The good news is that there was a cockroach in the gift shop that a patron of Hell's Kitchen Las Vegas discovered and recorded for posterity. Probably after the patrons had finished their meals.
The bad news, of course, is that it turned out to be a cockroach at Hell's Kitchen, the celebrity restaurant that is supposed to be a testament to chef Gordon Ramsay's impeccable standards.
The cockroach evidence was filmed for TikTok fans by creator Meghan Markle (@anokmathTeacher) and came to light on Thursday, gaining 187,400 views as of Monday.
The short video's on-screen caption shows a cockroach crawling down the sleeve of a white chef's shirt and reads, “There are no cockroaches in Hell's Kitchen,” along with an eye emoji. The caption accompanying the video was directed at Ramsay himself, asking: “Can I get my money back?” Before observing, I said, “I beat the sticky toffee pudding, but ngl.”
According to the restaurant's website, “The world's first Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen restaurant is turning up the heat at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. A global hit reality TV show starring world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay. Inspired by the show, guests will feel like they are on a studio set.”
Additionally, “The restaurant, located in front of Caesars Palace, seats 300 people including two chef's tables, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the famous Las Vegas Strip, red and blue design details in the show kitchen, and a private dining room. We can accommodate more guests,” he added. There is also a contemporary bar offering the latest trends in mixology. The Red and Blue Kitchen offers modern lunch and dinner menus, including Hell's Kitchen signature dishes made with the highest quality ingredients. ”
@anokmathTeacher @Gordon Ramsay Can I get my money back?But I beat the sticky toffee pudding, ngl 😋 #lasvegas #hellskitchen ♬ Hell's Kitchen – TV Theme Player
It doesn't say anything about cockroaches, but commenters certainly say so.
“Actually, that's how Gordon keeps an eye on his every location,” joked one person. “He's just hiring this guy to keep an eye on him.”
Another said, “I used to work on the Strip in Vegas. Cockroaches are everywhere lol esp. [near] recycling area. But we are also in the desert. ”
“There are often cockroaches and rats in the kitchen,” said another. “What you do with it once you spot it is important, and that means frequent trapping and cleaning by exterminators.”
The site for Holder's Pest Solutions of Pearland, Texas, which clearly has a vested interest in the issue, states: The restaurant offers all this in abundance. From moisture that builds up from steam and cleaning habits to food particles that collect in drains, under counters, and behind equipment, cockroaches have everything a restaurant needs. A common misconception is that dirty restaurants cause cockroach problems. While it is true that poor sanitary conditions encourage cockroach infestations in restaurants, cockroaches can enter restaurants in several ways. ”
“My husband is a food service technician and he says all restaurants are like this,” another said, adding ominously: “Everyone stay away from Subway.”
“My husband works in construction and refuses to eat because he says there are always cockroaches and rats in every restaurant he's ever worked in, even in high-end restaurants. ” said another.
The Daily Dot reached out to Meghan via direct message on TikTok and Hell's Kitchen via online media forms.
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*First published: March 18, 2024, 1:00 PM CDT
phil west
Phil West is a veteran professional writer and editor and the author of two books about soccer, The United States of Soccer and I Believe That We Will Win, both published by The Overlook Press. His work has recently appeared in The Striker (where he was editor-in-chief), MLSSoccer.com, Next City, and Texas Highways. He is based in Austin and is also an instructor in the writing program at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
