Welcome to The Heart Attack Grille, and yes, it’s really called that – and for good reason. What started as a single restaurant in Phoenix, AZ has grown to another large restaurant in Las Vegas and is gaining lots of attention for it’s controversial menu and atmosphere.
This is no regular burger joint. The servers dress as “nurses” in tight short uniforms, and they don’t serve drinks, they serve “prescriptions”. For example, your shot of alcohol comes in a pill bottle. Diners are required to wear hospital gowns as they eat, and anyone over 350 pounds is rewarded and gets to dine free. Burgers are named the single, double, triple, and quadruple bypass, french fries are fried in pure lard, and if you don’t finish your meal, a “nurse” smacks you on your bottom with a paddle. Their newest menu item? An 8 patty burger weighing in at 20,000 calories. Not fatty enough? Try their all butter fat milkshake.
Owner John Basso claims this is all being done in the name of good health. Despite three people actually suffering heart attacks while eating in his restaurant and their 600 pound spokesperson dying from obesity related issues, he says he is merely trying to spread the word that gluttony can kill. He was even a former dietician and health club owner. It’s all rather confusing if you ask me – push healthy living by serving extremely unhealthy foods and glamorizing poor health?
Basso also claims that people dying in his restaurant is good publicity and good for business. I think we get the picture now.
Thoughts? Is this owner motivated by profit only, or do you think the lesson behind his restaurant is actually being heard? Watch the video below and share your thoughts.