm missing something, but did that voice over midway through the episode take away from anyone else's enjoyment?

It just seemed distracting and out of place, like a laugh track.

I thought it would have been much more effective had they sat Rocco down and had him explain what he was going to do rather than read (poorly) some scripted justification for his actions.

Liked everything else, tho. See ya Topher, you'll be missed!

i was laughing my azz of when topher quit and then came back for that meeting with rocco...you could tell he was expecting some kind of plea from rocco on why he should stay...that was classic tv to see topher standing there after rocco walked away....that plan of his sure didnt turn out how he expected.

Darn, forgot all about this last night. So why exactly did Topher quit? And who got offered a Vespa?

I don't think Rocco likes troublemakers, which Topher had kind of turned in to...... I think thats why he's so mean to that guy with the broken arm

The tall blonde bartender (Alex?) was complaining that she could make more in four hours jerkiing suds in Brooklyn then she could in a 12-16 hour day at Rocco's. At the end of a really bad night, she just quit while she was leaving.

Rocco called her in the next day, she came in, she said she couldn't afford to work at Rocco's, he put her on salary and made her bar manager (tho I thought they already had one), and half-kiddingly offered her the red Vespa. She and Rocco went for a spin on it, and she was back in business.

The rumors of this spread like wild-fire and everyone was joking about quitting so they could get a Vespa or SUV as enticement to come back. But Topher had this really glazed, coniving, the-wheels-are-turning look in his eyes. Later he quits. Rocco calls him in the next day, they walk and talk, Rocco tells him he'd rather have Topher happy and working elsewhere than have Topher working at Rocco's and being unhappy. Rocco wishes him luck, and leaves Topher standing on a corner with this what-the-freak-just-went-wrong look in his eyes.....

Thank you, Jobronie, for that excellent synopsis!

The blonde bartender's name is Lola, as in the Lola in Copacabana (Alex is the chick that got brutally raped and beaten in Irreversible). Everybody's just jealous 'cause she got something, the front runner is of course, tofu, acting "she" just got abused.

Topher looked hurt that he didn't asked by Rocco to come back (a la Lola and a Vespa) after he quit.

Lola was pretty dumb to blab about the Vespa to the rest of the crew. And yes, people are this clueless in real life.

Will Gideon go postal the next time they make him get all dressed up just to send him home again? Get a clue, dude! Go find another job somewhere else!

I found it friggin hilarious how when Topher first walked out, they filmed Rocco coming out of the front door yelling his name... a) you could tell Rocco was acting (and poorly I might add) and b) It was filmed at a completely different time of day. So bloody funny. I'm glad Topher is gone, he was a whiny beotch.

I was also kinda wondering how they had resolved the whole leaky ceiling and rubber mats on the floor and cold food problem. The show seems to be getting more and more staged. Still fun to watch at least.

From today's NY Post: http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/3038.htm

Mamma Mia! Rocco DiSpirito's new Italian restaurant features flies, greasy spoons and dirty towels in addition to its famed meatballs, according to a city Health Department inspection.
Rocco's on 22nd, the setting for NBC's hit reality TV show "The Restaurant," now faces an Oct. 22 department hearing on six health-code violations found at the Flatiron District eatery during a July 29 inspection.

A city inspector who dropped by DiSpirito's joint at 6 p.m. that day detailed the violations in a written report posted by The Smoking Gun Web site last night.

There was "evidence of live flies in facility," wrote the inspector, who observed "three live flies . . . in rear kitchen food preparation area."

Two large metal spoons were found in a "metal container of greasy stagnant water" on one of the countertops, the report added.

The inspector also discovered three moist wiping cloths on a kitchen countertop that were "soiled with old food particles" and not stored in a sanitizing solution as required.

An employee toilet in the basement of the restaurant at 12 E. 22nd St. lacked a self-closing door, and the women's employee toilet lacked a covered wastebasket, according to the report.

A woman who answered the telephone at Rocco's last night said manager Laurent Saillard - who was handed the violation - was not available, but she took a message from The Post seeking comment. Saillard did not return the call.

The Smoking Gun also displays documents from the state Liquor Authority showing that Rocco's was financed with an investment of $1.5 million and pays $36,499 rent per month on a six-year lease.

I totally agree. In one respect, you think that you are watching the show chronologically with everything happening sequentially. But then they have a voice over that makes it seem like Rocco is the all-knowing narrator.