While they’re not quite as scandalous as some of the other celebs out there (no pantyless photos, thank God), most celebrity chefs often have hordes of drooling groupies at their feet at any given moment. Yep, seems like chefs are just as famous as rock stars these days and that's fine with us. I mean, let's be honest, what has Britney done for us lately? The skank couldn't cook us popcorn. So if you haven’t yet been to these celebrity restaurants, get your ass in gear with our list of faves. Starfuckers and gastronomes, unite!
Les Halles Brasserie
411 Park Ave. S. (28th & 29th Sts.)
Murray Hill 212.679.4111
Let’s face it, we all kind of have a little crush on
Anthony Bourdain. He travels the world, owns two Manhattan restaurants, is a guest judge on "Top Chef," writes hilarious blogs and books, and is the coolest badass mofo in the food world. Check out his authentic French eatery
Les Halles Brasserie at its Park Avenue location and slurp up some Moules Marinières or Steak Frites. He’ll likely be off jet-setting for his travel show, but if you happen to sneak a peak at the gawky antihero, it’ll be worth shelling out the big bucks.
Bolo
23 E. 22nd St. (Broadway & Park Ave. S.)
Flatiron 212.228.2200
One of the original Food Network stars and somewhat of a boy wonder on the food scene,
Bobby Flay’s been massaging slabs of meat since he was a pimple-faced teen. Bobby has elevated Southwestern cuisine to a new level in the American dining scene, and no restaurant better displays his mad skillz than
Bolo. The tapas-style eats are heavy on heat and the seafood will have you knocking back the fruity cocktails like there’s no tomorrow. Clearly that’s what Bobby intended.
Del Posto
85 10th Ave. (15th & 16th Sts.)
Chelsea 212.497.8090
The big red giant of Italian cuisine and food TV,
Mario Batali, showcases his finest eats at
Del Posto, the gorgeous ballroom-esque restaurant that’ll have you wishing you owned a black AMEX after you get the bill. But the big price tags luckily carry big flavor. Rack of lamb, Dover sole, and homemade pastas are to-die-for options that will make you glad you schlepped it to 10th Avenue for this one. Mangia, biatch!
Craft
43 E. 19th St. (Broadway & Park Ave. S.)
Flatiron 212.780.0880
The jolly bald judge from "Top Chef,"
Tom Colicchio, has been a top chef in his own right for years now. After parting ways with
Gramercy Tavern last year, he proceeded to open
Craft, Craftbar, Craftsteak, and a chain of
‘wichcraft sandwich shops all over Manhattan.
Craft however remains the flagship with its game-filled menu and swanky digs. Enjoy Guinea hen, sweetbreads, quail, and other delicacies while you get sloshed on designer cocktails and a stellar wine list. Just don’t expect any Padma sightings; the cameras are off, remember?
Becco
355 W. 46th St. (8th & 9th Aves.)
Midtown 212.397.7597
Lidia Bastianich is like the Italian mother you never had, and a shrewd businesswoman and TV star on top of it. Her PBS show highlights her simple Italian-American style of cooking, and she’s also partnered with Batali in multiple NYC restaurant ventures. Her own NYC restaurant
Becco is a theater district mainstay with a loyal following. Traditional Italian dishes like Osso Buco and a lengthy wine list will have your purple lips smiling. Saluté!
~Kelly Dobkin
