Is Spin A Yarn still open?
Current Status: >> OPEN <<
(keep reading to learn what happened)
Season: 5 | View All Season 5 Episodes
Original Episode Air Date: February 10, 2012
Spin A Yarn Address: 45915 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
Episode Recap
Spin A Yarn Steakhouse, AKA Saki’s Spin A Yarn Restaurant, was a Fremont, California restaurant featured on Season 5 of Kitchen Nightmares.
Though the Spin A Yarn Kitchen Nightmares episode aired in February 2012, the actual filming and visit from Gordon Ramsay took place much earlier in October 2011.
It was Kitchen Nightmares Season 5 Episode 13.
In this episode of Kitchen Nightmares Chef Gordon Ramsay takes us to Spin A Yarn Restaurant in Fremont, California.
Note – the restaurant is “Spin a Yarn”, not “Spinning Yarn” or “Spin and Yarn” as some people say.
Soon after his arrival, we meet the owner, Saki Kavouniaris (a Greek immigrant) and his wife, Jennifer Kavouniaris, nee Miller.
When business started declining, Jennifer spent an extra $650,000 of Saki’s initial $300,000 budget to remodel the restaurant.
Unfortunately, remodeling the restaurant did not change the restaurant’s downward trajectory, and now the couple constantly fights, putting a huge strain on their relationship.
These issues are a big part of why they reached out to Gordon Ramsay and why the Spin a Yarn Kitchen Nightmares episode exists.
Saki takes Gordon on a tour of the restaurant to view the renovations, the bathroom has expensive tiles on the walls, and Saki reveals that the bathroom alone cost $80,000 to renovate.
It certainly was a nice bathroom, but maybe the money could’ve been better spent elsewhere?
There is also a new fireplace, a marble bar top, and many more extravagant updates on a building they don’t even own, but lease.
Gordon asks what the theme of the restaurant is and Saki responds that they serve seafood, pasta, continental cuisine, and they are a steakhouse.
Gordon then sits down to order and he is served by Mary, who informs Gordon that she believes the food is outdated.
He then orders a Greek sampler, a crab Louie, and a filet mignon.
When the Greek sampler arrives, Gordon finds it ghastly, stating that most of the ingredients were from a can.
The crab Louie arrives and Gordon states that it does not smell fresh, and he was shocked to learn that the crab meat also came straight from a can.
The last dish is the filet mignon and Gordon states that it is chewy, rubbery, and tastes like cough medicine.
The cough medicine bit is one of Gordon’s weirder food criticisms, but it certainly doesn’t sound appealing.
After the meal Gordon meets with the owners and the staff in the kitchen to give feedback.
We meet Victor, who is the head chef and has eight years of experience cooking.
When Gordon asked Victor why the food was so poor, Victor replied that he was just following the recipes that were given to him.
Gordon then returns to observe the restaurant during a dinner rush and finds that the kitchen is seriously understaffed.
There is no expediter, sous chef, and Victor is washing the dishes.
The entrées are leaving the kitchen, but they are also being returned just as quickly with complaints and most of the food is thrown away.
Gordon observes that Saki is just watching, while the cooks are struggling and the head chef is washing dishes.
Gordon smells something funky and walks back to the walk-in to discover raw meat sitting next to cooked meat.
He also discovers moldy strawberries and produce, unlabeled and rotten chicken, and raw meat in congealed blood.
After showing the owners his discovery in the walk-in and freezer, he goes outback to have a discussion with the owners, who are both very embarrassed.
Gordon states that he would not have even allowed the restaurant to be open that night had he seen the freezer first.
The next day, Gordon tells the owners that they need to focus on a single cuisine, and changes the name of the restaurant to Spin A Yarn Steakhouse.
Gordon also slims down the menu making it less complicated and easier to read. Everyone samples the new menu and loves every dish.
The night of relaunch and the restaurant is packed.
The prime rib is a huge hit with the customers, such a hit that they almost run out during the middle of the dinner service.
Thankfully, Victor reveals that he ordered extra to make sure that that didn’t happen, avoiding a crisis.
Good job, Victor!
The night ends and Gordon Ramsay is very pleased with how everything went.
So was the Kitchen Nightmares Spin a Yarn restaurant episode a long-term success? Keep reading our update to learn what happened next and if it’s still open in 2022 and beyond.
Spin A Yarn Update - What Happened Next?
Now that we’ve recapped the Spin A Yarn Kitchen Nightmares episode, let’s talk about the question you’re probably most wondering about.
Is Spin A Yarn from Kitchen Nightmares still open?
Spin A Yarn is still open and receiving customers in Fremont, California as of 2022.
The restaurant got a new chef in 2012 after the Kitchen Nightmares episode aired and newer reviews seem better, with a four star rating on TripAdvisor and a 4.4 rating on Google Reviews.
The Spin A Yarn Yelp reviews aren’t quite as good, though, as the restaurant has just 3.5 stars.
If you want to see the menu or book a visit, you can learn more on the official Spin A Yarn Fremont website, which includes Spin A Yarn opening hours and other details.
If you want to see what it’s like today, popular YouTuber Brennen Taylor also has a video where he visits the restaurant and even does a short interview with Saki:
Does Saki still own Spin A Yarn?
As of 2022, Saki still owns Spin A Yarn and manages the restaurant on a daily basis.
Saki Kavouniaris, a Greek immigrant, originally bought the restaurant in 1995 and he still maintains full control.
Is Saki from Spin A Yarn still married?
As far as we can tell, Saki and Jennifer Kavouniaris are still married.
There was a 2020 article by a local Fox news affiliate that has quotes from both Saki and Jennifer about offering free meals to first responders.
They’re both still listed as owners and Jennifer is still using Saki’s last name, so we assume they’re still together.
Saki does list himself as single on his Facebook page, but that could just be an oversight because he doesn’t seem very active there.
Overall, I’m not sure about what’s happening here, but I hope they’re still married because I always wish the best for all of the owners from Kitchen Nightmares. Well, most of them at least haha.
Final thoughts on Saki’s Spin A Yarn restaurant
Overall, Saki’s Spin a Yarn seems like a real success story.
At the time that I’m writing this in 2022, it’s been over a decade since the Spin a Yarn Kitchen Nightmares episode aired on TV.
Despite that, the restaurant is still going strong, even managing to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
If you’re in the area, check out the Spin a Yarn Fremont restaurant and let me know how it is in the comments!
While there are no other Fremont Kitchen Nightmares episodes, there were a bunch of episodes in nearby Los Angeles.
If you want to see some other California restaurants that are still open, you can check out our updates for Lido in Manhattan Beach, Luigi’s d’Italia in Anaheim, Zayna Flaming Grill in Redondo Beach, and The Greek in Ventura.
Thanks for reading!
More Information
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sakis-spin-a-yarn-restaurant-fremont
https://www.facebook.com/SpinAYarnSteakhouse/
What did you think about the Spin A Yarn episode of Kitchen Nightmares? I'd love it if you shared your thoughts on the episode in the comments below!
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And don't forget to check out all of the other Kitchen Nightmares updates.
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Last updated: 2022-09-05 06:43
FAQs
Where is spin a yarn now? ›
Fremont, CA Restaurant | Home | Spin A Yarn Steakhouse.
Who owns spin a yarn Fremont? ›Saki Kavouniaris - Owner at Spin A Yarn Steakhouse - Fremont, California, United States | LinkedIn.
What business are still open from Kitchen Nightmares? ›- Zayna's Flaming Grill made it. Source: Local Food Eater. ...
- Steakhouse Spin-A-Yarn. Source: MapQuest. ...
- D'Italia by Luigi. ...
- Greek Cuisine by Yanni. ...
- Southern Cuisine by Ms.
Definition of 'spin a yarn'
If you say that someone spins a yarn, you mean that they tell a story that is not true, often an interesting or imaginative one. Rukmeni's a great storyteller, so she'll probably spin them a yarn about some prince or god.
- Love the story you're telling. ...
- Adapt your story to your changing audience. ...
- Connect with your audience. ...
- Use different visuals. ...
- Use different voices. ...
- Don't make any one tale too long. ...
- Repetition can help... but only if it's relevant to the story.
While repairing rope, sailors would often tell each other stories to while away the time. Over time, these stories came to be known as yarns, and telling the story came to be known as spinning a yarn.
When was spin a yarn on Kitchen Nightmares? ›Spin A Yarn Steakhouse was aired on February 10 2012, the episode was filmed in October 2011 and is Kitchen Nightmares season 5 episode 11. What is this? This post was last updated in February 2022.
What does it mean by spin a yarn? ›phrase [VERB and NOUN inflect] If you say that someone spins a yarn, you mean that they tell a story that is not true, often an interesting or imaginative one.
Who has the most Michelin stars in the world? ›1. Joël Robuchon: 31 Michelin Stars. Many consider the late French chef Joël Robuchon the best chef of the modern age. And with 31 Michelin stars spread across three continents, it's hard to argue this claim.
Will Kitchen Nightmares ever return? ›The TV host on Monday announced that he's decided to stop making new episodes of his reality series Kitchen Nightmares, which has become an international hit since debuting in the UK in 2004.
Which Gordon Ramsay restaurant failed? ›
...
Amaryllis (restaurant)
| Amaryllis | |
|---|---|
| Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2001 |
| Closed | 2004 |
- Jamie Oliver. Net worth: $300 million.
- Gordon Ramsay. Net worth: $220 million. ...
- Nobu Matsuhisa. Net worth: $200 million. ...
- Wolfgang Puck. Net worth: $120 million. ...
- Rachael Ray. Net worth: $100 million. ...
- Emeril Lagasse. Net worth: $70 million. ...
- Bobby Flay. Net worth: $60 million. ...
- Ina Garten. ...
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The show has been accused of hiring actors as diners, and this disclaimer essentially admits that diners are, on some level, paid. They're being given the opportunity to eat for free and become TV stars, like the diners on Hell's Kitchen.
Spinning is the simple act of drawing out a few fibers and twisting them together to form a yarn. The process predates written history, and was first done by hand and with sticks. Spinning wheels are believed to have originated in India between 500 and 1000 A.D.
Who pricks their finger on a spinning wheel? ›The Sleeping Beauty: The Princess Pricks Her Finger on a Spinning Wheel.
Who touched the spinning wheel? ›Princess Aurora is cursed by the evil witch Maleficent - who declares that before the sun sets on Aurora's 16th birthday she will die by pricking her finger on a spinning wheel's spindle.
Is spin the bottle a kissing game? ›Spin the bottle is a kissing party game commonly played by teenagers. The game was very popular among teenagers during the second half of the 20th century because it fostered "sexual" interactions between boys and girls.
How do you win the spin game? ›Participants of the Game, following their spin of the wheel, have a chance to win a prize if the spinner stops spinning and lands on the segment of the wheel indicating they are eligible to win a prize. Players will win the prize corresponding to the prize stated on that segment on the wheel.
What is spin short for? ›SPIN. Situation, Problem, Implication, Need-payoff (book by Neil Rackham)
What does yarn mean in Australia? ›Yarn: An Aboriginal English word that describes an informal conversation or storytelling in a culturally safe environment. Yarning circle: Culturally safe conversations that take place in a circle.
What was the traditional device to spin yarn? ›
In English, the takli is called the spindle. It is used for spinning, twisting fibres such as wool, cotton and hemp to make yarn. Q. Takli is a simple hand device used for spinning yarns into fabrics.
When did Gordon Ramsay open lucky cat? ›First opening up in London's Mayfair back in 2019, Lucky Cat is one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant brands, an “authentic Asian eating house and vibrant late-night lounge, inspired by the drinking dens of 1930s Tokyo and the far east”.
When was the first Kitchen Nightmares filmed? ›The show premiered September 19, 2007, on Fox. On June 23, 2014, Ramsay announced that he was ending the series; the final episode aired on September 12 that year. In June 2018, Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back, a new series with a premise much like Kitchen Nightmares but a shorter timeline, premiered on Fox.
How much does it cost to spin yarn? ›By the Yard
Art-yarn spinners charge an average of $1 to $2 per yard, depending on the fibers, preparations, and skillsets used.
[from the idiom spin a yarn "to tell a tale"] : a narrative of adventures. especially : a tall tale.
How fast can you spin yarn? ›Although you may be spinning fine yarns, your production rate can be 3 yards per minute or better.
Why did Ramsay stop Kitchen Nightmares? ›Its run ended on 12 September 2014. In October 2009, Ramsay announced that after his four-year contract expired in 2011 he would not continue with Kitchen Nightmares and would instead work on his other shows.
Why doesn't Gordon do Kitchen Nightmares anymore? ›He continued saying, “he was running a ski resort, he felt like he could take advantage of all those customers because there was nowhere else to eat. He was giving me crap for telling him the truth and I thought, 'I'm done. '”
Did Amy's Baking Company shut down? ›Amy's Baking Company permanently closed on September 1, 2015. Amy Bouzaglo explained that the development stemmed from problems with the building's former landlord, and not the TV series.
Who trained Gordon Ramsay? ›After earning a vocational diploma in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College in 1987, he moved to London and began honing his culinary skills under chef Marco Pierre White at the restaurant Harvey's and under chef Albert Roux at La Gavroche.
How did chef Michael lose his arm? ›
He became the Head Chef at the one Michelin starred Gidleigh Park in 1994 but lost his right arm in a car accident soon afterwards. In 1999, Gidleigh Park was awarded a second Michelin Star, and in 2001 Caines won Chef of the Year at The Catey Awards.
Who is the most famous chef in the world? ›Gordon Ramsay – 7 Michelin stars
Known for his volatile kitchen demeanour and exceptional British cuisine, Gordon Ramsay is arguably the most famous chef in the world. Although he's been awarded 16 Michelin stars throughout his career, he currently holds seven.
The fact that it's only a 60 percent failure rate is a testament to Ramsay's abilities. The world is full of coaches, consultants and experts like Ramsay who try to help struggling small-business owners succeed.
Why is Gordon Ramsay vegan? ›To put it simply, no, Gordon Ramsay is not vegan and probably will never ditch the meat. However, he has been sharing popular plant-based recipes with his TikTok followers and has reportedly cut dairy out of his diet on a 'day-to-day basis'.
What was the last kitchen nightmare episode? › What chef made Gordon Ramsay cry? ›White also once made a young Gordon Ramsay cry while Ramsay worked for him, and later said, "I don't recall what he'd done wrong but I yelled at him and he lost it. Gordon crouched down in the corner of the kitchen, buried his head in his hands and started sobbing."
Did Ramsay lost a Michelin star? ›Why did acclaimed chef and restaurateur Gordan Ramsey lose his Michelin stars? Distractify explained the reason for the loss of stars in a quote from Michael Ellis, Michelin's Guide Director: "We've had issues with consistency, and consistency is a huge thing for us."
Who did Gordon Ramsay kicked out of his restaurant? ›Critic AA Gill and his companion Joan Collins were thrown out of Ramsay's self-titled restaurant in Chelsea in 1998. The chef was reportedly angry over Gill's description of him in a review as a failed sportsman who acts like an 11-year-old.
What is Gordon Ramsay's most famous dish? ›Gordon Ramsay's beef wellington recipe has to be the most famous dish from his ongoing series Hell's Kitchen. If you're a fan of the show (or even if you're not), it doesn't take long to hear the chef yell at his contestants for their "horrendous" making of the meal.
Who is Oprah Winfrey's chef? ›"A favorite at our house is the Flavor Bomb Chicken Sandwich on a fresh baked cheddar biscuit prepared by Chef Kenny Gilbert," posted Oprah.
What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite food? ›
In most of Ramsay's restaurants, you can find it on the menu. However, Ramsay has revealed his favorite American food is grits topped with shrimp and Parmesan cheese.
How are restaurants picked for Kitchen Nightmares? ›The producers of Kitchen Nightmares sent in a casting call for struggling restaurants in the Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Baltimore/D.C. areas to be on the show and get that magical Ramsay "there I fixed it" touch. It's maybe all fake anyway, but maybe you'll get a Lobster Claw machine out of it?
Has Gordon Ramsay ever hired a chef from Kitchen Nightmares? ›"The Glass House" (UK): A female chef was beaming with pride when Gordon complimented her cooking! Gordon Ramsay said I'm a good chef! Ramsay later hired her for one of his restaurants.
Where does spin a yarn come from? ›Originally a nautical term dating from about 1800, this expression probably owes its life to the fact that it embodies a double meaning, yarn signifying both “spun fiber” and “a tale.”
What is meant by the idiom spin a yarn? ›If you say that someone spins a yarn, you mean that they tell a story that is not true, often an interesting or imaginative one.
Where did the term having a yarn come from? ›120 years ago, Australian author Miles Franklin began the pitch for her debut novel with the words “Herewith a yarn…”. By this reckoning, a yarn is a fictional story or a narrative piece of some kind — or at least, that's what it meant in 1899.
What is spin a yarn competition? ›Story telling and Spin-A-Yarn are the events that every student of The Millennium School looks forward to. It is an engrossing and entertaining co curricular activity in which the best participants are selected from the classes after auditions. Each class has candidates that battle it out on the stage and start .
How old is yarn spinning? ›Most agree that the practice of spinning threads and yarns has been in existence for over 10,000 years. Common rocks and Stones are some of the oldest 'tools' used throughout history for spinning thread. Archaeologists theorize that the first spinners were nomadic tribes from pre-agrarian societies.
Can you spin yarn from human hair? ›In order to be spun, a strand of fiber must easily “catch” to another, forming a continuous string. This is why the fibers from many ungulates, such as sheep, can be spun into yarn, but human hair cannot.
Is your head in the clouds? ›If you say that someone has their head in the clouds, you are criticizing them because they are ignoring or are unaware of the problems associated with a situation.
What does it cost me an arm and a leg mean? ›
idiom. informal. : to be too expensive. I want a new car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
What does missed the boat mean? ›to lose an opportunity to do something by being slow to act: There were tickets available last week, but he missed the boat by waiting till today to try to buy some.
Why is yarn not sold in balls? ›The biggest reason yarn so often comes in hanks is that it travels much more reliably that way. Wound balls tend to snag, fall apart, and generally become tangled knots. Also, leaving yarn unwound is usually better for the fiber for storage. When yarn is wound, it puts tension on the fiber.
What do Australians call yarn? ›The word “yarn” isn't used by all knitters in Australia, many still refer to any ball of yarn as a ball of “wool”, no matter what fibre it is made of.
What is a yarn Class 6? ›Yarn is the thread, in the form of a loosely twisted collection of fibers, as of hemp, of which rope is made. It also refers to thread made of natural or synthetic fibers and used for knitting and weaving.
How do you spin yarn for kids? ›To spin yarn, take a bit of the roving, fluff it up with your fingers, and hook it onto the cup hook. Now ask your child to spin (in the same direction) and pull along the roving at the same time. This takes lots of practice and isn't easy to get the hang of right away.