My top 10 favorite Bar Rescue episodes.

Host Jon Taffer-Image Source: Amazon.com

Anyone who knows me knows how much I detest reality tv of any kind. One of the few exceptions I have, along with Food Network gems like Restaurant Stakeout, Mystery Diners etc. is the immortal Bar Rescue that has been going eight years strong and has survived a network shift from Spike Tv to currently Paramount Tv. I remember when I discovered the iconic Jon Taffer after a recommendation by my Dad to check out this new show Bar Rescue back in 2011, (remember those days before all the mess we’re living in now? Good times, huh?) and fell in love with the Taff man’s no nonsense approach to rescuing Bars. Having been a solid fan over the last eight years I definitely have my share of favorite episodes. Here today I’ll be ranking my top 10 favorite Rescues by 1. Entertainment value. 2. Favorite confrontation between Jon and the owner\manager\employee. 3. Most memorable line. And 4. Best Moment.

10. Swanky Troubles. Season 1, episode 5. Aired on August 14th, 2011.

When Jon heads to Swanky Bubbles, a champagne bar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he runs into trouble with a dirty bar\kitchen and a co owner who spends more time trying to get laid then running a business.

1. Entertainment Value: A lot of laugh out loud moments in this one. Pure hilarity ensues with Jon having to deal with the blatantly ignorant and incompetent co-owner and manager Ryan while also having to squeeze through a ridiculously narrow bar.
2. Favorite Confrontation: The confrontation between Jon and a crybaby cook who literally walks out and quits after Chef Brian tries to give him some pointers on how to clean the kitchen. Gotta love Jon getting the last word in “Quitter” right as the guy is walking out the door.
3. Most Memorable Line: Regarding dealing with Manager Ryan the first night “The BS that happened tonight won’t happen in the morning.”
4. Best Moment: Ryan trying to get his mack on with Jon’s wife\recon specialist Nicole on her friend.

9. Bar Fight. Season 1, episode 9. Aired on September 18th, 2011.

Jon Taffer meets his match in Paulie when he heads to Yorba Linda, California to rescue The Canyon Inn. As Jon said in the episode, “this isn’t a bar rescue, this is a bar fight.”

1. Entertainment Value: Boy, this one really provides in the entertainment department let me tell ya! Paulie is one stubborn SOB who gives Taffer a fight every step of the way. Lots of humor comes from the ridiculous ways the notoriously cheap Paulie tries to save money, including serving canned soup and putting a sign on the beer keg saying “Save the foam.”
2. Favorite Confrontation: Many iconic confrontations between these two but my favorite would be the one during the staff meeting when Taffer and Paulie nearly come to blows.
3. Most Memorable Line: During the first confrontation between Paulie and Jon. Paulie: “Well I didn’t see the F&%$!@ problem! Because you can’t see every F&%$!@ thing all the F&%$!@ time!”
4. Best Moment: I have to refer you back to number 2. That second confrontation between Paulie and Taffer was extraordinary and pure entertainment. Two Alpha males going toe to toe and the suspense of who was gonna get a good hit in or get knocked out was gripping as well as exciting.

8. Jon T, He Don’t Like It. Season 3, episode 6. Aired on March 17th, 2013.

When Jon comes to the aid of Sheldon, the owner of night club The Kasbah in Aurora, Colorado, he finds a club far more shit than hit. Can the wimpy Sheldon step up and take control of his business and his life?

1. Entertainment Value: Many classic moments in this one. The hilarious confrontations between Taffer, Sheldon and Bodyguard\Security extraordinaire Doc and the incompetent Bouncer who calls himself “Superman” put this episode over the top.
2. Favorite Confrontation: I’m gonna cheat on this one and put down three favorites: The first being Sheldon finally stepping up and unloading on Superman for his incredibly stupid actions and incompetence, the second would be the confrontation between Chef Aaron McCargo and The Kasbah’s alcoholic chef Diego, and last but not least would be the confrontation almost turned full fledged brawl between one of Jon’s recon spies and a rowdy customer hitting on the two female recon spies.
3. Most Memorable Line: Diego’s crazy, curse word filled rant towards Aaron McCargo “The BLEEP you talkin’ to Mutha-BLEEEP!” truly hilarious.
4. Best Moment: Sheldon showing how much he’s really changed due to Jon’s influence by firing Diego after his drunken antics in the kitchen with Chef McCargo. Truly beautiful to see such a great guy finally taking control of his life and his bar.

7. Twin Vs. Twin. Season 3, episode 30. Aired on December 15th, 2013.

Jon heads to R.G.’s Lounge in Independence, Missouri. It’s a family affair when Rick and Randy, two twin brothers can’t stopping fighting each other long enough to save their business, so it’s up to Taffer to set them straight and save the business as well as the family.

1. Entertainment Value: Some really good and funny moments in this episode, though there are two in particular that really stand out and puts this episode slightly above average.
2. Favorite Confrontation: Taffer Vs. Walt, the stubborn Chef who refuses to do things the right way and it leads to an iconic showdown with Taffer.

3. Most Memorable Line: During the recon a terribly drunk woman named Tiffany had been over served and Jon lets her know that It’s Rick that’s responsible: “I’m talking about you, and I don’t want you drinking anymore because if he serves you and endangers you, he’s an Asshole!”

4. Best Moment: The reconciliation between the brothers can warm even the iciest of hearts.

6. Fallen Angels. Season 1, episode 1. Aired on July 17th, 2011.

The first episode to air of Bar Rescue sees Jon Taffer head to Angel’s Sports Bar in Corona, California. This first episode was quite a treat.

1. Entertainment Value: Pretty good start to the series with plenty of memorable and funny moments that would become the foundation of Bar Rescue for years to come.
2. Favorite Confrontation: The huge blow up between Renee and one of her female employees was hilariously trashy and was a great start to the type of infighting that we’d see for now on.
3. Most Memorable Line: Renee: “Oh, there’s drama here every night.” Jon: “Well that’s WRONG!”
4. Best Moment: I refer you to number 2.

5. Empty Pockets. Season 3, episode 5. Aired on March 10th, 2013.

This episode is pretty iconic and one of the most memorable in Bar Rescue history for its huge physical battle between Jon and owner\nutcase Ami alone. Jon heads to Denver, Colorado to rescue Zanzbar and meets an owner so deranged and off his nut that it leads to a battle never seen on Bar Rescue before this point.

1. Entertainment Value: Ohhhh, boyyyyy! This one brought all the joy to my heart. The episode delivered on every level of what Bar Rescue does best.
2. Favorite Confrontation: Come on….

I mean, is there any other choice?

3. Most Memorable Line: Ami shouted out a lot of hilariously desperate things outside the bar to get customers to come in but my favorite has to be “Free Sex!”

4. Best Moment: Look at number 2.

4. Hogtied Ham’s. Season 1, episode 10. Aired on September 25th, 2011.

Jon heads to Framingham, Massachusetts to rescue Angry Ham’s Garage ran by three buddies. The derogatory name of the bar is what’s killing them among other things and Jon nearly walks out, the first time in Bar Rescue history that happens.

1. Entertainment Value: A lot of classic moments happen in this season 1 finale. Some very funny, others touching.
2. Favorite Confrontation: I have two, 1. Before Jon has everyone take off their blindfolds he lays into LB who had been MIA for two days and along with the other two partners send LB packing and 2. Jon nearly walking out on the guys after their bull headed refusal to listen to his plans for changing the bar before the rescue even officially started.
3. Most Memorable Line: To Chef Duffy about walking out on Angry Ham’s. “You know what I say? BLEEP ‘em.”
4. Best Moment: The town council meeting with Jon, two of the Angry Ham’s owners and some of the town council ending with a reconciliation.

3. Bad To The Bone. Season 1, episode 7. Aired on August 28th, 2011.

Jon’s first turn in Framingham, Massachusetts rescuing The Bone ran by Paul, whose somehow making a million dollars a year but still losing money.

1. Entertainment Value: Some really classic moments in this one that make me laugh out loud every single time I watch it.
2. Favorite Confrontation: Jon and Paul go at it pretty good when Paul fights Jon over his decision not to open the kitchen to serve food until the place is completely clean. Paul ends up storming out like a baby after this confrontation.
3. Most Memorable Line: Jon: “How about saying to me, thank you Jon for having the balls to close the kitchen when I didn’t. Go clean your freakin’ kitchen!”
4. Best Moment: The walk through of the horrendously dirty kitchen by Taffer, his Chef Expert, Paul and his manager is so much fun in it’s nastiness and many classic quotes came from this part as well.

2. Hole in None. Season 3, episode 27. Aired on November 17th, 2013.

When Jon heads to Fairways Golf & Grill in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, we’re blessed with the second greatest episode in Bar Rescue history.

1. Entertainment Value: This one is a doozy and is certainly one of the dirtiest, nastiest bars Jon ever encountered.
2. Favorite Confrontation: The horribly inept chef Chris finally getting deservedly fired and the back and forth between him and Jon is priceless.
3. Most Memorable Line: “NOBODY EATS…. THIS FREAKIN’ FOOD!”
4. Best Moment: Come on, this is too easy:

1. Murphy’s Mess. Season 2, episode 3. Aired on August 5th, 2012.

Jon’s got his hand full when he travels to Fell’s Point, Maryland to rescue J.A. Murphy’s Tavern. This is truly in my humble opinion the best, most memorable and hilarious Bar Rescue episode of all time, as well as my personal favorite. It’s got everything that makes Bar Rescue, Bar Rescue. The confrontations, dirtiness and suspense of whether Jon can actually save this place is amazing stuff.

1. Entertainment Value: Off the charts! From beginning to end I find myself having a ball watching this.
2. Favorite Confrontation: In the kitchen with Jon vs. Keith, Joel and Tammy the cook who doesn’t wash her hands after touching raw meat with her hands and other products. The whole thing is magic.

3. Most Memorable Line: The classic Taffer line: “Shut it down! Nobody eats!”

4. Best Moment: When Jon and Chef Duffy have Keith and Joel move the freezer and a huge dead Rat is found is so disgusting and so good.

Those are my top ten favorites though I could easily do a top 20, 25 etc. But I had to boil it down to ten and these are all episodes worthy of the top 10 for sure. Thanks for reading! ’Til next time, folks!