Heart Attack-Themed Restaurant Gets Sued...By Another Restaurant

First of all, heart attack-themed restaurants ... what?! I know, I know, it's outrageous. But according to Salon.com, it seems as if The Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, Ariz. is filing a lawsuit against Heart Stoppers Sports Grill in Delray Beach, Fla. Apparently, Heart Stoppers is using similar tactics and products as Heart Attack Grill to lure in customers.

Watch the video below for more about the restaurants and the lawsuit. Story continues after the video.



"Basically it's a marketing ploy," said Riska Platt, registered dietitian and American Heart Association spokesperson. And based on The Heart Attack Grill's Web site, which features a theme song and waitresses dressed as nurses, we tend to agree. Platt notes that these heart attack-themed restaurants pack their foods with incredible calorie counts similar to fast food joints, and that your best bet is to follow the AHA guidelines surrounding healthy eating and portion control.

With a menu that features single through quadruple bypass burgers (one beef patty for each bypass), "flatliner fries" deep fried in pure lard, Jolt Cola and -- wait for it -- unfiltered cigarettes, it's no doubt The Heart Attack Grill is feeding the American obesity epidemic. The kicker? Patrons who weigh over 350 pounds eat for free.

"What's so sad is that these restaurants actually serve entrees with this many calories," said Keri Gans, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "I'm shocked. These restaurants are just adding fuel to the fire by offering a free meal to people who are already overeating tremendously. They are encouraging them to continue this cycle."

With a number of fast food chains like Taco Bell touting "light" menu options for dieters and those trying to eat healthier, it seems ludicrous that diners are seeking meals like The Heart Attack Grill's Quadruple Bypass Burger, which packs around 8,000 calories, sans "flatliner fries." Of course, while you could place blame completely on these establishments, they wouldn't be in business if someone wasn't eating there. Ultimately, we're all responsible for what we put into our bodies.

"What makes it attractive is that we're constantly being told that we shouldn't eat this or that," said Gans. "And a place like this is saying 'look how much we have of what you shouldn't be eating. It's attractive to people who don't care about their health to begin with, or don't care enough."

Gans said these heart attack chains could also be popular among a male population looking for a challenge. It could be a "'Let's see how much we can eat' type of thing for guys, especially since they are sports places," she said. "Particularly for younger men, they think that nothing can affect their health – but it all catches up."

Can't get enough of high-fat meals like the one at these restaurants. Find out why you could be addicted to fast food. And check out more information about the restaurant from our friends at Slashfood.