Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) User Reviews

10 Reasons To Hate Anthony Bourdain

[ween-3 · 10/10 · 12 July 2007]

1. He's got the gig you always wanted.

2. He won the Lou Reed look-alike contest and you only took second place.

3. Two words: "Free oysters".

4. No one has the right to be in that kinda shape with a 3-pack-a-day habit and a well-documented history of substance abuse...I mean NO ONE!! You eat organic bean sprouts and never bought a carton of Marlboros in your life, and you still look like Sydney Greenstreet anyway.

5. Anyone who can properly pronounce the word "geoduck" probably also knows how to correctly enunciate the word "nuclear" and, as such, deserves your immediate enmity. (NOTE-- If you are currently serving as President of the United States, move this reason to #1 on your list).

6. He gets to say words like f**k and m**herf***er and s**t on national TV and has his mouth washed out with primo vodka, 30-year old single malt scotch and absinthe. Your mom used Lava soap on you.

7. His advance team finds the coolest underground joints in the world while you're Mapquesting the local Applebee's.

8. He gets to do the funniest show on TV and doesn't have to worry about the "Seinfeld curse" since Jason Alexander still has not appeared as a guest on the show.

9. His new movie stinks...Oh..I'm sorry...that's the other "No Reservations".

10. Three words: "More free oysters".

Easily the coolest travel and/or food show you'll ever see. And for all the badass showmanship, the gooey caramel center of "No Reservations" is Bourdain's subliminal message that our world ain't a sandwich...it's a banquet.

A treasured gift to the US.

[phiheart1 · 10/10 · 27 December 2014]

Anthony Bourdain does something no one else does. He shows how the regular people live and gives us a glimpse into the real culture and real thoughts of people in other countries. It is a glimpse that is not filtered through the over-simplified American media machine. It provides context through the brief history segments on each show, then goes on to tell it like it is. This is a form of bravery we don't see on our televisions, news, etc. which is largely controlled by corporate interests. It is a breath of fresh air! Through getting to know the real story, and the real people, he is creating understanding, and conditions for peace in the world. Thank you Anthony Bourdain! We just purchased every show you have ever made.

Better Than His CNN 'Parts Unknown' Show, An Improvement on his Food Network Show 'A Cook's Tour'

[Elegantone1 · 9/10 · 12 June 2019]

I'll make this short. 'No Reservations' is and was a better show than Bourdain's final show on CNN, before his death called, 'Parts Unknown.' No Reservations doesn't have the same quality in production as 'Parts Unknown,' which was more cinematic and breathtaking, but 'No Reservations' was lighter, more comedic, still informative, but better serving audiences. It was Bourdain at his best. 'Parts Unkown' get's heavy and depressing, 'No Reservations' is the perfect balance of investigative journalism and history lesson with comedy and playfulness.

Read His Books too!

[hevilift · 10/10 · 6 May 2006]

Don't get me wrong- I love this series. I loved cooks tour too. The raw talent of Bourdain, the way he reacts, his absolute mantra to be a traveler not a tourist is not just some press B.S.. If you never read another book in your life, read Kitchen confidential-there is no way you'll be disappointed. The language is tough-but- better yet buy the book and get it on CD as well-Bourdain on CD is almost as good as watching "no Reservations" only with out the censors. He does have a potty mouth- but then so does the entire restaurant business.I have the first season of No Reservations on DVD and as usual, Bourdain does not let you down.. Can't wait for the season 2 DVD's to get done.. Enjoy!

Great Show

[darky2600 · 10/10 · 23 May 2007]

It is interesting and very entertaining. You don't expect some things and the insights about foreign culture are original when compared to other shows. Sure some things are said with sarcasm or hyperbole, but that s how he writes his narrative.

Cool show. Cool guy. The production values are good BTW. Remember, in these types of narrated shows most stuff is intentional.

The show is original and every episode is different. See the episode on Russia if you want to see the show at its best.

Final rating: 10 out of 10 and the best show on the travel channel for all the above reasons.

authenticity

[Kirpianuscus · 27 June 2019]

...is the lead ingredient of this show about people, using the food as a sort of pretext. A charming host, but far to be polite. A trip who do not gives suggestions for travels but essence of places, flavors of lands, right perspectives and honest impressions. A show about profound meanings of the world near, around and not real far by us.

The most awesome food show on earth

[ebiros2 · 8/10 · 23 November 2012]

I'm sorry to see this series go away, but I'm eternally grateful to Anthony Bourdain, and the Travel Channel for creating this series. This is one of the (if not the) best cultural food program ever created. It's fun and educational at the same time, and certainly as good of a guide for travel destination as any.

Anthony Bourdain brings humor to the story at the expense of his own pride, but is a gracious host to others who appear on his show. He's a good role model on how to be a good host, and a guest at the same time.

The program also showed that there are some food that're worth traveling to eat. If I'm traveling to those countries, I'd definitely would make plans to experience the gastronomic delight featured on some of the episodes.

There aren't any bad episodes in this series, but some episodes had more significant impact from a personal point of view. Needless to say that this series is highly recommended for would be travelers to the featured destinations, but is also highly recommended just for its pure entertainment values.

Excellent show

[cmmcclurg · 10/10 · 17 January 2008]

With Bourdain's whit and sarcasm this show is never boring. He much like the world's most sarcastic tourist that travels off the beaten path and goes to more rural areas. His interest in the bizare and the more common food of each country he visit is amazing to see. But not only does he take you to see the food sights but also introduces you to the culture and history of that country he is in at the time. His shows funny, entertaining and educational.

He will take you to deep fried snake skins in Vietnam to scramble eggs bushmen style in Nambia and also normal foods like beer and sausages in Germany.

Unique and beautiful scenery, food, and most importantly, people.

[RyoGTO · 10/10 · 12 July 2009]

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations is one of the few reasons why I bother turning on my television. It is one of those shows that just sticks out above the rest. Each episode brings something new to the table; the show is not always perfect, varying in many ways from episode to episode, but that diversity is what makes the show so entertaining to watch and keeps the viewer coming back for more.

In No Reservation's not only does the viewer see the differences between the locals of each culture and area, but it is filmed with the narrative of Tony's unique perspective. We watch as he struggles to grasp the beauty in many things, but grasp it he does. And although he may seem somewhat cynical at times, we see him enjoying many personal experiences with some wonderful people, in beautiful and enchanting places.

So, I had thought that it might be a good idea to clear up the difference between the cynical attitude that he carries and that associated with a pessimist. I must say although he is sometimes very cynical, he does it in humor. If he was a pessimist he would not so thoroughly enjoy his surroundings, and would not find such joy in the the many simple things in which he has a knack for finding. No... Anthony is not a pessimist. If anything, he has the light of an optimist shining through the prism of a realist's troubled mind. Furthermore Anthony, relative to most television personalities and travel hosts, is the complete opposite of what most would think of as a pretentious human being. He does his best not to sugar-coat things or himself. And while it could be argued that we are all pretentious to some extent; he tries, like the show's name implies, to have no reservations about what he will and does encounter. He often thoroughly throws himself into situations and cultures, entertaining new concepts. Bourdain does his best to make himself and his show an open book, and that is one of the spices that make No Reservations so flavorful.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations is a show about life, culture, and detail. The show's given a unique flavor with it's no bull-crap host as he shares his curious or comedic insights into situations. But most of all this show is about enjoying each unique culture's beautiful scenery, food, and most importantly it's people.

Madrid Episode

[werwal · 10/10 · 14 September 2010]

Suffice to say, that this is one of the best shows around these days... BUT this episode in particular really qualifies as "food porn" in the most literal sense of the expression. As the producers recently said:it's always a balance between cultural and gastronomical experiences. Focus here is certainly on the gastronomical side and i think it works very well. No other format on TV now pictures the effort people put into their work in a more honest way. The audience feels the love and devotion people put into what they want to do, what they excel at. And at the same time everyone that is shown seems not to have forgotten how to live. There is not one scene where you would not trade a lot to switch places with Anthony Bourdain and "thank you for these 40 minutes of joy" is all you can say.

Never eat at a roadside eatery, said Anthony never!!!

[jainswapnil52 · 9/10 · 26 March 2015]

You know why this is the best travel show on TV ever? Well, maybe 'cause it literally doesn't follow any other rules in guidebook which makes all of the travel shows seem fancy..

I am not saying gourmet food is bad or traveling in a schedule is bad. But, Anthony Bourdain truly shows the audience how to enjoy each & every aspect of the place you visit.

While nearly covering every inch of the globe during the show's telecast this is one of a kind traveling show you don;t wanna miss if you are a foodie, traveler or just looking for some relaxing entertainment on your TV set after a long day at work with a cold beer in hand (just keep the local restaurant on speed dial)..

Summary:- Best fu**ing travel show in TV history & Bourdain is da man..

Interesting and intelligent, have a good niche, now Tony stop selling for credit cards...

[MarieGabrielle · 9/10 · 20 April 2011]

Mr Bourdain: you do have decent loyal,and educated audience ( even in the U.S. which is not an easy thing these days)

After five years of watching your show, which got increasingly better, I was happily surprised. Yes, I like your readings, and caustic takes on the Jersey Shore. (I'd love to see you review Long Island, but not much left there except maybe for "Peter Luger's" steakhouse).

Your show is off the grid, and great. The Jersey Shore episode, The San Francisco Street Food, the dying, old school bistros of Manhattan. The Cambodian episode and where you speak of the actual history there with your guest is provocative, and real. The Indonesian, and Hong Kong episodes are very interesting. Azores, also, makes the audience want to visit the islands. Even the Jamaica episode, where you trek through the bat caves.

I love that you hate "Applebee's" and the sordid buffet heat-lamp food, passing for a meal culture in America. Please, please do continue to pass the word on. It is something that is so very needed today.

A much needed culinary show in a sea of mediocrity, and fast food America which has no clue. 9/10.

Decent and honest food show/travelogue

[xylokopos · 7/10 · 13 April 2011]

He certainly is no Ustinov or Michael Palin, but Bourdain is a better travel show host than the legion of other generic hosts at TLC - you know the type, everything is exciting, everything tastes great, all the locals are fantastic, blahblahblah. He has no apparent interest in the history or architecture or archeology of the places he visits, but then again his focus is the food and one could say that he is more than gracious and humble when it comes to local fare. Seriously, some of the stuff he has eaten so as to not offend his hosts, haunt me to this day and would make Bear Grylls start dry heaving. Unwashed warthog anus, anyone? The Romania episode that seems to be attracting a lot of hate, is an instant TV classic of the highest order, if you can't find surreal humour and travel madness in it, you are dead inside. "Entertaining and feeding the tourists" is a racket in every country - you feel the need to protest but you know it's true.

Antony Bourdain gets it. He has a gig where he is getting paid to stuff his face with food and get hammered on the local hooch, the man is a chef and not an ambassador or an Anthropology Ph.D. Not all his insights are hilarious and yes, it is hard to produce decent commentary when you are hungover, but seriously people, some episodes and observations are pure gold.

To better understand where Bourdain is coming from, read "Kitchen Confidential", you will not regret it.

New Mexico episode

[dawillits-125-224025 · 5/10 · 5 October 2014]

I lived in New Mexico 35 years and this episode is not typical of life in this state. There are a few back country Neanderthals who shoot guns and drink beer all day, but there are in every state as well. The episode made New Mexico appear to be backwards and out of touch with reality. I now live in Florida and believe me those desert rats are a lot smarter than the swamp rats here. Overall I enjoy the show as it is interesting to see different parts of the world. However, I have my doubts that we are getting an actual depiction of the country in question or just the parts they want us to see which might appeal more to viewers, which raises the ratings and creates more advertising money. Now that is a shock, huh?

whats wrong with being pessimistic?

[mcg13jthm · 5 April 2006]

Anthony Bourdain, as much as people want to say s*** about him, is one of the coolest guys in the universe. his pessimistic view on life and his cynical ways of acting make him fun to watch. I understand how some people say he acts like a little school girl when something big is about to happen and is always complaining , but he has to go through a lot of s***, and if you'd actually watch his show you see that he really didn't want to do this, and is forced into doing things he doesn't want to do and in the long run has changed and enjoys life a lot more. and if any one complains that he smokes I swear I'll kill you, over half the US smokes. why is it such a big deal when he does it?!?!?!

Better than parts unknown in some ways

[anonfish-38459 · 8/10 · 9 May 2022]

No reservations is essentially the same as parts unknown, but it feels much more authentic with a lower budget and a smaller camera crew that's much less experienced. If you're looking for Anthony Bourdain genuinely going somewhere and experiencing food and life there, then this is it. It focuses much more on food than parts unknown. However, it's less fun overall than its newer counterpart.

Classic Bourdain

[rachel76642 · 10/10 · 8 March 2023]

This is the best travel show (other than Parts Unknown). Tony is as charismatic and witty as ever. He takes the audience on incredible journeys through countries, cultures, lives, and lots of food. This show has a more laid-back vibe than Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (PU) which tells a more political story. No Reservations is often comedic and Bourdain balances the serious to amusing ratio well compared to the more serious PU. In No Reservations, the audience can see a younger, less seasoned, less hardened Anthony Bourdain than the one that I still love in Parts Unknown. Anyways... Watch it!

Enjoyable show with an entertaining if pretentious host.

[TilDuDor · 9/10 · 22 September 2008]

Anthony Bourdain is, foremost, pretentious. He's also an outright jerk. He can be cruel, he can be an ingrate- he can be many things of a language not allowed on the IMDb comment section. He is, however, a person who understands most of these things about himself, and, most importantly, he is a man who is just outright fun to watch.

Bourdain is a tall, middle-aged white dude secure enough in his masculinity and deep enough in his pretentiousness to wear an earring on occasion. He is a writer/food critic/chef who travels around the world sampling various cultures and their cuisine while sharing his ideas and commenting (sometimes unnecessarily) along the way either to the locals or in a voice-over later recorded. While some reviewers would obviously disagree with my perception of him in this regard, I find Bourdain likable despite his various negative qualities (though I'm not sure if I'd enjoy meeting him in person).

This show and the Andrew Zimmern's run back to back sometimes on the same channel, and they complement each other well. While Bourdain is acerbic and occasionally funny, Zimmern is a much more open and amiable guy happily along for the ride. They have actually met each other on screen (a youtube search could show you what I mean) and they are somewhat similar in a subtle way. Both arec a joy to watch. Neither show is to be missed.

Love him or hate him or both, he's great!

[Sylviastel · 8/10 · 10 February 2009]

Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations is a rare show that combines both traveling and restaurants which happen to be two of my favorite things. This travel channel show goes all over the map literally judging by the locations listed here. He was recently in Chicago. Since Bourdain is bred New Yorker but raised in urban Jersey, he doesn't put Chicago down at all. He always praises locations like Chicago. For example, he goes to China and claims that he could spend an eternity trying to show the various, unique cooking styles of the Chinese. He was quite complimentary and enjoyed his visit in China just as he does everywhere. He meets with friends and goes to the off the tourist track to find the restaurants where there are usually local charms. You won't find them to have valet parking or formal attire. Anthony shows the culture and the cuisine in his travels whether it's Jersey, New York, Chicago, China, or elsewhere. I have enjoyed watching him and his friends chow down on a variety of foods.

In a class by itself

[dm-62539 · 10/10 · 21 August 2021]

Bourdain mixes food with culture and Travelog. Unbiased, straight forward, Anthony created one of the best culinary shows on the planet.

For who doesn't mind getting "bit" by a tavel bug.

[Global-Heroes · 10/10 · 28 March 2023]

Travel is a state of mind toward exploration and wander. Anthony Bourdain could blend together topics that in any other show would clash together, while his mastery was to bring them together just like a chef would do with different flavours.

The emptiness that Anthony has left behind as not yet been filled up by other travel hosts. So I'm sure that after a few episodes, you'll get hooked to see what is coming up next.

Note: Traveling is not only exploring places, but exploring everything in between, like food, people, culture, architecture, and yes, getting lost sometimes, and losing a little bit of ourselves, in order to make room for something new.

Sergio D. Spadavecchia.

Fun to Watch

[thalassafischer · 7/10 · 15 November 2023]

I like No Reservations as a pleasant diversion, it's a good show just to relax and enjoy the sights of other countries, or to watch in comfort as Bourdain slogs uncomfortably through rivers in Thailand or samples culinary nightmares that I'd personally never touch.

However, I don't think the show is as excellent as some people rave about. It has a bit of an exploitation vibe about it, there's nothing reassuring to me about a white middle class man imposing his capitalist privilege on people in the developing world. Why more people don't mention this disturbing aspect of Bourdain's career, I'm not sure. In all honesty, he was a harbinger to the shallow, entitled "influencer" culture that people half his age perpetuate on social media today. Tony's fixation on consumption is alarming if one thinks about it too much.

Still, I enjoy his comedic approach, especially to travel in Asia. I would say at least half of the episodes are worth watching, but Bourdain's preference for large cities gets a bit repetitive - you've seen one neon bathed nighttime bar and restaurant rush, you've seen them all. On the other hand, Bourdain's adventures to rural areas and encounters with indigenous people are very cool to vicariously experience.

Curmudgeonly bore with literary pretenses should have stayed in the kitchen

[Der_Schnibbler · 1/10 · 21 August 2008]

This guy is a real piece of work. An angry, immature boy in a grown man's body, packing all the charisma of a rock, he goes around to places most people would only wish to visit and does his best to be as miserable as possible.

Give this job to someone else who actually appreciates it.

I could go down an endless list of all the stupid things this guy does in his "episodes," though I'll just highlight the worst: Crete. While the locals are putting up seaside picnics in his "honour," this clown has the gall to act like a petulant, spoiled child. He complains about everything, including the fashion sense of the people who live there. What an imbecile.

When he went to Sweden, he spent at least five minutes feigning incredulity at a bunch of chefs (who probably had better things to do than talk with some dimwit American, like work) because they didn't think Abba was horrible. Everywhere he went, he brought up Abba. This is the kind of talk you'd hear from 13-year-olds who watch too much MTV.

When he was in New Orleans, he got upset that a certain restaurant had better-tasting fries than his, so he "accidentally" spilled some wine on them in order to ruin them. What a strange, emotionally unstable person.

The worst of it all are his clumsy voice-overs, where he attempts in vain to add some kind of perspective on a situation he was too thick and ignorant to appreciate. He tries to use all these "big" words in order to sound like an author, but he's really just a pretentious hack whose lack of awareness has convinced him he has something to say. That, by the way, is probably the one good thing about this joker's TV show. It goes to show you, no matter how inept you are, as long as you take yourself seriously enough, the world will as well.

Then there's the way he speaks with local guides whose English is obviously only rudimentary. He'll use vocabulary any writer--as he believes himself to be--would instinctively know will most likely not be understood by these people. Does he care? No. Self-important schmucks like this Bourdain clown do not use language to communicate; they use it to make themselves look important.

Mcg13jthm's review on this same page is a perfect example of the kind of mind Bourdain attracts--that of a low IQ social misfit. Observe how the reviewer attempts to justify Bourdain's sociopath nature with simple-minded, childish excuses that hardly make sense. "Bourdain may complain but he goes through 'a lot' and, not only that, he was 'forced' to do this show but is trying to redeem himself." A dolt attracts dolts, and reading Mcg13jthm's review should let you know perfectly well whether or not you are the kind of person who'd enjoy this utterly useless, pointless show.

Finally, to add a bit of "fairness" to my diatribe, I admit Bourdain would have been momentarily amusing had I met him in a bar. But as a TV host of a travel show whose purpose is to show the viewer the beauty of other places and cultures, Bourdain is a miserable, abject, hopeless, grim and depressing failure.

A failure.

The most painful television series to endure

[italianchampions · 21 October 2011]

Anthony Bourdain may perhaps be the worst example of an American ever. I don't know what it is about him that bugs me...Perhaps it's his liberalistic ideology, his smug personality, his cultural ignorance, or maybe it's his failed attempts to be a ladies man. Anthony is a painful reminder of what happens after you hit a mid-life crisis. He feels inclined to prove that he is the most intelligent human being on Earth and he just won't stop until you are convinced.

Bourdain's show is just an excuse for his cockiness and cultural ignorance. He insists on showing either stereotypical examples of every location he visits or the far extremes or them. Sure we all wish we could have his job and get paid to travel from place to place, but we all know that most of us will never have it. This is what attracts viewers to let some strange tall lanky man with a beer belly show us his idea of what a country should have or be like instead of the viewers attempting to experience themselves.

Honestly, no one deserves to have their country stereotyped by an ex-druggie, unimaginably dry humored, insincere person who receives praise from fans unwilling to expand their horizons. I don't claim to be a writer, just a normal viewer of television who is fed up with pointless shows and the lack of though put into these programs. Anthony insists upon himself even more than Rosie O'Donnell...who's show I'm almost certain I would rather watch. Save your time and currently unbiased thoughts before he takes both from you.

Generally enjoyable but also often frustrating because he's so darn nasty.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 24 March 2013]

"No Reservations" is a show I used to watch. However, I got tired of Anthony Bourdain and his snarky personality. If you like his acerbic and often insulting ways, you'll probably enjoy the show. If you don't like seeing his cultural insensitivity (they are almost too frequent to mention but would include nasty comments about ABBA to Swedes and his overbearing manner with the reserved Japanese) or his crass language, then you best watch Andrew Zimern or someone else. As for me, I could overlook his nasty persona for a while but after watching most of his episodes for a year or so, I just felt bored. After all, if you don't like a host, it's hard to sustain interest. A bit of charm and sensitivity, and I'd still be a fan.