A line of new and returning customers were waiting outside Lyla’s Family Restaurant on July 1 to see Fox reality cooking show star Gordon Ramsay’s impact.
The celebrity chef filmed at the Bailey Road restaurant in June. The name of the show and expected release date of the Lyla’s episode have not been shared.
After filming wrapped up, the restaurant remained closed for over a week to finish renovations and prepare the kitchen to offer a “Gordon Ramsay experience,” according to owner Waleed El-qawlaq.
Read on for a peek into Lyla’s new menu, decor and what it was like for the owner and staff to film with Ramsay.
New menu at Lyla’s Family Restaurant
The new menu at Lyla’s Family Restaurant was curated by Ramsay using his own recipes, El-qawlaq said.
“He’s knowledgeable, not just about the food,” El-qawlaq said. “How to make it. How it’s supposed to taste. How it’s supposed to look.”
Some favorites of El-qawlaq are the lamb and beef kafta ($14) as well as the corn and zucchini fritters ($10), which are served alongside herb aioli for dipping. Entrees include a cheeseburger ($14), BLT ($12), chicken shawarma wrap ($14) and more.
Diya Kandula and Alex Mykytyn, two 17-year-old girls from Columbus, drove up for the restaurant’s opening.
For the last month, Kandula and her mother, who recently underwent surgery, have been watching Ramsay’s newest show, “Secret Service.” The teenager learned about his presence at Lyla’s from a TikTok video two weeks ago and vowed to attend its opening.
Kandula ordered the mezze platter ($14), which is comprised of hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouli and pita bread. Mykytyn dined on a fried chicken sandwich ($14) topped with sumac slaw and served alongside french fries.
“[Ramsay] told me ‘less is more,'” El-qawlaq said. “He said great food can come out of a small kitchen.”
All-day breakfast options are another aspect of Lyla’s menu that regulars can still enjoy. The pistachio buttermilk pancakes ($10) caught the eye of quite a few customers, as did the falafel waffle ($12).
Cuyahoga Falls resident Jerime Shreve has been dining at Lyla’s for five years. He works third shift and comes in almost daily after work for a meal.
On the day of the opening, he ordered a breakfast sandwich ($12), which is comprised of a croissant, soft scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, arugula, chicken sausage and herb mayo. Shreve made it a point to sit where his favorite table was in the restaurant’s previous configuration.
“I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t nervous about the menu, but as long as they have breakfast, I don’t care,” Shreve said.
Highlights of Lyla’s remodel
Lyla’s Family Restaurant has undergone quite the transformation since it closed the doors for filming.
The walls are now army green peg boards with everything from pots and pans to colanders and cutting boards attached to them. Sandy brown cabinets filled with dishware are on two sides of the dining space, which also harbors new tables and chairs.
Ramsay’s team provided Lyla’s with an updated point-of-sale system, freezer, cooking utensils, cold prep table and more in the remodel.
Takeaways from Gordon Ramsay
El-qawlaq had seen a few of Ramsay’s various TV shows before he was approached to film an episode, so he knew the celebrity chef had the potential to be abrasive.
Upon first meeting Ramsay, the owner got the impression that he was mean. Although he soon found out that behind the cameras, especially toward the end of filming, the chef was nice and caring, said El-qawlaq.
“At the end it was kind of emotional,” El-qawlaq said. “[Ramsay] took me outside. He’s like ‘You’re a great chef. I never had a doubt that you are a hard worker. You can do really great, just stick to the plan.’ And he hugged me for some reason.”
Lyla’s owner said that he and his staff learned a lesson in dedication and consistency from Ramsay.
However, there was a server who “couldn’t take the pressure,” according to El-qawlaq. She gave Ramsay the middle finger and was kicked out of the restaurant on the last day of filming.
What angered Gordon Ramsay?
Ramsay cared deeply about cleanliness, El-qawlaq said. There were a couple of confrontations involving two pieces of produce and a blender that took place during Ramsay’s visit.
One of the posters outside the restaurant also seemed to grind Ramsay’s gears. It depicted some of the dishes that were on the menu, but the chef was displeased that the photos did not match what he saw coming out of the kitchen.
Next up for Lyla’s Family Restaurant
Ramsay’s team will be following up with El-qawlaq to ensure they are sticking to the chef’s standards and to offer guidance.
After a couple months, El-qawlaq will be able to add a few fan favorites from the previous menu to the new version.
Staff are encouraging regulars who dined at Lyla’s before its transformation to come back, try the new menu and share what their favorite dish on the old menu was.
Lyla’s hours have been changed to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, but the restaurant will be available for parties and events on Monday.
Gordon Ramsay visits Akron-area restaurants
Ramsay didn’t just spend time at Lyla’s, he dined at a whole host of eateries in the Cleveland area.
Gordon Ramsay also filmed an episode of his new TV show at Four Star Diner in Cortland, according to various news outlets.
Got a restaurant recommendation? Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. And follow her adventures on TikTok @akronbeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: A ‘Gordon Ramsay experience’ now served at Lyla’s in Cuyahoga Falls post-filming
Reporting by Tawney Beans, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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