Is Kitchen Nightmares' El Cantito Cafe Still Open?

On the November 20, 2023, episode of the revamped "Kitchen Nightmares," viewers were introduced to El Cantito Cafe, a Puerto Rican restaurant in Yonkers, New York. Siblings Julio and Adelvi "Debbie" Santana opened the restaurant in 2020, and they reported that its first week was extremely busy. The menu consisted of their mother's recipes, which executive chef Julio learned growing up. Unfortunately, just a week after opening, the pandemic shut down most of the restaurant industry, which created financial hardship for the duo.

They struggled to keep their restaurant open and continued facing financial difficulties even after restrictions were lifted. "We used all our money to survive. After COVID, people just don't want to come out," Julio said during the episode. With sales down, Julio and Debbie struggled to find funds to fix the restaurant's broken dishwasher, refrigerator, and air conditioner. Similarly, they couldn't afford to hire any more staff. 

Julio attempted to pick up the slack by cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes, while Debbie eventually took on a second job. Both siblings were exhausted and burnt out, and while they didn't want to give up on their dream, any extra funds were gone, and they were beginning to feel desperate.

When Gordon Ramsay arrived at El Cantito Cafe, he was not impressed with the food, calling it greasy and lacking seasoning or flavor. He eventually learned the grease originated from the kitchen hood canopy, which was only cleaned once every three months rather than once a week, creating a fire hazard. He also discovered raw chicken breasts on top of plantains and rotten lemons mixed in with fresh ones.

When Ramsay instructed the server to have all the diners leave, Julio and Debbie Santana learned that "Next Level Chef" semi-finalist Omi Hopper was one of the dining room patrons. Although she called the food "so greasy," embarrassing Julio, Ramsay asked her to return the following night to give El Cantito another chance.

The next day, the restaurant was repainted with vibrant colors. It also had a new air conditioning system, as well as a framed photo of the siblings' mother. The kitchen had a new salad bar fridge, a rotisserie, and more space to work, and the recipes had been reworked with fresh ingredients. Ramsay gave Julio some tips, and they prepared for the dinner rush. While Julio became overwhelmed, he managed to ground himself with Ramsay's help. Julie and Debbie ended the episode feeling confident and optimistic, promising to improve the operation of their restaurant.

After "Kitchen Nightmares" wrapped, El Cantito Cafe's operations seemed to improve, but reviews tended toward one extreme or the other at first. On the positive side, one Yelper raved about the authentic Puerto Rican food saying, "Food was AMAZING BEST I've had in Yonkers ever!!" One month later, however, another Yelp review gave the establishment one star, writing that the single star was for the service they received "...because if it was for just the food, it would be zero stars."

As for Julio and Debbie Santana, the siblings seemed very satisfied with how the show helped them operate more efficiently. "I was happy to be able to cook with Gordon Ramsay. It was exciting. He renovated my kitchen, he gave me some good advice," Julio told the YouTube channel Flavors of New York. "He also showed me a system in the kitchen that really works for the outside. Although he helped me reduce the menu — I had a bigger menu — [he] made it make sense to the restaurant's size and the size of the kitchen." 

They also used their connection with Chef Omi Hopper to generate more business. Soon after the episode aired, Hopper and Julio hosted a live cooking class highlighting Puerto Rican holiday recipes like pernil, ensalada de papa, and pasteles.

While chef Julio Santana did admit in an interview with Lohud that he reintroduced some of the items Gordon Ramsay took off the menu, the restaurant is sticking with the formula the celeb chef laid out. El Cantito Cafe is still open and has found its stride. Boasting over 4 stars on both Google and Yelp reviews, customers praise everything from the food to the staff to the service. 

"El Cantito Cafe offers such a wonderful environment for its guest[s]" one Google review explained. "Though it went through some struggles, it truly has transformed [into] a great place to eat." The El Cantito menu is a direct reflection of Puerto Rican cuisine. Popular items include the pernil (slow-roasted pork), the alcapurrias (plantain fritters), and the beef and chicken empanadas. "I have no words to describe the food that only reminded me of my childhood in Puerto Rico when my grandmother cooked," another customer wrote in a Google review.

Some El Cantito reviews from longtime customers note that prices increased after the "Kitchen Nightmares" episode while others are frustrated with the automatic 20% gratuity. Still, the "friendly and fast service" noted on one Google review, along with the positive reviews of the food, have seemingly secured El Cantito Cafe's spot in Yonkers.

In August 2024, the Santana siblings and El Cantito Cafe were recognized with the Rising Restaurateur Award, a grant awarded to only 30 small businesses in the NYC area. This is a testament to the hard work and care Julio and Debbie have put into the restaurant since their "Kitchen Nightmares" exposure. Soon after the episode aired in 2023, the restaurant hosted many events including a Thanksgiving raffle, the cooking class with Omi Hopper, and a New Year's Eve party with buffet-style food and a live DJ. In a similar fashion, El Cantito Cafe is still building a lively community through events, active social media accounts, and menu deals throughout the week.

On Thursdays the restaurant has a $50 bottomless dinner with unlimited cocktails; on Wednesdays, it's all-day happy hour. El Cantito occasionally hosts Bomba Nights with live Puerto Rican music and dance performances and has hosted Paint and Sips complete with art supplies, food, and drink. Updates about these are posted frequently on the restaurant's Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook pages. 

The restaurant is open from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 2-10 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The earlier Sunday hours allow the restaurant to host their weekly Sunday brunch. It may only be open four days a week, but El Cantito Cafe successfully packs a lot of fun and delicious food into that period.