New Jersey Man’s Life Spirals After Gordon Ramsay’s Visit – What You Didn’t See on TV

Throughout many seasons, Chef Gordon Ramsay and FOX's Kitchen Nightmares visited nearly 100 failing restaurants in the hope of reviving them and saving their owners from bankruptcy.

One New Jersey restaurant looked on the right track after Chef's visit, but what happened after the cameras were turned off is tragic.

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In 2007, Ramsay visited Campania in Fair Lawn.

At the time of filming, Joseph Cerniglia had only owned the previously successful restaurant for 18 months.

When Gordon and his crew arrived, the place was about to close its doors.

The chef was not impressed by Cerniglia from the start.

Time was of the essence as the restaurant was in over $250,000 of debt.

Gordon gave the kitchen staff feedback and let them know that their food wasn’t up to par with good Italian dishes.

In a rare Kitchen Nightmares moment, Ramsay inspects the kitchen and finds it clean and well-stocked.

However, with no customers, the owner lost money on unused food.

Gordon observed a dinner service and saw that the staff acted like the restaurant was a high school.

The next day, Gordon meets with Joe's wife, Melissa, who tells him that if the restaurant fails, they will lose their house.

Both she and Joe's Mom worry about the stress this is putting on Joe.

Melissa, his wife, tells Gordon they have a lot on the line if the restaurant fails, and Joe has a passion for what he does but needs perspective.

Gordon introduces a new signature dish: meatballs, and they head out into town to promote "New Jersey's Best Meatballs" with samples and flyers.

READ MORE: Gordon Ramsay Visits an Old Friend in Asbury Park

Gordon introduces a new menu with the signature meatballs in the starters and entrees.

Gordon takes Joe aside to keep him focused on his role as a leader in the kitchen and advises him to spend limited time in the dining room.

The relaunch night it ended well, with the team working well and communicating.

After the show wrapped, things looked up for Campania and Joe Cerniglia.

Customers were flocking to the new and improved eatery.

Joe won Chef Central's Bergen County Ultimate Chef Competition in 2008 and runner-up in 2009.

Sadly, this story does not have a happy ending.

What Kitchen Nightmares didn't share in a follow-up was that in September 2010, Joe sold the restaurant to Campania Holding Corp.

Eight days later, Joe Cerniglia committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River.

It was later discovered that Joe was dating a pastry chef at the restaurant while still with his wife.

Campania closed in January 2011.

Let me be clear. Chef Ramsay and Kitchen Nightmares shouldn't be blamed for this devastating incident.

Clearly, a lot was going on that no one was aware of.