Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 2 -> Episode 2.23

The Innkeepers

Frasier learns that Orcini's, a restaurant much frequented by the Crane's when they were younger, is closing down, so he decides to take Niles, Martin and Daphne there for one last meal. They find the place deserted - but Frasier and Niles believe that with their expertise in food, they could turn the fortunes of the restaurant around, and so decide to buy the place, renaming it Les Freres Heureux (The Happy Brothers). The first night is packed and everything is going smoothly until events begin to conspire against them, and soon Martin is having to serve drinks, Niles and Daphne are cooking and Roz is roped in to waitress. Just when things couldn't get any worse, they do when Gil Chesterton and a group of restaurant critics turn up to savour what turns out to be a memorable opening night for the Cranes.....

Roz: My typical date's idea of a gourmet meal is take out, make out, and home by Letterman.

Frasier: Niles, a thriving Seattle nightspot is closing it's doors.
Niles: Roz, you're moving?
- Roz licks Niles' precious book

- At Orcinis:
Frasier: I'd order Dad the crab cocktail, but I'm afraid the irony would be lost on him.

Frasier: You know, I've always wanted to own a 4-star restaurant.
Niles: What growing boy hasn't!

- Trying to think of a name for the restaurant:
Niles: What's the word for lighthearted in French?
Frasier: There isn't one.

- As Daphne and Niles complain about Roz accepting customers changing their orders:
Roz: I have trouble saying no.
Niles: So the guidebooks tell us.

- The final escalation of calamity

Martin [on phone]: Table for 2 - no problem. Smoke damaged or non smoke damaged?
Frasier [to Niles]: We could always tell people he died in the explosion.

To be a completely successful episode of 'Frasier' there has to be a successful mix of smart, funny lines mixed in with some physical comedy if necessary, but in this episode, it seems that everything is a build up to the final scene where everything that could go wrong does (and more beside). This is undoutable fun to watch as Frasier and Niles struggle to keep a lid on what's happening behind the scenes, with a wonderful highlight of Daphne killing an eel, but this is never going to be a classic episode as for me it was too farce based to be entirely brilliant, which means that while it is a brilliant watch first time around, once you know what's going to happen, it makes future viewings less rewarding.

Rating

82 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 92.9%
Total Number of Reviews: 23