The failing NSW restaurants to appear on Kitchen Nightmares Australia

Celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge will head up the new Kitchen Nightmares Australia TV show, with an American diner and Homebush cafe among the NSW restaurants set to appear.

In a world where one bad review has the potential to derail a restaurant, why would you choose to go on a television show that highlights business failings?

For Joanna Bateman, owner of Wallerwang American diner Mumma Jo’s, the answer is “why not?”

Mumma Jo’s is one of six restaurants given a glow-up by celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge in the new Channel 7 show, Kitchen Nightmares.

Four of which are based in NSW including Batehaven restaurant, Ccooks@Corrigans, Homebush’s Cafe de Vie and Araucaria at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

Like the famous Gordon Ramsay original, Fassnidge is tasked with uncovering why these establishments are on the brink of collapse and aims to turn them around in five days.

“Mumma Jo” Joanna Bateman and Colin Fassnidge on Kitchen Nightmares.

Bateman said she went on the show because she had “nothing to lose”.

The restaurant started as a food truck in Orange, with Bateman having worked in US diners for 10 years. However, her husband Chris was involved in a horrific major truck accident that left him with brain injury and has since been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Fassnidge trying the food at Mumma Jo’s.

For Bateman her restaurant became both a welcome distraction but also a burden.

“My biggest hurdle to overcome was me and my attitude. We had a lot going on during filming and at the start, I was in defence mode. I didn’t take criticism too well. On the first day of filming I told Colin where to go a couple of times,” she said.

“But the team were just so knowledgeable and I’m so grateful for the help. The business is in a very different spot than it was six months ago.”

Bateman adds anyone who might be put off trying her new offering judging by what they see on television: “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”

Kitchen Nightmares premieres 7.30pm Wednesday 12 October on Channel 7 and 7plus

Araucaria head chef Anthony.