Status: CLOSED (2023)
Amistad Grill in Homestead, Florida was a family restaurant that couldn’t survive its internal conflicts. Despite Restaurant Impossible’s intervention, the Uruguayan-American establishment closed in 2023 when the property was redeveloped. The family has since returned to Uruguay with their recipes.
An Immigrant’s Dream
Omar Barreiro was a Uruguayan immigrant who spent his entire career in the restaurant business. In June 2019, he opened Amistad Grill (Spanish for “friendship”) in Homestead, Florida with his wife and children – a true family operation serving Spanish cuisine.
But Omar’s intensity was becoming a problem. His trust issues caused him to constantly scold his wife and daughter in the restaurant. The stress was tearing the family apart.
The Episode (Season 21, Episode 7)
Title: “Fighting for Your Family”
Air Date: June 10, 2022
Filming: February 2022
Robert Irvine had to teach Omar to slow down, listen to his family, and cook with love and care. The restaurant’s problems weren’t in the recipes – they were in the relationships.
Initial Improvements
The Restaurant Impossible makeover brought an initial spark to Amistad Grill. The family dynamics improved, and the refreshed restaurant showed promise. For a time, it seemed like the intervention had worked.
The Closure
But external factors intervened. Amistad Grill permanently closed in mid-2023 amid financial strain. The property was redeveloped, forcing the restaurant out regardless of how well it was operating.
State records show voluntary dissolution in late 2023. The Barreiro family made a decision: rather than start over in Florida, they moved their concepts and recipes back to Uruguay.
A Different Kind of Ending
Not every Restaurant Impossible closure is a failure. Sometimes restaurants close for reasons beyond their control – property redevelopment, family decisions, or simply choosing a different path. The Barreiros didn’t go bankrupt; they went home.
The skills Omar learned about running a calmer, more collaborative kitchen went with him to Uruguay. Restaurant Impossible’s lessons don’t always stay in one location.
Last verified: January 2026
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