10 Celebrity Owned Restaurants That Are Worth Going To

Eating at a dining establishment owned by a mainstream celebrity is an unparalleled pleasure. After all, what better novelty is there than to look upon a menu devised and/or signed off by the restaurant’s publicized owner, be it a famous actor, a talented musician, or the veteran host of an acclaimed Food Network program?

Unfortunately, most celebrity-backed restaurants seem to coast on the novelty of its owners’ illustrious names. On the flip side, certain celebrity-owned properties have prided themselves on delivering a first-rate dining experience to their respective clientele. From movie-centric Italian restaurants to unassuming taco joints in Los Angeles, here are 10 restaurants owned by celebrities that we heartily recommend checking out.

Cafe Zoetrope

Astute cinephiles and literary fans might recognize the name “zoetrope” from Francis Ford Coppola’s production company, American Zoetrope, and the director’s literary magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story. Just as Coppola has borrowed the name for his extensive artistic endeavors, the award-winning filmmaker behind The Godfather has adopted the name for his various commercial ventures.

Case in point with Cafe Zoetrope, a San Francisco-based Italian eatery that embraces its owner’s cinematic roots. Along with plenty of behind-the-scenes movie photos and posters adorning the restaurant, Cafe Zoetrope is known for its rustic meals, including an egg yolk-infused Caesar salad and classic spaghetti and meatballs.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Before he became the most universally popular chef of his generation, Gordon Ramsay was hard at work masterminding an exquisite dining experience at London’s Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. Situated in the heart of Chelsea, everything about Restaurant Gordon Ramsay illustrates Ramsay’s profound dedication to his culinary craft.

Earning a total of three Michelin stars since first opening in 1998, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay combines regional French delicacies with a high-concept presentation. Though you might leave with a notably lighter wallet, every dish at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is guaranteed to leave your stomach firmly pressed to the top lining of your pants.

Jac’s on Bond

Most people might associate him with his starring role on HBO’s Succession, but Nicholas Braun has also proven himself a more than shrewd businessman. As the co-owner of several New York City restaurants, Braun has gained a reputation for backing well-loved NYC institutions diners can’t get enough of.

As a notable example, look at Jac’s on Bond, a high-end restaurant with a menu designed by celebrated chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske. As with most NYC eateries, the price tag on certain items may be a tad high – but most of Jac’s on Bond’s offerings are well worth the cost.

JBJ Soul Kitchen

A love letter to his home state of New Jersey, JBJ Soul Kitchen is also a testament to Jon Bon Jovi’s endearing humanitarianism. A unique entry on this list for more than a few reasons, guests can choose to pay for their meals at JBJ Soul Kitchen through several alternative ways.

Along with financial donations and choose-what-you-pay billing options, patrons can volunteer to help in the kitchen, paying their dish forward and ensuring other patrons leave just as satisfied as they did. Initially designed to outfit diners with food despite their financial situation, it’s among the best and most unique restaurants in the Garden State.

Joanne Trattoria

As someone who’s constantly challenging themselves with new professional ventures, it’s no surprise that Lady Gaga proved herself every bit as successful a restaurant owner as she has a singer and award-winning actor.

At Gaga and her family’s fine-dining establishment Joanne Trattoria, New York City visitors will find an extensive lineup of traditional New York Italian dishes, many of which proudly bear the Gaga clan’s name (like Mom’s lemon artichoke chicken and Papa G’s chicken scarpariello).

Meril

If anyone is qualified to serve first-rate Southern Cajun staples, it’s the award-winning celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. A longtime regular on the Food Channel, Lagasse has become synonymous with his various Southern-style dining establishments, including New Orleans’ Meril.

One of Lagasse’s five principal New Orleans properties, Meril combines Lagasse’s signature love of Creole cooking with a menu of international dishes. Alongside Italian specialties like linguine with truffle butter, you’ll find more eclectic menu options like Mexican street corn, Korean chicken wings, and fresh-made servings of gumbo.

Nic & Norman’s

You don’t have to be a diehard horror fan to enjoy Nic & Norman’s various locations across the American Southeast. The brainchild of Norman Reedus and The Walking Dead’s special effects supervisor Greg Nicotero, Nic & Norman’s is a delectable restaurant that can only be described as scary good.

Based in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia (I.E., the main setting of The Walking Dead’s narrative), Nic & Norman’s incorporates numerous Southern staples, including standout classics such as pickle fries, sticky ribs, and Coca-Cola-braised pork shank.

Nellie’s Southern Kitchen

Say what you will about the Jonas Brothers, but the fact that they opened a Southern-style restaurant named after their grandmother is nothing short of heartwarming and adorable. Fortunately, the food served at Nellie’s Southern Kitchen is more than satisfying enough to keep patrons returning to the Jo Bros’ front doors.

With twin locations in Las Vegas and North Carolina, Nellie’s Southern Kitchen transposes the hospitality of an average Mississippi eatery to its respective settings. Above all else, you absolutely cannot leave without trying Nellie’s famous buttermilk biscuits (derived from the actual Nellie’s tried-and-true recipe).

Nobu

Like several other stars on this list, Robert De Niro has spearheaded several restaurants aimed at a diverse clientele, as seen through his work with New York City properties like Locanda Verde and Tribeca Grill.

As further evidence of the actor’s elite taste in fine-dining experiences, look at De Niro’s collaboration with head chef Nobu Matsuhisa. An upscale Japanese restaurant just two blocks from Central Park, Nobu offers premium sushi dishes, including lobster ceviche, toro tartare, and uber-tender wagyu beef.

Trejo’s Tacos

Like most celebrity-owned restaurants, Trejo’s Tacos has become a cultural sensation in California. With four locations across the Golden State, Danny Trejo’s hit restaurant chain rivals Chipotle and Qdoba in terms of its hearty meals and zesty Mexican dishes.

Prioritizing simple, healthy ingredients, each of Trejo’s Tacos is worth eating at, none more so than its original Farmer’s Market location on Third and Fairfax. If your love for its soft-hearted, tough guy owner wasn’t reason enough to visit it, Trejo’s Tacos has earned an avid approval from the late, great Anthony Bourdain. (“It’s just really good,” the departed TV host once said of Trejo’s taco shack.)