6 Celebrity-Owned Restaurants in NYC - Tracy Kaler's New York Life + Travel Blog — tracysnewyorklife.com

Celebrity-owned restaurants in NYC   There are two things New York City is not short on – restaurants and celebrities. It’s no surprise that some of the famous folks living here have decided to share their passion for food. Stars like Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, and Robert De Niro are behind some of our favorite local dining spots. Here’s a list of celebrity owned restaurants in NYC to keep in mind for your next meal out. Buffalo Boss, 400 Jay St Jay-Z had so much faith in his cousin Jamar White’s chicken wings that he invested in the restaurant Buffalo Boss, making it possible for us to chow down on the star-approved dish. What sets these chicken wings apart from the rest is that they’re organic and made with Buffalo Boss’s homemade sauces (there are 12 to choose from) that range from honey BBQ and lemon pepper to F.I.T.H. (Fire In The Hole) and N’Sinerator. Round out your meal with a side of sweet potato fries and fried Oreos for dessert! The Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd St Co-owned by actor Chris Noth a.k.a. Mr. Big on Sex and the City, The Cutting Room is a bar-lounge exuding a swagger that harks back to the city’s original jazz clubs, but with a modern sensibility. The spacious interior features plush leather seating, chandeliers, ornate mirrors, and classic cocktail tables draped in white linens, a spectacular stained glass and guitar light fixture, and contemporary portraits of Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Billie Holiday. The menu offers the standard new American fare with a nice selection of flat bread pizzas, burgers, and salads. Locanda Verde, 377 Greenwich St Robert De Niro is no stranger to NYC’s restaurant scene. He already had Tribeca Grill and Nobu on his plate when he partnered with esteemed chef Andrew Carmellini to open Locanda Verde in 2009. All three eateries are located in Tribeca, the downtown neighborhood De Niro has been investing in for nearly two decades. Located in the Greenwich Hotel, Locanda Verde boasts an upscale rustic interior marked by black lounge seating, long wooden tables, and a stone fireplace. The Italian menu is peppered with incredibly satisfying dishes like the sheep’s milk ricotta and My Grandmother’s Ravioli. Stop by in the morning when the restaurant serves up a decadent selection of pastries and baked goods. Southern Hospitality, 645 9th Ave Justin Timberlake’s name is synonymous with this Midtown BBQ Joint. JT and close friends Eytan Sugarman and Tracy Ayala nurtured the idea of enlightening NYC on Memphis cuisine by opening a restaurant specializing in BBQ and ribs. And together, they created the concept behind Southern Hospitality. The menu is a tour de force of stick-to-your-ribs southern staples like slow smoked meat, fried chicken, blackened catfish, corn bread, and collard greens. Mermaid Oyster Bar, 79 MacDougal St Actor, director, screenwriter, and Grammy award winner Zach Braff wears many hats. In 2009, he added restaurant owner to his list of accomplishments when he opened up Mermaid Oyster Bar in Greenwich Village with high school friend and chef Laurence Edelman. It’s the third location of the Mermaid seafood joints, and Oyster Bar’s vibe is casually cool. The restaurant created an “oysterpedia,” which comes in handy when ordering the shellfish delicacy. Not feeling like oysters? Folks are fanatic about the lobster roll, which comes on griddled brioche with a side of old bay fries. Joanne Trattoria, 70 W 68th St Lady Gaga was quoted as saying she was planning to open a restaurant with her father, so it wasn’t a surprise when the pop-star was at the grand opening of Joanne Trattoria. Her parents, Joseph and Cynthia Germanotta, are the actual owners of the Upper West Side Italian, which is named after Mr. Germanotta’s late sister Joanne (the same Joanne who inspired the singer’s most recent album). The atmosphere here is cozy with warm lighting, rustic brick walls, a fireplace, and outdoor patio. Look forward to home cooked Italian meals like fresh pasta and chicken scarpariello. Save room for Nutella lasagna, the house specialty dessert! Have you eaten at any of these celebrity-owned restaurants in NYC? Let us know in the comments! Cutting Room photo by the business. Mermaid Oyster Bar photo by Lei C. via Yelp. Celebrities’ quotes about New York.  And restaurants for wine lovers. Plus, restaurants with sidewalk cafés.

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