May 12th 2017 - Guest
7 Celebrity Chef Restaurants Where You Need to Eat
Between seeing celebrity chefs star in TV shows, teach classes, write cook books, and give interviews, it’s easy to forget how these culinary masters got their starts. Truth is—all the famous chefs we know and love only achieved their monumental success after years of laboring away in restaurant kitchens. The true output of these culinary artists is not their TV shows or books—but it’s the meals their restaurants serve. This is a list of world-renowned chefs, and the restaurants they call their own.
Bobby Flay – Mesa Grill – Las Vegas, NV
A star on the Food Network, Bobby Flay is mostly known for his appearances on Boy Meets Grill and Iron Chef America. Educated at the French Culinary Institute—where he has also taught classes, the ambitious chef currently serves as owner and executive chef for over two dozen restaurants. The Mesa Grill in NYC is where Flay got his start back in 1991. After quickly making a name for himself, the successful chef went on to open another Mesa Grill in 2004 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV. Offering bold Southwestern flavor and delicious, high-quality meats, the Mesa Grill boasts a stylish décor that combines dim lighting with vivid colors. Exotic meals like red chile barbecue duck and cascabel chile crusted rabbit enable diners to indulge in dishes they won’t find just anywhere. For those who prefer to stick with what they know, the Mesa Grill carries plenty of steaks, salads, and other more traditional meals.
Jamie Oliver – Jamie’s Italian – London, England
After creating the hit TV show The Naked Chef in 1999, Jamie Oliver promptly capitalized on his success by releasing a cook book and becoming a bestselling author. In 2008, the England-born chef opened Jamie’s Italian in Oxford, England—right next to the famed University. Since then, the Jamie’s Italian chain has grown to include over 60 restaurants throughout the world. Offering classic—you guessed it—Italian food, the restaurant carries a wide range of unique pizza and pasta dishes. Appetizers like bruschetta and gnocchi will get you started, while entrees such as Sicilian chicken and roasted eggplant ensure you’ll leave satisfied. The Jamie’s Italian located in Covent Garden, London is particularly spectacular. Boasting high ceilings and impressive wooden walls, the restaurant features a wine selection that is second to none.
Emeril Lagasse – Emeril’s Delmonico – New Orleans, LA
When he’s not dropping signature catch phrases like “Bam” and “Kick it up a notch” on TV shows like Emeril, Essence of Emeril, and Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse, this beloved chef is publishing cook books or endorsing cooking products. But Emeril’s true passion is cooking a distinctive take on Creole cuisine that’s been dubbed “New New Orleans.” His distinctly flavorful dishes are influenced by Asian, Portugese, and Southwestern cuisines. The proud owner of over a dozen restaurants, Emeril runs two Creole-based establishments in the heart of New Orleans. One of these restaurants is Emeril’s Delmonico. Located in a building that has been used for high-end restaurants since the 1800s, Emeril’s Delmonico provides diners with an elegant setting where they can feast on delicious dishes like shrimp gulf a la creole and pecan glazed Colorado lamb loin.
Ming Tsai – Blue Ginger – Boston, MA
Specializing in East-West fusion cuisine, Ming Tsai previously hosted the Food Network’s East Meets West—for which he won a daytime Emmy—and currently hosts Simply Ming on PBS. The revered chef currently owns two restaurants—Blue Ginger and Blue Dragon. Both restaurants carry Ming’s trademark East-West fusion dishes and are located in the Boston area. Blue Ginger—the first restaurant Ming opened—will unfortunately be closing on June 3rd after 19 years of winning awards and giving diners what they crave. To compensate, Tsai plans to launch ChowStirs—a fast-casual stir-fry restaurant. But if you want to experience the restaurant that launched this chef’s career, be sure to stop by Blue Ginger before it closes.
Gordon Ramsay – Restaurant Gordon Ramsay – London, England
The contentious personality behind the TV show Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay has churned out 250 episodes of the successful show. Owner of over a dozen restaurants throughout world, Ramsay considers his first restaurant—Restaurant Gordon Ramsay—the crown jewel in his portfolio. Founded in 1998 and located in London, England, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay offers classic French cuisine and has earned three Michelin stars for its consistent excellence. Whether you’re in the mood for classic roasted Herdwick lamb or want to try roasted pigeon done right, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay provides a sophisticated dining area and a distinctly unique experience.
Rick Bayless – Frontera Grill – Chicago, IL
Blending traditional Mexican cuisine with a modern approach, Rick Bayless is known for his PBS TV show Mexico: One Plate at a Time. After performing six years of culinary research in Mexico during the 1980s, Bayless detailed his findings in the book Authentic Mexican: Regional Cooking from the Heat of Mexico. Today, the accomplished chef owns over ten restaurants throughout the United States. His Frontera Grill restaurant in Chicago serves the chef’s signature Mexican dishes by way of locally farmed vegetables, meats, and poultry. Furthermore, any fish served at the restaurant is farmed from sustainable fisheries.
Tom Colicchio – Riverpark – New York, NY
Winner of the James Baard Foundation’s 2010 Outstanding Chef award, Tom Colicchio also serves as the head judge on Top Chef—a TV show for which he received an Emmy Award in 2010 for his role as executive producer. Colicchio owns ten restaurants throughout the United States, including five in New York City. One of those New York City restaurants—Riverpark—provides a unique dining experience that not many other places can match. Situated on the edge of the East River, Riverpark has a changing menu that features seasonal ingredients from local farms and markets. This ensures patrons always get the freshest and most delicious food available.
Keep in mind this list only includes a small portion of the restaurants owned and operated by these celebrity chefs. If you don’t see a restaurant in your area, check out these chefs’ official web pages for a more comprehensive listing of their establishments. You’ll find that many of the chefs own restaurants that specialize in different types of cuisine altogether.
