RHONY Premiere: Unveiling the Mystery Behind the Bleeped-Out Restaurant! Must-Read Investigation

The Real Housewives of New York City Gavin Bond/Bravo

In the latest season of The Real Housewives of New York City, fans are eager to solve a mysterious puzzle right from the start. During the premiere, a restaurant's name was consistently censored, leaving viewers curious about its identity.

The tension arose approximately ten minutes into the episode when Erin Lichy disclosed that Sai De Silva and Brynn Whitfield decided not to join a group dinner due to their belief that the chosen venue was no longer trendy. Reflecting on that night, Erin, aged 36, expressed her lingering resentment to Ubah Hassan as she explained the circumstances in a confessional interview.

"The girls and I had planned to meet up for dinner, but finding a suitable venue for our large group was proving to be a challenge. With very little time to spare, I finally settled on [censored]," Erin recounted during the premiere on Sunday, July 16. "This restaurant used to be the hottest spot in New York. It's conveniently located and easily accessible. However, Sai and Brynn decided to skip the group dinner and instead, they publicly posted on Instagram that they were at Casa Cipriani, which was hurtful."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the East River, Brynn, age 36, shared her perspective of the situation with her friends, Jessel Taank and Sai, age 42. "I didn't know how to express that attending [censored] was something I absolutely did not want to do," Brynn confessed. "It's not 2005, and I'm not just some insignificant model. Is it wrong that I'd rather not go to [censored]? To me, places like Olive Garden, with their carpeted floors, give off a more sophisticated vibe. Plus, their breadsticks are amazing. They really hit the spot. I find it more enjoyable and versatile to indulge in both high-end and casual dining experiences. But [censored] seems to fall into this odd, in-between category."

Noam Galai/Bravo

In a confessional interview, Sai added, “[Censored] is good for teenagers, I think.”

The editors at Bravo apparently chose to censor the restaurant's name throughout the episode, possibly to protect its reputation. However, this immediately sparked speculation among viewers about which establishment was being criticized. One popular guess was Carbone, an Italian restaurant renowned for attracting celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian. However, there are a few issues with this theory. Firstly, even A-listers struggle to secure a table for two at Carbone, making it unlikely that Erin would have been able to get a last-minute reservation for a large party. Secondly, the word mentioned by the women appears to have only one syllable, whereas Carbone clearly has two. Lastly, Carbone did not open until 2013.

Other online investigators discovered Catch, a seafood restaurant in the Meatpacking District with additional locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Contrary to Brynn's claim of it opening in 2005, Catch actually started in 2011. However, it does fit the requirement of having one syllable. Additionally, when we conducted a quick check, we found that reservations were available for 10 people at 7:30 p.m. on Friday or 8:45 p.m. on Saturday.

On Monday, July 17, Brynn indirectly addressed the drama by sharing a photo of herself on Instagram, teasing her upcoming NYC restaurant guide. In the comments section, Jessel, who is 43 years old, seemingly confirmed that the mysterious restaurant's name starts with the letter "C," urging Brynn to include it in her guide.

Jessel’s comment could also be referring to Craft, the restaurant that Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio opened in 2001. However, Catch has its own connection to Bravo that may have prompted some editors to engage in proactive censorship. When Catch opened, it had Hung Hunyh, the winner of season 3 of the cooking competition, as its chef. However, Hunyh, who is now 45, ended his association with the restaurant's ownership group in February 2015, citing differences in creative vision with the executives.

During that time, he expressed his frustrations, stating, “It was challenging to be taken seriously by a reputable publication such as The New York Times while working at Catch Hospitality Group. I was constrained by having to cater to the tastes of just two individuals. There was a limit to how much I could experiment or showcase authentic flavors."

The Real Housewives of New York City airs on Bravo Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.