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Battle of Boston food shows: Phantom Gourmet vs. TV Diner


I watched The Phantom Gourmet on Boston's NECN station for years. It was hosted by Billy Costa, who is also a DJ on the long-running KISS-108 morning show with Matt Siegel. After the show ran for eight years, producer Dan Andelman and his family moved the show to WSBK 38, another Boston station. Costa stayed at NECN and launched a new show, TV Diner. The Phantom Gourmet is a mysterious person (they won't say whether the diner is male or female) who goes around in secret and reviews Boston and New England eating establishments. The show gives the restaurants a grade. The show also features other reviews and features as well.

TV Diner is a little different. They feature a lot of chefs and go behind the scenes of restaurants. The do reviews too, giving a "plate" grade, but it's not as much of a focus as it is on the other show.

To say things are tense between the two shows is an understatement. Besides the typical tension you would expect from two similar shows in the same TV market, Costa is a little ticked that The Phantom Gourmet asks their guests (chefs, foodies, customers, etc) not to appear on the other show for a few months.

I've watched both shows. I watched when Costa hosted TPG and I watch TPG now that it's hosted by Andelman. I don't mind TV Diner at all, it's just that it's on a TV station I hardly ever watch (NECN is the cable news station here) and I never remember when it's on.

I do take issue with The Phantom Gourmet's rule about restaurant reviewing though. At an appearance at Border's for their book, the Andelmans said that the Phantom only visits a restaurant once and then does a review. I think that's a little unfair. Any restaurant can have a bad night. Imagine if someone judged TPG by watching only one episode.

But it's a fun show. They both are. I've learned about places to eat more from these shows than any other resource. Now I guess we have to see whether or not two shows like this can survive in the same market. Both shows are in it for the long haul.

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