Reader: No surprise that fast-casual concept Soul Daddy was a fast casualty

The news that Soul Daddy, the winner of America's Next Great Restaurant, had closed its last outpost -- despite Chipotle's Steve Ells serving as one of the show's judges -- didn't surprise readers. Says aceranchero: I watched the series finale, when they announced the winner I turned to my wife...

By Patricia Calhoun

July 1, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The news that Soul Daddy, the winner of America's Next Great Restaurant, had closed its last outpost -- despite Chipotle's Steve Ells serving as one of the show's judges -- didn't surprise readers.

Says aceranchero:

I watched the series finale, when they announced the winner I turned to my wife and said "DOA."

Adds Dan:

They screwed him over royally. They watered down his concept, then didn't support the restaurants at all. The outcome of this show left a real bad taste in my mouth, and made the judges -- not the contestants -- look bad.

Finally, there's this from 5280man:

Shows you how much that douchebag team of fast-casual gurus know about what real people want. They denied one of the contestants because they just didn't think Americans were ready for fast casual Indian food. I googled 'Fast Casual Indian Food' and came up with no less than 10 operating restaurants.

That show was a joke. A guy hawking his "spicy balls" almost won...

Were you surprised that this fast-casual concept was a fast casualty? Or that the show itself looks like it was a ratings casualty?

Follow @CafeWestword on Twitter

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

Follow:

Facebook: patricia.calhoun.927