Guy Fieri has a very bad taste in his mouth after reading the New York Times' immediately-infamous review of his latest eatery, Guy's American Kitchen and Bar, located in NYC.
The Food Network star, 44, who first spoke out about the scathing review on TODAY Thursday morning, released a statement to Us Weekly about the piece, which gave his Times Square restaurant a "poor" rating and mocked Fieri's "donkey sauce," cold french fries, a "nuclear waste"-like cocktail and more.
"I wholeheartedly disagree with The New York Times' Review of Guy's American Kitchen & Bar. My philosophy on life is what drives my attitude towards food. As a kid, I used to make four-course sushi meals for my parents and our family friends," the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host tells Us. "I got hooked on food because I saw the way people reacted; the atmosphere around a family dinner, dining out with friends and family – it was contagious."
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Already the proprietor several other eateries across the country, Fieri continues: "At my restaurants, we always try to live by a very simple notion: that food brings people together. I've learned that not everyone agrees with my style."
Complained Wells: "Why [is] the kind of cooking you celebrate on television . . . treated with so little respect at Guy's American Kitchen & Bar?"
"The Times' critic, Pete Wells, clearly did not enjoy his experience," Fieri says. "I normally do not respond to reviews or critics, however, given the tone of Pete’s piece, it's clear to me that he went into my restaurant with his mind already made up. That's unfortunate. I take comments from patrons, fans and visitors very seriously, and if there is ever a problem with our service, I'll fix it."
The 500-seat boite opened up about two months ago. "We've only been open a short while, but I’ve seen countless people come to my restaurant – families, fans, tourists, and yes, even New Yorkers – looking to get away for an hour or two, and they've had a great experience and a meal that they enjoyed," Fieri says. "Like the hundreds of diners, drive-ins and dives I've featured on my show, I've incorporated my passion and love for food into my restaurants. I'm proud of the food we put out, and always will be."
This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Guy Fieri Tells Us: "I Wholeheartedly Disagree" With New York Times Review