Robert Irvine has beaten Food network about his decision to restart Impossible Restaurant without him, accusing the network of sacrificing the show’s legacy for the sake of tax credits.
Irvine, who hosted the original series for 15 years, revealed on social media that he had been approached by producers to return for the reboot, titled Impossible Restaurant: Last Callbut that he turned down the offer because it would have meant working with a completely new team, builder and designer based in Canada.
“I’m loyal and I said no, so you guys are going to ruin an iconic show,” Irvine wrote. “Shame on them for the tax credits.”
When a fan questioned whether the show should even carry the Impossible Restaurant name without him involved, Irvine agreed and wrote that he had “made that show with the help of a great team for 15 years and now Food network “It’s ruining the legacy and making a mockery of the talent.”
He went further in a follow-up post, describing the reboot as a “shitty attempt to cheapen and revive what was a popular show around the world,” while making it clear that his frustration was directed at network executives and not the new cast.
“I don’t blame the people, I blame the shameless network that tries to take something so successful and set them up for failure,” he wrote, adding, “You made a bad decision!!!!! I’m sorry.”
The new series, hosted by chef Aarón Sánchez and Canadian restaurateur Jen Agg, premiered on July 23, three years after the original Impossible Restaurant He ended his career in 2023 after 22 seasons.
Irvine’s comments mark a notable change in tone from earlier this summer, when he told fans ahead of the reboot’s debut that he bore no ill will toward the network, writing at the time that “no serious anger” and wishing the new production “luck.”
