Waltham eatery returns to Flavortown through the Food Network

Local Waltham eatery In A Pickle is scheduled to appear on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Triple D Nation” this Friday at 9 p.m.

The restaurant is no stranger to national attention — owner Tim Burke says this marks the fourth time In A Pickle has been on national television. It’s not even a stranger to Fieri’s cinematic universe, as this episode follows up on an initial spotlight in a special 2019 celebrity episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

In A Pickle was originally considered for “Triple D,” as the show is sometimes known, way back in 2012, but wasn’t selected to appear on it until the 2019 episode, Burke says. The preparation for the episode involved a flurry of activity where the restaurant had to be closed for three days.

Burke talked fondly about the episode, which featured Sammy Hagar of Van Halen as its celebrity guest. “For me it was pretty cool because… my best friend from college was a huge Van Halen fan,” he said. “I wasn’t really nervous until they told us that day — they’re like, ‘Hey, Sammy Hagar’s going to be here with you.’ And I’m like, well, now I’m nervous!”

Burke said the taping for the new episode — which was filmed last spring — was a little less intense than it was the first time around, but he’s excited to showcase some classic menu items.

He explained that since Fieri prefers savory food to sweet and famously isn’t an egg fan, the recipes they submitted for the 2019 episode didn’t focus as heavily on the sweeter breakfast, brunch and lunch items In A Pickle has historically specialized in — but this new episode includes a couple of restaurant favorites, including the S’mores French Toast Tower.

Burke adds that the restaurant hasn’t been idle since the show’s taping. Over the last year, he says, they’ve been slowly rolling out new dinner entrées, and they’re hoping to ramp up dinner service soon. He also seems excited about a newly introduced Halloween promotion where the restaurant gives away a hearse, which Burke hopes will become a new tradition.

“Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” has developed somewhat of a cult following over the years — which makes it especially exciting to be featured on it,  Burke said. “I think it’s one of those iconic shows now. No one really knew what was going to be like years and years ago. And then it just turned into this juggernaut.”

Burke said the restaurant now gets a lot of visits from guests who recognize it from “Triple D.” Some are tourists to the area who saw it on the show and make a special stop to check it out.

Sometimes visitors are looking for the recipes In A Pickle shared on the show — and sometimes they just want to ask questions about the experience. “People just want to know what [Fieri’s] like, and if he’s the same way in person as he is on TV,” Burke said, amused. “Which he is. I mean, it’s the same.”

The show’s reach and recognition, he said, adds an additional feeling of success for himself and for his staff. “You put a lot of work into [the restaurant] and you put a lot of effort and a lot of time and it’s just good to show that you have something to show for all that hard work, really.

“For these national shows, it really, for us, it’s kind of like a medal, like a badge of honor.”