TV Restaurants

Is Simmer Down Still Open? Kitchen Nightmares Update (Georgetown, TX)

Open reported

As of September 2026, Simmer Down is listed open on communityimpact.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Primary source
communityimpact.com ·
Secondary source
moviedelic.com ·

Last verified

What the source shows: A Community Impact Newspaper report dated 2025-04-14 describes the cafe's post-show menu and interior refresh as newly in place; an entertainment-site recap from 2025-03-18 reports a 4.3 Google and 3.8 Yelp rating shortly after the relaunch. No 2026-dated source was located to confirm current operation.

  • Season / episode Season 9, Episode 11
  • Original air date
  • Address 4701 Williams Dr Ste 1, Georgetown, TX 78633

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What happened after Kitchen Nightmares?

Simmer Down Cafe, a breakfast and comfort-food restaurant in Georgetown, Texas, appeared in the season 9 finale of Kitchen Nightmares, "Simmer Down," which aired March 18, 2025. Owner Chris Marino opened the cafe in March 2017 with his wife, Terry, at 4701 Williams Drive, and the business was busy from its first week, but running the restaurant and working as its chef left Marino working roughly 80-hour weeks that damaged his health and marriage; his wife moved out in the summer of 2024. As shown in the episode, Marino's brother Albert had taken over the front of house, but Marino continued to resist delegating, down to instructing servers to discourage customers from ordering appetizers or dessert with a discount sticker on the menu. Ramsay found an over-meated omelet, an under-seasoned overcooked salmon, and over-salted liver and onions, all made from scratch by Marino himself in the early hours of the morning; Marino initially insisted the food was fine. Ramsay learned Marino had no financial cushion left and was roughly three months from losing the business if nothing changed, and he later shut down a dinner service after finding the kitchen disorganized and the staff arguing rather than working.

Ramsay spoke separately with Marino's estranged wife, who told him she still loved her husband and would return if the business changed, which helped motivate Marino to accept help. Ramsay's team renovated the cafe overnight, built a new menu, and retrained the staff on communication and structure between the kitchen and the floor.

Following the relaunch, Marino was able to step back from constant kitchen oversight, and he and his wife reunited in time to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary at the cafe. A Community Impact Newspaper report dated April 14, 2025, described the cafe's new menu and updated look following the show's visit. Reviews since the relaunch have been mixed, with some accounts describing continued service inconsistencies alongside others praising the updated menu and atmosphere. As of research in September 2026, an aggregator listing showed the restaurant operating at its Williams Drive address with hours and reviews continuing to be posted, though no single 2026-dated news account of its ongoing operation was located.

Featured on Kitchen Nightmares

Season / episode
Season 9, Episode 11
Original air date
Episode title
Simmer Down
What was featured
Breakfast cafe; owner's 80-hour weeks strained his health and marriage
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
Simmer Down

Frequently asked questions

Is Simmer Down still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, Simmer Down is listed open on communityimpact.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What happened to Simmer Down after Kitchen Nightmares?

Simmer Down Cafe, a breakfast and comfort-food restaurant in Georgetown, Texas, appeared in the season 9 finale of Kitchen Nightmares, "Simmer Down," which aired March 18, 2025. As of September 2026, Simmer Down is listed open on communityimpact.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Where is Simmer Down located?

4701 Williams Dr Ste 1, Georgetown, TX 78633. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Kitchen Nightmares featured Simmer Down?

Season 9, Episode 11 of Kitchen Nightmares, first aired March 18, 2025. The episode is titled “Simmer Down”.

Did the makeover last at Simmer Down?

The episode first aired March 18, 2025. Our most recent check was September 7, 2026 — 1 year later —: As of September 2026, Simmer Down is listed open on communityimpact.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What do reviews say since Kitchen Nightmares?

Reviews since the relaunch have been mixed, with some accounts describing continued service inconsistencies alongside others praising the updated menu and atmosphere. We summarise what dated sources report; we do not publish our own rating.

Is Simmer Down still using the Kitchen Nightmares menu or branding?

As shown in the episode, Marino's brother Albert had taken over the front of house, but Marino continued to resist delegating, down to instructing servers to discourage customers from ordering appetizers or dessert with a discount sticker on the menu. Anything newer than our last check on September 7, 2026 may not be reflected here.

Every status on this site carries a confidence label and a date, and names the source it rests on. Read the Editorial & Corrections Policy for what each label means and how quickly we act on corrections. The questions above are generated from this record's own published fields — we never publish a question we cannot answer from the data.

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Visit info

Address
4701 Williams Dr Ste 1, Georgetown, TX 78633
Venue type
cafe
Official website
simmerdowngtown.com

Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.

Sources

  • moviedelic.com — https://moviedelic.com/kitchen-nightmares-season-9-finale-recap/
  • communityimpact.com — https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/dining/2025/04/14/simmer-down-cafe-in-georgetown-switches-things-up-with-new-menu-fresh-look/

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Record kn-097 · last verified .