COBBLE HILL — It's bound to be bloody hell when notoriously foul-mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay brings his special blend of tough love and salty speech to Cobble Hill restaurant Mama Maria’s to film an episode for his popular TV series “Kitchen Nightmares.”
The Fox television series, starring the brutally frank Ramsay, focuses on troubled restaurants that are in desperate need of a turnaround.
Mama Maria’s, an Italian joint and pizzeria located at 307 Court St., was closed down last year by the Department of Health after it was burned by 82 violation points for transgressions that included evidence of mice and contaminated food.
It reopened about a week later, and earned an A grade in its last health inspection in March, with only 13 violation points.
Despite the improvement in sanitation, Mama Maria's will get the full monty from Ramsay who, in past shows, has driven restaurateurs to tears, but always manages to turn things around — even if the success may be fleeting.
Filming will take place at Mama Maria’s from June 20 to 23, and local residents are invited to make dinner reservations on those days for a chance to witness the transformation.
Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests are also invited to the relaunch of the restaurant on June 23, the final day of shooting.
The owner of Mama Maria’s said he was not able to comment on the taping because of a contract between the restaurant and TV network Fox, which airs the show. The air date for the episode has yet to be announced, a Fox spokeswoman said.
Local residents in the area were excited to hear the news, but some said they wouldn’t make a reservation to be on the show.
“I really don’t want to be on television,” Hanna Sandan, a resident of Carroll Gardens, said.
"I think it’s very interesting," said Megan Simms, a resident of Brooklyn who works at The Carroll School. "It will be well received by this neighborhood."
“This is the neighborhood to find Italian staples,” said Sandan.
"There’s definitely an old Italian versus new Italian trend in the neighborhood. I think this news is symptomatic of the changes in the neighborhood."
Ramsey fans looking to make a reservation at Mama Maria’s during the filming of “Kitchen Nightmares” should make their requests to brooklynrest@gmail.com. Participants should be 18 years or older to reserve a space.
