FROM LADY GAGA’S CHARMING TRATTORIA IN MANHATTAN’S UPPER WEST SIDE TO MARK WAHLBERG’S BUZZY MEXICAN CANTINA ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST, THESE CELEBRITY-FRONTED RESTAURANTS ARE SERVING SCINTILLATING FARE ALONGSIDE SIZZLING STAR POWER

BY JANINE SILVER AND AMANDA McCOY

CELEBSTUARANTS

PHARRELL WILLIAMS

SWAN / MIAMI, FLORIDA

Pharrell Williams and David Grutman are giving diners something else to be “Happy” about, a brand-new menu at Miami Design District hotspot, Swan. Opened in 2018 as both a restaurant and lounge, Swan’s new offerings are designed around fresh market-driven and locally sourced ingredients and sharable bites. From charred octopus and bluefin tuna roses to spicy vodka veal parmigiana and blueberry filet, there is so much to enjoy. Fan favorites from parent company Groot Hospitality, like their chips and caviar, hamachi crudo, and everything bagel Parker House rolls, round out the menu. Dubbed “Miami’s take on a traditional brasserie,” Swan buzzes with an undeniable energy, complete with top DJs, fire dancers, and so much more. swanmiami.com

CELEBSTUARANTS

MARK WAHLBERG

FLECHA CANTINA /HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA

On a mission to redefine traditional Mexican fare, Mark Wahlberg’s newly opened Flecha Cantina in Huntington Beach is sleek and inviting. A far cry from his fast-casual chain Wahlbugers, which he co-owns with brothers Donnie and Paul, Flecha takes diners on a Mexican adventure through feasts and flavors. The vibe is sexy, dripping in greenery and ambient lighting, and even boasts firepit tables for sipping cocktails around an open flame. Guests can enjoy creamy potato poblano soup, burrito bowls, and beer-battered cod tacos served with cheese, slaw, guacamole and lime sauce. On Sundays, the endless brunch favorites include made-to order chilaquiles, waffles, pancakes, eggs benedict, chile verde, ribs, and a selection of seafood. flechacantina.com

OLIVIA CULPO

BLACK OAK KITCHEN & DRINKS / COVENTRY, RHODE ISLAND

The former miss Rhode Island teamed up with a few family members to open a restaurant in her home state in 2022. Diners can expect cozy New England comfort fare in a farm-style setting just off Tiogue Lake. Starters span pillowy baked pretzels with house-made beer cheese, flaky crab cakes served with agave-lime dressing, and spicy bang bang shrimp accompanied by wasabi aioli and a tangy pineapple salsa, while soul soothing mains feature hearty portions of arctic cod fish and chips, hot honey salmon, and home-style meatloaf with garlicky mashed potatoes. blackoakcoventry.com

JON BON JOVI

JBJ SOUL KITCHEN / RED BANK, NEW JERSEY

Jon Bon Jovi is keen on making a difference with JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, with three additional locations in his home state of New Jersey. The menu is full of delicious dishes such as chicken saltimbocca (a chicken dish made with prosciutto, sage, and provolone cheese), blackberry and butternut squash salad, and “soul seasoned” cod tacos, but there’s one key thing missing… prices. Rather than charging for meals, JBJ Soul Kitchen is serving up dignity. Their menu lists suggested donations and pay-it-forward programs to help cover meals for those who cannot afford them. They also offer opportunities to volunteer as well. Regardless of financial status, all are welcome to enjoy a three-course meal at this community restaurant. To really improve their local communities, JBJ Soul Kitchen has also partnered with other organizations to help address needs beyond food insecurity. jbjsoulkitchen.org

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND TIGER WOODS  

T SQUARED SOCIAL / NEW YORK, NEW YORK

More than a sports bar, Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake’s TSquared Social is an entertainment mecca in the middle of New York City. Born from their competitive nature and love for sports, music, and good food, this dynamic team elevated their menu, eliminating the need to decide between a big-screen game-day experience and a great meal. Focusing on sharable bites and upgraded game-day staples, standouts include the Spicy Kung Pao wings, short rib quesadilla, Maryland colossal lump crab cake, hot burrata flat bread, and salmon Rueben sandwich. They also have an array of beers on tap, plus creative cocktails like the Popcorn & Cola, composed of homemade cola and Maker’s Mark infused with buttered popcorn. The Biri-Biri is a jalapeño-infused Mezcal drink mixed with Martini Blanco, lime, cucumber, and celery-infused agave. In between sips, guests can enjoy a round of golf on some of the most iconic courses around the world with the golf simulator, challenge their friends at the bowling alley, or take their shot with a game of darts. tsquaredsocial.com

THE JONAS BROTHERS

NELLIE’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN / BELMONT, NORTH CAROLINA

This North Carolina-born eatery has been serving Southern hospitality on cast iron skillets since 2016, inspired by the brothers’ great grandmother, Nellie, who passed away in 2011. (A second location premiered in Las Vegas in 2022.) The menu is classic upscale country; think crispy fried okra with spicy remoulade and pimento cheese fries to start, followed by mains like buttermilk battered chicken and waffles, fried catfish, meatloaf, or chicken and dumplings. The brothers insist every meal should begin with the basket of biscuits, made fresh daily and served with butter and jelly. Brunch is also a big deal here, with standouts that include Nellie’s pancake stack, brioche French toast with cherry wood bacon, and a hearty country-fried steak atop cajun red potatoes. nelliessouthernkitchen.com

RALPH LAUREN 

THE POLO BAR / NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Set amid dark wood paneling, framed photos of horses, and equestrian acquirements, guests can indulge in arguably one of the best burgers in NYC at The Polo Bar by designer Ralph Lauren. Known as much for the fashionable crowd the restaurant draws as for its delicious popovers provided pre-meal, The Polo Bar provides a fine dining experience mixed with American staples based on Lauren’s own favorites. Those lucky enough to score a reservation at this stylish haunt can also find other delights, including a buttery lobster roll, grilled Branzino, bone-in rib-eye steak, crab cakes, and even pigs in a blanket – gourmet style, of course. ralphlauren.com/global-polo-bar

ROBERT DE NIRO

NOBU / GLOBAL

Since first opening its doors in 1994, Robert De Niro and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Nobu has been a celebrity favorite for decades. Today there are over 55 restaurants and hotels baring the Nobu name in cities around the globe. A marriage of his Japanese heritage and experience living in South America, Matsuhisa has carefully crafted signature dishes that have reached celebrity status in their own right, including yellowtail with jalapeño, rock shrimp tempura, spicy tuna crispy rice, and Wagyu dumplings. The Japanese-Peruvian fusion is often referred to as “Nobu Style,” and while many staples remain on the menu, they’re constantly adding more fare to sample. Nobu is by far the most popular of all his ventures, but De Niro also has several other hotels and restaurants in his portfolio, including Tribeca Grill. noburestaurants.com

EMINEM

MOM’S SPAGHETTI DETROIT, MICHIGAN

In 2017, 15 years after the release of the Detroit grown rapper’s Academy Award-winning hit “Lose Yourself,” Eminem announced a pop-up comfort food experience inspired by the single’s most famous lyric. Over the next few years, the quick-service pasta bowls would become a hit at Eminem-headlined festivals, prompting the launch of a brick-and-mortar locale in the heart of downtown Detroit in 2021. Mom’s Spaghetti is a shallow-pocket dive, but that’s very much the point. Heaping helpings of spaghetti and meatballs are scooped into paper cartons and served through a street-facing window for patrons to take on the go or devour inside Union Assembly, a gastropub located next door. There’s also a memorabilia store, dubbed The Trailer, one story up, filled with Slim Shady-themed goods like pint glasses and T-shirts. momsghetti.com

MARTHA STEWART    

THE BEDFORD BY MARTHA STEWAR / LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Designed to look like you stepped into Stewart’s very own 1925 farmhouse, The Bedford by Martha Stewart is the latest buzz-worthy restaurant at Paris Las Vegas. This cozy eatery boasts white marble counters and neutral colors, as well as a charming patio for an authentic homestyle experience right on the Strip. The menu features locally sourced ingredients and recipes derived from her love of French cooking and all-time favorite meals. Patrons can sample the roast chicken stuffed with herbed breadcrumbs carved tableside for two, the halibut and corn chowder with Manila clams, potatoes, and heirloom cherry tomatoes, and the lemon risotto with sea scallops and caramelized fennel, among many other delectable dishes. caesars.com/paris-las-vegas/restaurants/the bedford-by-martha-stewart

LADY GAGA JOANNE TRATTORIA / NEW YORK, NEW YORK

While this charming trattoria on Manhattan’s Upper West Side is technically owned by Lady Gaga’s parents, the Grammy winner’s spirit practically reverberates from the walls (Gaga did play a large role in launching the restaurant in 2012). Joanne’s is an avid supporter of up-and-coming talent and offers a dizzying weekly entertainment lineup that spans everything from cabaret to drag, plus bingo and trivia nights. The menu is a nod to the dishes the owners’ two daughters, Natali and Stefanie Germanotta (Gaga), grew up on, from Italian classics like chicken parm and seafood risotto to homestyle American stalwarts like cheesesteak and a burger with fries. There are elevated options too, including white truffle pappardelle with wild mushrooms and an uber tender bone-in veal Milanese with an arugula salad. joannenyc.com

FAMOUS FLAVORS

BAD BUNNY GEKKO / MIAMI, FLORIDA

The Miami nightlife VIP scene invites eager diners to step into the nocturnal universe of Bad Bunny and David Grutman’s Gekko. This Japanese-inspired steakhouse and lounge flaunts all the glamour-soaked excitement you’d expect, including top DJs and late-night thrills. Named after the Japanese word for moonlight, the vibe is luxurious with jewel-toned colors, dark custom wallpaper, and whispers of soft golden light. To start their meal, visitors can enjoy lobster dumplings, roasted bone marrow, and otoro tartare. The steaks are clearly the star of the show, with options spanning 30-day dry-aged tomahawk, Wagyu skirt steak served with chimichurri, and olive-fed filet from Sanuki, Kagawa, but they also offer a decadent lobster with the option to add Royal Osetra caviar, Chilean sea bass with saikyo miso, and lighter varieties. gekko.com

RYAN GOSLING TAGINE / BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA

Though, today, Gosling and chef Abdessamad “Ben” Benameur boast powerhouse names in their respective fields, the duo met as rising stars in the early aughts. It was 2004, the same year The Notebook would cement the blue-eyed actor as a household heartthrob, and he was introduced to the chef after insisting on meeting the mastermind behind the catering at a Hollywood event. The fast friends soon began tossing around ideas for a restaurant of their own, and later that year, Tagine debuted in Beverly Hills. The romantic, candlelit eatery is lauded for its modern take on Moroccan fare, offering a signature chef’s tasting menu alongside a la carte options like honey lamb couscous, Alaskan king salmon, kefta, and chicken or vegetable tagine. taginebeverlyhills.com

ZACH BRAFF MERMAID INN / NEW YORK, NEW YORK

It’s been nearly 15 years since the New Jersey native donned scrubs as Dr. J.D. in the smash-hit sitcom, but Braff’s restaurant co-venture is still going strong (the first locale debuted in 2003). The Mermaid collection has several locations throughout Manhattan, from the Upper West Side down to Greenwich Village, each serving an upscale menu of sea-focused dishes, from Littleneck clams and salmon tartare to tangy fish tacos and fried calamari. The wine and cocktail list is notable, too, featuring refreshing signatures like the Pink Flamingo, made with gin, strawberry, and basil. themermaidnyc.com

KEVIN HART HART HOUSE / HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

The flagship location of the comedian’s soulful quick-service chain debuted last year on Sunset Boulevard. It might be set in an old McDonald’s along one of L.A.’s busiest fast-food drags, but the menu boasts one key difference: every food offering, from the burger to the crispy hot chicken sandwich, is 100% plant based. All patties were developed in-house, with Hart noting they are free of preservatives, artificial flavors, corn syrup, trans fat, hormones, and cholesterol. There are also nuggets, fries, tots, and a crisp kale salad, plus house-recipe sauces like Hunny Mustard, Smoky BBQ, and Hart House Signature. Three additional locations are sprinkled throughout the L.A. metro area, with more on the way. myharthouse.com

SANDRA BULLOCK WALTON’S FANCY AND STAPLE AUSTIN, TEXAS

This quirky hybrid hotspot is a coffee shop, deli, bakery, and flower emporium, all wrapped into one brick-walled space. Bullock launched Walton’s back in 2009 as a gathering hub for neighbors in her adopted Texas town (along with a restaurant, Bess, that has since shuttered its doors). But Walton’s is still booming, serving a small but thoughtful menu of deli staples like pastrami sandwiches on rye, hearty wraps, and fresh local salads. In addition to flower arrangements, patrons can also browse take-homes like gourmet doggie treats, house-blend seasonings, and espresso beans. waltonsfancyandstaple.com