There are people who eat to live, and then there are those who live to eat. Indulging in good food can go much further than just rewarding yourself with a tastebud rollercoaster.
In the past couple of decades, cooking shows have risen in popularity, and figures like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver have become widely recognized.
With this in mind, there are hundreds of restaurants that you should pay a visit to that are owned by celebrity cooks, athletes, actors, and musicians. To help you get started, we have prepared a list of a few restaurants that are well-known for fantastic food and a great atmosphere.
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
Situated in London at 68 Royal Hospital Road Chelsea Street, this restaurant is considered to be one of the most successful in the world.
Apart from the fact that it was founded by Gordon Ramsay, who is an explicit cook and is among the most popular chefs, it is the menu that you will be astonished by. Frankly, you won’t have to worry about coming across some dishes that shouldn’t be served in a fine dining restaurant.
The main guarantee of quality is the fact that the Restaurant Gordon Ramsay holds three Michelin stars, and this is how it has been for more than 12 years now. Keep in mind that no other food facility has managed this.
It also stands out with fresh, high-quality ingredients that you will be presented through innovative recipes that are created by using traditional and modern cooking methods.
Well-known for its French cuisine specials, the main chef at this restaurant is Chef Patron Clare Smyth, who has worked at this restaurant for years and is considered to be one of the most successful female cooks in the world.
This is no surprise as she was lectured by Mr. Gordon Ramsay himself, who opened this restaurant when he was just 31 years old.
Other than great food, you are sure to be impressed by the romantic and elegant interior that highlights this restaurant. The fact that it can’t fit more than 45 people at once means that you will need to call and make a reservation at least a couple of hours, if not days before. However, it will be worth the wait.
The main item on the menu has to be the three-course dinner option, which will cost you just around $143 (without drinks). If you feel more like lunch, then going for the three meal option is set at $83 (per person).
Most importantly, there is a wide range of wines and champagnes that you can order by the glass or bottle.
Del Posto
Whether you are a tourist or a New York City local, this restaurant is something that you shouldn’t miss out on if you enjoy fine dining.
Set at 85 10th Avenue, it has been in business for more than 15 years (opened in 2005). It is led by the Bastianich family (Joe and Lidia) and Mario Batali, who is among the best chefs in the world when it comes to honoring traditional Italian cuisine.
The concept of this restaurant is to provide visitors a fantastic experience and an opportunity to indulge in both traditional and modern recipes of the Apennine Peninsula.
Unlike the Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London, which is quite intimate, this one covers an area of more than 24,000 square feet and is highlighted by a beautiful palazzo architecture (mahogany and marble).
While there is a gamut of dishes that you can try, we recommend that you either go for the five-course ($95) or the seven-course ($125) meal, as it is the closest that you can get to experience the passion that Italians share for great food.
Yes, the prices may not be for someone who is on a tight budget, but if you consider the quality and the environment that you will be spending your time in, it is absolutely worth it!
Maude
Whether you have visited LA or you are planning to do so in the near future, you probably know that there are hundreds of fantastic restaurants. Among those that stand out is Maude, which is situated at 212 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California.
Unlike the aforementioned two, this one has its focus on American cuisine, and with that in mind, the chefs do their best to offer a dynamic menu that everybody can enjoy. The restaurant and its concept were founded by Curtis Stone, who has experienced a rise in popularity throughout the past couple of years.
Depending on the season and changing every month, there is an ingredient that is made the star of all of the available courses (nine).
For most months, the price is the same ($125 per person) for the whole experience, but if you come in November when the seasonal ingredient is white truffle, you will pay thrice the sum.
If you are interested, you might as well start calling as this restaurant is busy most of the time, and getting a reservation will require more than a single phone call (unless you know the owner).
Still, the fact that after a couple of visits everyone will be addressing you by your name justifies the effort.
Nobu New York
Moving on with our list of some of the best celebrity-owned restaurants in the world, you should definitely pay a visit to Nobu New York if you are a fan of Japanese cuisine. It is led by Matsuhisa Nobu, who has been an active chef for the past 50 years, earning his experience in Japan, Peru, and Argentina.
You will be in for an outstanding food adventure. The current executive chef is Ricky Estrellado, who was taught everything there is to making fantastic sushi and other traditional Japanese courses by Matsuhisa.
Of course, it is on the pricier side, which means the two of you may end up paying as much as $500 for a few course dinners, but according to the numerous reviews, the quality is outstanding.
On the other hand, if you are someone with a more restricted budget, you may still indulge in some of the special dishes from the Omakase menu, which is set at $75 per person.
Situated at 105 Hudson Street in New York, Matsuhisa isn’t the only star of this restaurant.
In fact, he founded it back in 1994 along with the famous actor Robert de Niro, as well as film producer Meir Teper and restaurateur Nieporent Drew. Frankly, it is the perfect example of a restaurant that is successfully run by multiple celebrities.
Alma Nove
If you are going to Hingham, Massachusetts, then the place at 22 Shipyard Drive is something that you should definitely go and experience. Resting on the beautiful seafront, this restaurant does Mediterranean and Italian cuisine, which is made from ingredients of the highest quality.
You will fall in love with their homemade pasta, as well as the shrimp and seafood courses that are made with contemporary cooking techniques.
Quite spacious and able to accommodate up to 143 people at a time, we always recommend that visitors get a table that looks at the astonishing port of Hingham. The best thing about it is that it is perfect for those on a tight budget given the fact that a whole meal can cost you less than $30.
Not only that, but there is also an array of cocktails that you can enjoy. With this in mind, it seems that successful chef Paul Wahlberg, his brothers (Mark and Donnie), as well as their friend (Ed St. Croix), did a fantastic job with this place.
Babbo
When it comes to having dinner at a place that serves modern Italian American cuisine, it can’t get much better than Babbo, which is at 110 Waverly Place, Greenwich Village, New York City. Once again, Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali have mastered the art of business and offering food of explicit quality.
Founded back in 1998, it has been operating with three stars for more than two decades, and visitors are still amazed by the versatility of the available menus.
In our opinion, it is the perfect substitute for Del Posto, as it is somewhat more affordable (around $50 per person) but equally intimate. You have a wide array of meat, pizza, and pasta courses to choose from, and the desserts are provided by Rebecca DeAngelis, who is the pastry chef.
Not only that, but there is an excellent wine selection that you can find more about from Michael Acheson, who is both a wine director and general manager at the same time.
Conclusion
Restaurants owned by actors and celebrity chefs usually offer a fine dining experience. However, that doesn’t mean that you will need to break your budget in order to have a nice experience at some of the aforementioned places.
Even if that is the case, we can guarantee that paying a somewhat higher price will allow you to engage in a unique food experience that you can’t find in fast food facilities.
Keep in mind that the restaurants that we have highlighted are just a few that offer foods of astonishing quality. That is why we encourage you to expand this list with your own suggestions. Bon appetit!
