Food scene icon Guy Fieri is making his presence known in New York City once again, bringing his fast-casual Chicken Guy! franchise to Times Square. Scheduled to open any day now at 138 W. 42nd Street, Fieri’s latest venture is promising a selection of sandwiches around $14 and a variety of sauces to amp up the flavor of chicken tenders, as reported by Eater New York. This new location joins 25 others across the country, originally sparked by a Disney World start in 2018 and a partnership with Planet Hollywood's Robert Earl.
While fans of the spiky-haired Food Network star might be excited for his return to Times Square, they might also recall the ups and downs of his past NYC endeavors, notably the Flavortown Kitchen ghost kitchen that has since closed, and the much-talked-about Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar. That ill-fated restaurant, which shut its doors in 2017 after five years of operation, was still a topic among New Yorkers even after more than a decade and following critic Pete Wells's exit from The New York Times.
Moving from NYC to Central New York, Guy Fieri seems to have found a culinary love in Syracuse’s Italian fare, making a much-anticipated return to feature Pastabilities restaurant in an upcoming episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Triple D Nation. Pastabilities, known for its hot tomato oil and duck bacon flatbread, was first visited by Fieri in 2012, and he reportedly raved that some of the best food he's ever eaten was at that restaurant. According to WIBX 950, the episode titled "BBQ, Biscuits and a Meatball Bake" is set to air on Friday, January 3, at 9 p.m. eastern.
Fieri's enthusiasm for Pastabilities' Spicy Hot Tomato Oil, affectionately known as "Hot Tom," seems unwavering as he plans to highlight this local favorite turned commercially available sauce. Fans of the show, and the sauce, can look forward to watching Fieri fire up the kitchen alongside Chef Rachel and Chef Karyn. The Smokin' Hot episode promises to showcase not just the well-known hot tomato oil, but an expanded menu that includes a mighty meatball bake, and what sounds like irresistibly crispy angel hair arancini.
