The 7 Best Celebrity Chef Restaurants in NYC

New York City is serious about its dining scene, and these cooks are famous for creating delicious dishes packed with quality and originality.
New York is home to, by some estimates, around 24,000 restaurants, and those chefs who distinguish themselves earn celebrity status that is often parlayed into a string of TV appearances, cookbooks and a line of frozen meals – although, sometimes these accolades come before a brick-and-mortar location. Not every star is worth their salt, as evidenced by Guy Fieri’s ill-fated American Kitchen & Bar, so Culture Trip is here to recommend the best celeb-helmed restaurants.

Destinations Unlocked:
Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture tripCentralAmerica
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.CentralAmerica
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.CentralAmerica
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.SouthAmerica
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.SouthAmerica
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.Europe
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.Europe
2. Scotland
Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.Europe
3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.Asia
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.Asia
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.Asia
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great priceAfrica
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!Africa
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.Aureole
Restaurant, American

The first restaurant in Charlie Palmer’s empire, which now encompasses 19 restaurants and hotels throughout the country, opened in 1988 when the chef was just 28 years old. Palmer was an early adopter of farm-sourced ingredients, which he integrated into his signature “progressive American”-style dishes, a modern take on classic European cooking that uses American artisanal products. Aureole, originally located on the Upper East Side, is housed in the environmentally advanced Bank of America Tower in Midtown, where it has two distinct seating areas: the Aureole Dining Room and Aureole Liberty Room. The former is more of a fine-dining experience comapred to the latter’s casual, bar-like setting. The menu is prix fixe, and main-course options include herb-crusted duck breast and slow-braised veal cheek.
Morimoto
Restaurant, Sushi

Masaharu Morimoto began his career as an executive chef at the original Nobu restaurant in 1994 before he began appearing on Iron Chef. His eponymous Japanese restaurant in Chelsea is a sleek and futuristic 12,000-square-foot (1,115-square-meter) space that opened in 2006 and won the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurant Design. Chef Morimoto is known for his Asian fusion meals – including tuna pizza and grilled wagyu skewers – and the presentation of his daily sushi and nigiri selection, which the menu suggests to order omakase, Japanese for “I’ll leave it up to you.”
Jean-Georges
Restaurant, Hotel Restaurant, French

The secret to French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s worldly cuisine is that he defies the traditional standard of using meat stocks and creams and instead utilizes light broths, vegetable juices, fruit essences and vinaigrettes packed with herbs. His Central Park West location features seasonal dishes with a three-course prix-fixe menu and two six-course tasting menus for dinner. The restaurant boasts both two Michelin stars and a four-star New York Times review, which it’s retained since its 1997 opening. There’s one dish that comes back every year: asparagus under morels in hollandaise. The asparagus is from California, and the fresh morels, edible sac fungi, are from Oregon, a blend that points to Vongerichten’s commitment to using the best produce available.
Craft
Restaurant, American

One block from Gramercy Tavern – the restaurant that Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio was first known for – is Craft, the farm-fresh American eatery he opened in 2001. The premise was built on his desire to serve family-style meals made up of sustainable and seasonal ingredients in a home-like setting. The menu features pasta and salads with locally grown vegetables or those picked straight from Colicchio’s home garden. Additionally, the five-time James Beard winner’s dinner menu features a healthy selection of mushrooms, as well as fryer rabbit and Colorado lamb as mains.
Aquavit
Restaurant, American, Seafood, Dessert

Red Rooster
Restaurant, Soul Food

DANIEL
Restaurant, French

Daniel Boulud’s namesake, the French luxury restaurant DANIEL, is often booked a full two months in advance. It has two Michelin stars, and Boulud is New York’s longest-reigning four-star chef, which helps justify the $158 (£120) price tag of the four-course prix-fixe dinner. The servers are first-class, attentive and professional, and the Neoclassical dining area is modern and grand. The menu changes seasonally, but classics such as the black truffle and scallops in puff pastry always make a return appearance.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.