Detroit area restaurant featured on 'Kitchen Nightmares' season finale

Fans of the reality series "Kitchen Nightmares" will get a look into a Warren restaurant, the second of two metro Detroit restaurants on this season, in the final episode of the Fox Network show.

Hosted by Gordon Ramsay, the two-hour final episode includes Firenze Restaurant and Pizzeria − now closed − in Warren.

Airing at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, Firenze Restaurant and Pizzeria takes up half the show’s season finale, the Fox Network told the Free Press.

In Warren on East 10 Mile Road, Firenze closed shortly after Ramsay’s visit in June 2025. (More on this later.) On “Kitchen Nightmares," Ramsay works with restaurants that are struggling or have management, food, or other problems. Over a week’s time, Ramsay helps identify what’s wrong with the restaurant’s operations and comes up with a fix.

But could Ramsay and his crew fix Firenze?

In June 2025, Ramsay visited longtime Oakland County eatery Boodles Restaurant in Madison Heights as well as Firenze. The episode featuring Boodles aired Tuesday, Aug. 18. Kevin Ferguson, the son of Boodles' owner, said the experience was “intense.”

The Free Press reported in June 2025 that on the Firenze Restaurant and Pizzeria Facebook page (now not available) the family-owned spot announced it had closed. But the post stated the restaurant was reopening with a “freshened up menu,” promising customers that they will be “WOWWED!” by new menu items.

It wasn’t but weeks later that the restaurant abruptly closed. The restaurant’s website last June read “Firenze July 10, 1964 - June 21, 2025,” suggesting that the restaurant was no longer operating.

At that time, Frank Rocca, a son of the original owners, the late Maria and Pasquale Rocca, confirmed the closure to the Free Press, texting a photo of the sign on Firenze’s door that says it's permanently closed.

An internet search still shows the Firenze Restaurant and Pizzeria on East 10 Mile as "permanently closed,” per its Google listing.

Firenze was known for pizza, Italian fare and ribs

Known over the years for its pizzas, salads and Italian food, a Firenze menu highlight was its steamed in the oven, fall-off-the-bone ribs.

During its six decades, Rocca said, there were eight owners. In June 2025, he said the original owners were his parents, Maria and Pasquale, and their three sons, Frank, Michael and John.

“John and wife Helen then became the 2nd group of owners from the original 5,” according to a text from Rocca. “Lastly, John and Helen sold the restaurant to Lewis and Renee Dutton.”

According to Michigan Liquor Control Commission, LGD III Holdings Inc., liquor license for Firenze is in escrow. Michigan Corporate records show Lewis Dutton listed as the resident agent for LGD III Holdings Inc.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SusanMariecooks. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.