62
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80L.A. WeeklyF. X. FeeneyL.A. WeeklyF. X. FeeneyA sharp, upbeat, well-wrought meditation on love and race that kicks the new year in movies off to a terrific start.
- 75Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyTom Cudworth's script nails the ale-drenched details of twentysomething existence.
- 70Film.comErnest HardyFilm.comErnest HardyThe film gets an "A" for effort, but doesn't have the courage to really get as bloody, messy and dirty as its subject matter inherently is.
- It takes very good actors to convey this kind of nuance, and the cast of Restaurant does consistently splendid work.
- 67Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenAustin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenSolid performances, capable visuals, and the honesty of the interracial subject matter make Restaurant stand out from the typical "I'm an artist, not really a waiter" pack.
- 63San Francisco ExaminerWesley MorrisSan Francisco ExaminerWesley MorrisIf Restaurant feels like a high-caliber TV drama, it's one that tries to pack an entire season (plus pilot, plus backstory) into one episode.
- 60TV Guide MagazineSteve SimelsTV Guide MagazineSteve SimelsCudworth's script gives the characters more depth than is the genre norm, and the ensemble acting is terrific.
- 60Village VoiceAmy TaubinVillage VoiceAmy TaubinDirector Eric Bross has a smooth nonstyle that serves him well until the screenplay turns melodramatic at the end.
- 60Chicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumChicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumPretty familiar stuff, but the performances--by Adrien Brody, Elise Neal, Simon Baker-Denny, and Lauryn Hill--are relatively fresh and sincere.
- 20Film.comJohn HartlFilm.comJohn HartlIt's hard to think of a single memorable line from Restaurant, even a memorably bad one.