Restaurant Revisited — Paradise: Impossible at Padre Rita Grill

Related To:

Robert Irvine on Restaurant: Impossible

Photo by: Jon Longstaff

Jon Longstaff

A tiki bar-style restaurant offering live music, Padre Rita Grill in South Padre Island, Texas, is just four years old, but already the owners, husband and wife Micheal and Cathy Laferty, are finding themselves inundated with debt. They looked to Robert Irvine and his Restaurant: Impossible team not only to transform the interior of their space from island-oriented to next-level nautical, but also to overhaul the menu, adding fresh flavors and coastal influences. Read on below to hear from Micheal and Cathy to find out how Padre Rita Grill is doing a few months after reopening.

Micheal and his employees alike are pleased to be rid of the salad bar that was previously in their restaurant, as Cathy explains: "I believe the staff is very happy about not having the salad bar to deal with. It was a daily issue [in terms of] cleaning and keeping [it] filled, and they each voiced their dislike of the duty."

In terms of the menu at Padre Rita Grill, "we have reincorporated our standards and favorites," says Micheal, adding, "The items are selling well and steadily, but it has taken a considerable amount of finesse and tweaking. Our menu is larger than when Robert left us, but is still a one-page menu that you can read without a magnifying glass."

Per Robert's suggestion, Micheal is now the general manager at Padre Rita Grill, and he notes: "I am fitting in fairly well as the GM, and I think that the staff has accepted [me in] that role pretty well."

More from Restaurant Revisited:

Mamma Lucrezia's (September 24)
Green Beret Club (September 17)
Spicy Bar and Grill (September 10)
El Bistro (September 3)
Uncle Andy's Diner (August 27)
Paul's Bar & Bowling (August 6)
The Fork Diner (July 23)
Portu-Greek Cafe (June 11)
Bama Q (May 28)
Cave Inn BBQ (May 21)
Urban Roots (April 9)
Pasión Latin Fusion (March 19)
Tootie's Texas BBQ (March 12)
Estrada's Restaurant (February 5)
Hillbillies Restaurant (January 29)
Spunky Monkey Bar and Grill (January 15)

Next Up

Restaurant Revisited: Pelican Grill

Robert Irvine swooped into Seabrook, Texas, to help owners John and Laura Walker save their breakfast and lunch spot, the Pelican Grill. The Walkers filled us in on how business is going a few months after their Restaurant: Impossible makeover.

Restaurant Revisited: University Grill

We checked in with the owners after their restaurant’s makeover to see how business is going.

Restaurant Revisited: Oleander Bar & Grill

We talked to the owners of Oleander to see how the restaurant is doing after their Restaurant Impossible renovation with Food Network's Robert Irvine.

Restaurant Revisited: Bronk's Bar and Grill

Find out how Bronk's Bar and Grill is doing after their Restaurant: Impossible renovation with Food Network's Robert Irvine.

Restaurant Revisited: Paliani’s Restaurant

We checked in with the owner of Paliani's to see how the restaurant is doing after their Restaurant Impossible renovation with Food Network's Robert Irvine.

Restaurant Revisited: Windseeker Restaurant

Find out how Windseeker Restaurant is doing after their Restaurant: Impossible renovation with Food Network's Robert Irvine.

Restaurant Revisited — Military: Impossible at Green Beret Club

Find out how Green Beret Club is doing after its transformation on Food Network's Restaurant: Impossible.

Restaurant Revisited: Stella's

We checked in with the Savoies a few months later to see how business is going.

Restaurant Revisited: Zandi's

A few months after their emotional Restaurant: Impossible makeover, we checked in with Evette and Yvonne to see how business is going.

Restaurant Revisited: Pappas

Robert’s latest mission brought him to Pappas, a family-owned Greek restaurant in Benicia, Calif. Feuding brothers, a drab interior and lackluster food were leading this business toward extinction.