Culinary Minded Celebrities

Actor and producer Mark Wahlberg made foodie headlines recently when announcing that he and his thespian brother Donnie would expand their empire of TV-and-film celebritydom into the highly fashionable restaurant world and open a Boston burger joint called, appropriately, Wahlburgers. And to stay true to their roots, the former Marky Mark even proposed a reality show focused on the restaurant. It’s not their first foray into food: the brothers already own another eatery across the street from the future Wahlburgers called Alma Nove, and they hope to add a pizza joint to this culinary empire in the future.

The Wahlbergs are hardly the first celebrities venturing into restaurateurism. Not all star-backed restaurants survive (see Britney Spears’ Nyla), but some find their footing beyond name-dropping and can even become supremely popular, like Michael Jordan’s chain of steakhouses.

We’ve rounded up some other restaurants of note attached to famous faces that have stayed on top of the heap and are worth a visit—especially if you catch a peek at their famous owners’ occasional appearances.

Celebrity-Owned Restaurants

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Ryan Gosling, Actor

 
Restaurant
Tagine

Location
Beverly Hills, Calif.

Style
Refined Moroccan cuisine in an intimate setting.

Website
Tanginebeverlyhills.com

Eva Longoria, Actor

 
Restaurant
Beso

Location
Los Angeles, Calif.

Style
Chef Todd English brings a Latin touch to a traditional steakhouse.

Website  
besohollywood.com
 

Don Johnson and Cheech Marin, Actors

 
Restaurant
Ana Mandara

Location
San Francisco, Calif.

Style
Vietnamese food in a multi-tiered restaurant renowned for its wines and food.

Website 
anamandara.com

Gladys Knight, Singer

 
Restaurant
Gladys Knight and Ron Winans’Chicken & Waffles

Location
Three locations in Georgia

Style
Continuing the tradition of serving chicken and waffles like Wells Supper Club did in 1930s Harlem, this waffle house is known for other Southern comfort classics.

Website 
gladysandron.net

Alice Cooper, Musician

 
Restaurant
Alice Cooperstown

Location
Phoenix

Style
A sports bar loaded with music memorabilia serving up traditional American fare.

Website 
alicecooperstown.com
 

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Rapper and Music Producer 

 
Restaurant
Justin’s Restaurant

Location
New York City and Atlanta.

Style
Named after his son and in honor of his grandmother, Justin’s serves upscale Southern and Caribbean cuisine with an emphasis on health-conscious ingredients.

Website 
justinsrestaurant.com

Jay-Z, Rapper

 
Restaurant
Club 40/40

Locations
New York City, Atlantic City, N.J., Chicago, Atlanta and London

Style
American sports bar meets upscale lounge, with a menu of American bar favorites that have a high-end bent.

Website 
the4040club.com

Justin Timberlake, Singer

 
Restaurant
Southern Hospitality

Location
Two locations in New York City

Style
Southern charm mixed with New York style featuring a hearty barbecue menu, and a popular spot to watch a game.

Website 
southernhospitalitybbq.com

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