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8 Philadelphia Celebrity-Owned Restaurants To Check Out This Weekend

By Gina Cosenza and Taylor Brooke

Calling all Philly foodies! Feeling like a nice night out this weekend? Look no further than this list of local celebrity-owned restaurants in Philadelphia.

There are so many stellar restaurants on the scene in this city, and you may not even know that they’re owned by prolific people. A lot of top chefs come from Philadelphia. Some see the vibrant food scene here and decide to plant their roots here.

Whatever it may be, there are actually a surprising number of spots here that are owned by celebrity chefs. The restaurants on this list range from upscale to fast casual. There’s something for everyone.

Now to dispel a rumor, celebrity-owned does not always mean snooty and upscale. If you hear that a celebrity chef owns a place, don’t make the assumption that it’ll be super pricey.

They come in all shapes and sizes. You’ll see some surprises on this list, in terms of how accessible these places are. There’s also something for almost anyone’s tastes.

As Philadelphians we have unprecedented access to all kinds of great food. Our food scene is made so much better by well-known chefs deciding to open up shop here. We have the privilege of being able to try a wide range of great cuisine. 

You can hit a new spot pretty much every weekend forever. That’s how great our food scene is. So, without further ado…

Here are 8 local celebrity-owned restaurants to check out this weekend:

  • Morimoto

    Owned by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, this restaurant is a showcase for the world-renowned chef’s Japanese cuisine. Combing Japanese cultural foods and western techniques, Morimoto delivers on a super unique experience. The ambiance inside the restaurant is chic and organic. This is Masaharu Moriomoto’s first eponymous restaurant, opened in 2001. Ever since, it has seen amazing success. The food itself is innovative and truly delicious.

  • Vetri Cucina

    Vetri Cucina is owned by Chef Marc Vetri, who hails from Philly.  Vetri Cucina features a very intimate dining setting, with only room for 32 guests at a time. Since 1998, the restaurant has offered rustic Italian cuisine, handcrafted pastas, and creative flavor combinations all wrapped up in artful presentations. The menu is constantly evolving, which will keep you wanting to experience Vetri again and again.

  • Zahav

    Zahav is also part of a Philly family of restaurants. Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook of CookNSolo Restaurants have NINE different restaurants (some with multiple locations) in Philadelphia. ON of which being *gasp* Federal Donuts!Zahav features gorgeous Israeli cuisine. The stars of the show are the laffa bread baked in the taboon, served with hummus and the Pomegranate Lamb Shoulder with chickpeas. CookNSolo also own Abe Fisher, Dizengoff, Goldie, K’Far Café, Laser Wolf, Lilah, and Merkaz. With all of these options to choose from, you’re sure to find something for you!

  • Guy Fieri's Burger and Taco Joint

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CjlEnxOu7DI/

    Guy Fieri’s Burger and Taco Joint actually exists inside Xfinity Live! Casino & Hotel. What’s better than that? Burgers and tacos all in one fun place. Guy Fieri, an Emmy Award winning chef, mind you, brought his smash burgers and signature seasoned fries to our area. His scratch-made tacos and guacamole are sure to please as well. The only catch about this option, you must be 21+ to enter. 

  • Carlo's Bakery

    Wildcard pick, I know. But it really isn’t! Buddy Valastro expanded his Carlo’s Bakery franchise all the way here to Philly. Here, you can get his iconic cakes and lobster tails (made of pastry, of course). It’s so conveniently located and you can get a taste of Hoboken without having to drive upwards of two hours. Watching the show really makes your mouth water for some cake, so this can quell that dilemma for you. They do smaller, more, um, transportable, cakes here, so you don’t have to worry about that either.

  • Laurel

    Hey! Another family of restaurants. Laurel is just one of the three local restaurants owned by James Beard finalist and Top Chef winner Nicholas Elmi. Laurel is a French-influenced American restaurant that offers a 6 course menu.  Lark, another owned by Elmi is a Mediterranean-inspired spot. The Landing Kitchen is an all-day kitchen and café at Pencoyd Landing. You can enjoy riverside views while you enjoy your meal. Feel free to try out the place that fits your tastes. And if they all fit your tastes, head to the one closest to you!

  • Carroll Couture Cuisine

    This spot is owned by Chef Jen Carroll, a finalist on Top Chef Season 6. It’s super unique, because you book experiences to dine here. You’re not just being served the food, Carroll Couture Cuisine offers personalized classes, consulting, catering and collaborations for individuals, groups and businesses. If you’re looking to do something truly different, this is the place for you. You get to learn from one of the best in the business and have fun doing it. Chef Jen Carroll also owns Spice Finch, a Mediterranean restaurant with crafted cocktails.

  • Tulip Pasta and Wine Bar

    Jason Cichonski from Top Chef owns Tulip Pasta and Wine Bar in Philly. Tulip Pasta and Wine Bar offers Italian small plates, locally made alcohol and wine bottles to-go.  The menu chnages regularly so you can keep on coming back for more. And guess what, there are more owned by Chef Cichonski in Philly. He also owns Little Noodle Pasta Co, Attico Rooftop, and Messina Social Club. We have so many choices to pick from!

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