# Have you ever eaten at a celebrity chef's restaurant? How was your experience? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 14, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011 "2023-05-14T00:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/41 "2023-05-14T20:36:34Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > all-you-can-manage pickle and olive bar I can manage plenty of pickles and olives. Now I want to go just for this. ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jungian_camisole1/32/3646_2.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole1)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/42 "2023-05-14T22:12:15Z")
We have eaten at quite a few of them on our trips to Las Vegas. The one that stands out for me is Jaleo by Jose Andres. When a chef can take a tomato, some seasonings, and a piece of bread and make it one of the best things I have ever eaten, they’ve got it going on. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/43 "2023-05-14T22:23:39Z")
José is talented but many Spanish tapas places have wonderful appetizers using simple ingredients. I respect the man and his work (and support World Central Kitchen), and enjoyed the time I tried them in Vegas. However, they were pricey and I found them delicious, but not hugely memorable. These are easy to make at home, requiring just a few decent ingredients to make dozens of dishes, and well worth doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/44 "2023-05-14T22:28:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Season 8, Episode 14 of **Iron Chef America** , for example. His opponent decided to not use sous-chefs. When Michael discovered this (once the show had started) he kicked _his_ sous-chefs out and did it mano a mano. I remember that episode! It was awesome. That’s when I realized that watching Iron Chef is like watching a sporting event. I’ve been a fan Symon ever since. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/45 "2023-05-14T22:46:33Z")
> [@Tarataratara](#): > > I can manage plenty of pickles and olives. Now I want to go just for this. All the stuff there was spicy except dill pickle slices, so that’s all I ever took and I still managed to eat a plate full!! Sadly BSpot is no more ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/46 "2023-05-15T00:22:46Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Last thing I want is to drop a whole C-note on one plate where I can’t tell what is it I am supposed to ingest. We’ve become friends with the couple who run **The Palms** , a cool foodie restaurant in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten. One year they brought me an appetizer of accras. Three fritters, each perched atop a cute square of what I thought was edible material. When Jo came to pick up my empty plate I was still chewing the last square, trying to appreciate whatever it was. What it was was decorative paper. Not part of the dish. This was 5 or 6 years ago and Jo brings it up every year, doubling over laughing at my attempt to enjoy eating paper (the accras was delicious). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/47 "2023-05-15T00:32:06Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > How famous is Michael Simon outside of Cleveland? I think fairly famous if you follow the cooking shows. He is pretty well-known in that regard; he’s hosted a bunch of shows on Food Network, and also co-hosted a daily cooking/talk show, _The Chew_, on ABC for a number of years. (And, it’s “Symon.” 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/48 "2023-05-15T02:36:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > > How famous is Michael Simon outside of Cleveland? I think fairly famous if you follow the cooking shows. > > He is pretty well-known in that regard; he’s hosted a bunch of shows on Food Network, and also co-hosted a daily cooking/talk show, _The Chew_, on ABC for a number of years. > > (And, it’s “Symon.” 🙂 ) I saw him on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. They were in his restaurant Mabel’s BBQ. The food looked incredible ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/49 "2023-05-15T02:42:24Z")
I ate the signature dish at Colonel Harland Sander’s Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant. It was good. Finger lickin’ good. If that doesn’t count, I also dined at Todd English’s bluezoo in Orlando. Ordered a delightful mahi mahi dinner. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/50 "2023-05-15T03:26:22Z")
I can’t say that I’ve ever eaten at a “celebrity chef’s” restaurant. Local “celebrity” chefs who get some buzz in the local newspaper/food scene sure, but nobody who has a cooking show or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/51 "2023-05-15T04:04:48Z")
Other than an airport Wolfgang Puk, the closest I’ve gotten is eating at Hosea Rosenberg’s (2009 winner on _Top Chef_) Blackbelly Market. It’s good, but not amazing, and priced appropriately. It’s on my short list of places to eat on the east side of Boulder. The atmosphere is more butcher shop than pretentious, but there is an interesting and changing carnivore menu. I’ve eaten at Kimbal (brother of that other one) Musk’s Kitchen series of restaurants. They are good, but I don’t think he’s a celebrity chef, just celebrity adjacent. Is chef Jesse Griffiths of Austin’s Dai Due famous? I got to eat there with with his mother in our party. He wasn’t in the restaurant, but the staff knew her, treated us great, and refused to let us pay (big tip time). The food was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/52 "2023-05-15T14:26:23Z")
A local semi-chain (6 locations) has dishes designed by Martita Jara, a finalist on Season 8 of **Next Food Network Star**. Her family owns the restaurants. Does that count? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/53 "2023-05-15T21:08:29Z")
I don’t like to brag, but I have been to a restaurant owned… by the Burger King. (Sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/54 "2023-05-15T21:19:10Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’m not sure if it counts when it’s long after they are famous and don’t have anything to with the day to day operation Well, yeah, pretty much. So we ate at Guy Fieri’s place, but we were unimpressed. Not that it was _bad_ mind you, just that it wasn’t special or great. Unremarkable…except the bill. We ate at a local chefs place in San Jose, and were blown away. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/55 "2023-05-15T22:23:16Z")
We ate at a Guy Fieri sushi place in Sacramento. Didn’t know it until we walked in. Pretty good. Also went to his “Johnny Garlic’s” location in San Jose. Also pretty good. Both are gone now. Sometime circa 2000 we went to Spago in Palo Alto. Food was incredible, we did a multi-course with wine pairings. Our waiter was apparently on his last day there, and didn’t seem to give a shit, even when he spilled wine on my wife. In 2016 we had a night in San Diego following a “cruise” from Hawaii, so we went to Richard Blais’s Juniper & Ivy. They said he was in the kitchen, but we didn’t see him. Food was really good, especially the carrots. We had budgetary restrictions, so we couldn’t go for the best stuff. My wife went without me to see her mom in Las Vegas and ate at Gordon Ramsay Burger. She said it was all great, but what she still won’t shut up about is the cheddar ranch dip. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/56 "2023-05-15T23:06:16Z")
I’ve been to Rick Bayless’ main Chicago restaurants, once to the really expensive one, Frontera Grill, and a few times to the only very expensive one next door, Topolobambo. Always exquisite. Ate once at Chez Panisse, it was good but pretty unmemorable. Been to Stephanie Izard’s Girl and the Goat a few times. Awesome. Been to Tony Mantuano’s late lamented Spiagga and Cafe Spiagga a few times. Always great. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/57 "2023-05-16T15:31:12Z")
Ronald McDonald has a fine place as well. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/58 "2023-05-16T15:46:38Z")
I went to Frontera Grill with my brother and his fiancee and I thought it was really excellent-- don’t know why that surprised me, but it was memorably good. I generally do not like “fancy” food so take the next statement with a big grain of himalayan sea salt but I went to Fleur de Lys (Hubert Keller) in Vegas on a work trip and did not enjoy it at all. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/59 "2023-05-17T00:00:35Z")
I’ve done Frontera a few times and thought it was excellent as well as a decent value. On one occasion, Rick Bayless came walking out of the kitchen with red sauce stains on his apron. I was impressed! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011/60 "2023-05-17T00:18:40Z")
I would love to go there. The stuff I’ve seen him cook looks fantastic. And he doesn’t seem like a douche like his brother. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-celebrity-chefs-restaurant-how-was-your-experience/984011.md?page=4)