4 Star Diner - Kitchen Nightmares Update

New episodes of Kitchen Nightmares return this week with a double episode to start the season. In one of the episodes, Gordon Ramsay is in Cortland, Ohio to help out the restaurant 4 Star Diner.  4 Star Diner is a classic American eatery and the owner's vulgar behavior is driving away both his staff and customers.

Kitchen Nightmares visited 4 Star Diner in June 2025 to film the episode, and I searched around the Internet to read stories, comments and reviews about 4 Star Diner to get an idea of how the restaurant is doing since Gordon Ramsay visited, and here is what I found (note - all reviews are post Kitchen Nightmares):

Positive Reviews:

• "Had the cheese burger it was delicious service was awesome very friendly staff"
• "First time here. Food was perfect and the portions were large. Already thinking about coming back."
• "We love their omelettes! So yummy and the staff and owners are super great!"
• "The service here is always good. The food is tasty, and prices are reasonable."
• "Nice local diner. The decor changed from the last time we were here, but the menu was the same. Food was okay. The service was great, friendly and courteous. Prices were decent."
• "Good food, good service, and great selection."
• "Gordon Ramseys' visit to the dinner really cleaned the place up. The cleanliness and lighting have greatly improved. The food has always been very good and service super sweet. Will continue to go back."

Negative Reviews:

• "After the remodel and new menu from Gordon Ramsey, they went back to their old crappy menu. I guessing we won’t be going back. The food was microwaved, the turkey dinner we ordered the gravy tasted like paste. I will never eat there again."
• "oh my god. the revamp on the inside is gorgeous and so inviting. but it’s obvious they don’t really clean. brown splatters all over the blinds. i had gone there previously before the redo and i remember it was, not good at all, but not the worst. it was edible. two days ago when i went? the food was SO disgusting. they went back to their old menu and it was the WORST IDEA EVER."
• "For a restaurant that Gordon Ramsey was in and redid for them, it’s disgusting and disappointing. The food was nasty and not even a new menu."

*Reviews from Google

Other News and Links:

• The makeover for 4 Star Diner happened in June 2025, so more than a year before the episode aired.
• When the show was filmed it was supposedly Gordon Ramsay's other show Secret Service filming, but now it is being aired as Kitchen Nightmares. 
• Here is the 4 Star Diner Facebook page.  
• They are advertising their upcoming appearance on the show.
• 4 Star Diner didn't keep the menu given to them by Kitchen Nightmares, but said they learned a lot from Gordon. (Link)
• Here are the reviews for 4 Star Diner on Yelp and Google. 
• Owner Gus Kouvas did a news interview after the makeover and said that business was up 60% since the show came. (Link)

Conclusion:

The reviews for 4 Star Diner since the Kitchen Nightmares makeover are mostly positive with people liking the food and service at the restaurant.  There are some complaints about going back to the same menu and the restaurant has admitted to going back to their older menu items. Owner Gus Kouvas seems like he is happy with the experience on the show and learned a lot from Gordon Ramsay.

*To see updates on all the restaurants from Kitchen Nightmares and to see which ones are open or closed, visit the Kitchen Nightmares Update Page. Plus Follow on Twitter to keep up to date on closings.