Welcome to Restaurant Fiction!
Hey, food and movie fans! I'm Monis Rose, your host here at Restaurant Fiction. We're your go-to destination on YouTube and Podcasts for delving into fictional restaurants, bars, and clubs from the world of TV and movies.
At Restaurant Fiction, we do more than just reviews. We uncover the fascinating stories behind the menus, chat with the creators and chefs, and explore how food enhances storytelling and characters.
Why should you tune in? If you're a fan of both food and fiction, you're in for a treat. From charming cafes in romantic comedies to the exciting bars in thrilling series, we cover it all. Join us for interviews, insights, and even some recipe demonstrations - there's always something new to discover here at Restaurant Fiction.
Recent TV Restaurant Reviews
The Checotah Saloon is not merely a watering hole, but a grand stage where the tales of the frontier come alive
It's not about the caffeine kicks or those lingonberry pancakes that might just be fruitier than your uncle's holiday sweater. These diners are slices of normalcy, a familiar comfort soup with a side of 'not-quite-like-home'. They're the perfect soft landing pads for when you're spiraling down from cloud nine or wherever your latest trip took you.
In the ever-shifting landscape of the culinary world, there's one constant—change. It seems like just yesterday we were raving about the genius of "The Original Beef of Chicagoland," River North's temple to elevated beef sandwiches. But in the blink of an eye, that nostalgic, linoleum-floored haven has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis. Welcome to "The Bear."
When you hear stories of cooks who just want sloppy and greasy no-frills Italian Beef after hunting, foraging, prepping, and finally cooking a 15-course tasting menu, there is a huge reason why. And that is because these cooks know that there was probably a whole heckuva lot more love put in the sandwich and a lot less fear.
The most remarkable thing about small Japanese restaurants is the seemingly absurd level of specialization for each ingredient. For example, the newly renovated ramen shop, Tampopo, Dandelion in Japanese. Located in a low-rise industrial prefecture of Japan, the angelic welcoming white trim exterior and interior gives off the immediate vibe that the people who eat here, and the person who cooks here, are ramen purists at heart. And when a highly skilled purist makes your ramen bowl, you'll get something close to poetry.
Restaurant Fiction reviews Ristorante Vigna Vecchia. The fictional restaurant featured in the Netflix series, From Scratch.
The Original Beef of Chicagoland is the fictional restaurant in FX’s The Bear. This is the review.
Paddy’s Pub is the fictional bar in the FX TV show, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. This is the fictional review.
Pies and Pins is acclaimed screenwriter Mickey Fisher’s fictional pizza parlor. This is the review.
The Space Saloon is the fictional bar in the live radio show and the graphic novel The Thrilling Adventure Hour. For more on the review and interview with one of the show’s creators, go to our podcast page on iTunes.
Restaurant Fiction reviews The Brick, the fictional bar from Cicely, Alaska, featured in the 1990s TV show, Northern Exposure. This is Restaurant Fiction’s review.
Recent Film Restaurant Reviews
Step into this Old West saloon, and it's all joy and rhythm—like a New Orleans second line took over. Black cowboys, drifters, and wanderers fill the floor with laughter, unity, and community, making this saloon a rare gem where celebration rules the night.
The Cookie Club is a hidden Vegas gem catering to Black women of all shapes and sizes. Off the Strip and full of unfiltered fun, this lively club features diverse male strippers and the infamous Firewater drink. No corporate gloss—just second chances and unforgettable nights.
In the film "Poverty and Nobility," Toto turns a simple spaghetti meal into an unforgettable spectacle of humor and communion. This review explores the iconic scene where Toto, with both charm and mischief, elevates dining to an art form. Join us as we relive this delightful moment under the Neapolitan sky—a testament to the Italian spirit and the timeless joy of sharing a meal.
Let's face it, if our last meal is going to be a fast-food hamburger, then we're going all out with a cinematic classic—a Royale with Cheese or maybe a Le Big Mac, chased with a five-dollar shake. Because in the grand, unpredictable feast of life, if you're going to "seize the carp," make sure it's with style and not just a slice of pineapple as your final act.
In the eerie silence of the Overlook Hotel, a simple craving for chocolate ice cream stands out as a beacon of normalcy amidst the opulence and the occult. Venture deeper, past the lavish feasts prepared for ghosts of the past, to The Gold Room—a bar where free drinks and mysterious bartenders make you question what's more chilling: the spirits you drink or the ones haunting the halls?
The real head-turner is the venison, served with a side of existential crisis via headphones, playing the life story of the deer you’re about to eat. It’s either a bold move or just bold, depending on where you stand.
It's not about the caffeine kicks or those lingonberry pancakes that might just be fruitier than your uncle's holiday sweater. These diners are slices of normalcy, a familiar comfort soup with a side of 'not-quite-like-home'. They're the perfect soft landing pads for when you're spiraling down from cloud nine or wherever your latest trip took you.
Indulging in the delights within and around Yubaba's bathhouse is like wrestling with temptation itself - that's the plain truth of it.
A Taiwanese chef who used to manage banquet hall restaurants serving thousands a day brings a style of home cooking that is more austere than flexible, and in this day and age we say hipster or fusion. And that’s actually high praise.
The fictional bar in Martin Scorcese’s film, Mean Streets is Volpe’s Bar & Grill. This is the review.