From best-selling cookbooks to hit TV shows, these chefs are not only incredible at cooking first-class meals but they're also eager to share the best of their recipes and their passion for food. And while many top restaurants have incredible tasting menus, they're not exactly affordable. We take a look at the best celebrity chef offerings for good-value meals, set lunches or those that are cheaper than you think. Bon appétit!
As the first celebrity chef to arrive in Las Vegas 20 years ago, Wolfgang Puck has remained a household name on the city's dining scene. The American-Austrian chef began his gastronomic journey back in 1982, with Spago in Los Angeles and now, almost 40 years later, it has re-opened in Las Vegas. Expect market-driven menus that blend French and Californian cuisines in dishes served against the backdrop of the iconic Bellagio fountains. For the best value meal, come for the lunch prix-fixe menu that offers three courses for £35 ($44).
One of America's top chefs, Thomas Keller currently holds seven Michelin stars across three of his restaurants. Granted, a meal at the three-starred The French Laundry isn't cheap, however his one-star French-style restaurant Bouchon in Yountville serves equally good bistro-style dishes. The lunch and dinner options include a classic steak frites priced at a moderate £32 ($39.50), lip-smacking French onion soup for £11 ($13.50) and croque madame unlike any other you've ever had, priced at £15 ($19.50).
Born in Lyon, France chef Daniel Boulud made his name in New York City back in the 1990s and has since become one of the most respected chefs in America. Author of more than five cookbooks and receiver of countless awards throughout the decades, it's no surprise that Boulud is famous for his French terrines and seasonal cooking. Bar Boulud's lunch offer is a brilliant two-course meal for a reasonable £22.50 ($28) and features the famed pâté, mushroom risotto and moules frites.
Arguably the world's most famous chef, Gordon Ramsay opened his latest Las Vegas venture in January 2018. Located at the world-famous Caesars Palace, Hell's Kitchen restaurant is based on the television show of the same name – the theme of the red and blue teams has been incorporated into the immersive dining experience. On the menu you'll find several Hell's Kitchen classics like Gordon Ramsay's signature beef Wellington, pan-seared scallops and lobster risotto.
The four-time James Beard Award nominee Edward Lee is a frequent judge on MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, a judge on Culinary Genius and was a contestant on Top Chef. His flagship Louisville restaurant 610 Magnolia serves a modern approach to Southern cooking and traditions. Take your pick between the four-course (£68/$85) or the six-course (£88.50/$110) tasting menu that changes daily based on seasonality and availability – many ingredients are grown in the on-site greenhouse.
Host of Food Network's Giada at Home, Giada De Laurentiis' Italian-inspired recipes are much loved across the country. Her Baltimore restaurant GDL Italian by Giada at the Horseshoe Casino is a celebration of her favourite signature dishes, including chicken parm (£21/$26), baked lasagne (£15/$19) and Tuscan rib-eye (£43/$54). Come here for a Sunday brunch and you can upgrade to bottomless bellinis and mimosas for just £16 ($20) extra.
Born in Japan, Nobu Matsuhisa captured the hearts of the American culinary world with his unique fusion cuisine, blending traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients. His signature dish, black cod in miso, is on the menu at all of his Nobu restaurants. For a taste of Nobu's cooking, book a table for the prix-fixe Sunday menu (£46/$57) at Nobu Fifty Seven. You'll get a taste of Nobu signatures to start, including the nori crisps and the crispy rice with spicy salmon, a choice of main and a dessert.
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Tom Colicchio, the head judge on Top Chef and recipient of several James Beard Awards, has restaurants across America, including Craft. After six successful years in New York, Colicchio brought Craft to Los Angeles where the seasonal dishes are served home-style for everyone to share. The mouth-watering main courses don't exceed £32 ($40) and there are plenty of choices for the whole table to share.
America's favourite baker, Christina Tosi, has been a judge on both MasterChef and MasterChef Junior as well as appearing on Netflix's Chef's Table: Pastry. Her bakery Milk Bar has swiftly grown in the last 10 years and has now become a must-visit spot. With locations in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and DC, the bakery sells her signature cereal milk soft serve and cookies, layer cakes and candy bar pie as well as new, innovative flavour combinations.
Famous for bringing bao buns, ramen and Korean fried chicken into the Western food mainstream, David Chang is one of the most outspoken chefs in the industry – something he's not afraid to express in his Netflix original series Ugly Delicious. The original Momofuku Noodle Bar in Manhattan's East Village is still around and serving its signature pork ramen (£14.50/$18) as well as the roasted shiitake (£10/$13) and pork belly (£10/$13) bao buns.
A regular face in American cooking shows since 1998, Lidia Bastianich is America's ultimate Italian cook. Together with her daughter Tanya and son Joe, Lidia owns several successful Italian restaurants, including Felidia that opened in 1996. Although the classic Italian pastas off the dinner menu are absolutely incredible, you'll find much better value in the two-course (£27/$34) or three-course (£31/$39) prix-fixe menu that features unbeatable classics like roasted octopus, tagliatelle with veal ragù and panna cotta.
Roy Choi, the gourmet food truck revolutionary, has carved himself a unique standing in the culinary world with his Korean-Mexican taco truck Kogi. Often seen as the founder of the gourmet food truck movement, the lead character in the 2014 film Chef played by Jon Favreau was loosely inspired by Choi. Best Friend is an extension of Choi's food truck, serving up an eccentric mix of dishes that range from skillets of spicy pork to slippery shrimp and sharing pots of spicy braised chicken stew or pork belly for the table.
The revered master of French cuisine Alain Ducasse has stamped the Las Vegas culinary scene with Rivea at Delano Las Vegas. A mixture of Italian and French cuisines, the restaurant offers light and delicate menus that conjure up the colours and flavours of the Mediterranean. The five-course Tour of the Riviera is not cheap at £96 ($120) per person, but it's incredible value for such a high-end menu created with only the best ingredients.
The award-winning chef Aarón Sánchez to many is known as one of the judges on MasterChef and MasterChef Junior, however he's also starred in multiple Food Network hit shows and is famous for celebrating his Latin heritage in his cooking and encouraging diversity in the kitchen. At his restaurant Johnny Sánchez expect to see exciting small plates and both twists on traditional tacos like carne asada as well as innovative recipes like the crispy oyster tacos with avocado and red pepper aïoli.
Currently ranked number 36 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants, Éric Ripert's Le Bernardin is a stroke of culinary genius. Specialising in modern French cuisine, especially seafood, Ripert has been a guest judge on Top Chef as well as often appearing alongside his late best friend Anthony Bourdain in his shows No Reservations and Parts Unknown. For a great-value taster of Ripert's high-end cooking, try the lunch set menu that's £72.50 ($90) for three courses and includes upscale ingredients like oysters, filet mignon and caviar.
Love him or hate him, the host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Guy Fieri knows how to serve food people want to eat. The epic burgers at his Las Vegas joint are a one-of-a-kind experience. The signature sharing trash can nachos are said to be the greasiest nachos you'll ever eat (£15/$19.50) while the big bite burgers definitely won't leave you hungry – try the bacon mac'n'cheese burger (£17/$21.50) or the American Kobe burger with caramelised onion jam, gouda and Cheddar cheeses, onion straws and pickles (£17/$21.50).
Having hosted several successful Food Network shows, published countless best-selling cookbooks and been the executive chef of several restaurants, Bobby Flay is an American culinary icon. If Flay's high-end Las Vegas restaurant Mesa or the upmarket gastropub Gato in New York isn't for you, head to Bobby's Burger Palace – an upscale burger restaurant in 19 locations around the country. All the made-to-order burgers are under £7 ($9), including his signature Crunchburger – a combination of American cheese and potato chips.
Better known to most as the Cake Boss of Carlo's Bakery, Buddy Valastro brings the best of Italian-American dining to the Las Vegas strip. Located at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, Buddy V's Ristorante is all about family meals and delicious New Jersey-inspired Italian cooking. The moderately priced express lunch menu is a bargain at £17 ($22) for three courses that include panzanella salad, chicken parm and cannoli.
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Although Lagasse has slowly disappeared from the TV screens, he's still as dedicated to his self-developed New Orleans style of cooking. His namesake restaurant in the state celebrates the chef's masterful handling of Cajun and Creole cuisines with dishes like gumbo, andouille-crusted Gulf drum and roast beef po'boy with Creole potato salad. For a taster of Lagasse's flavours, try the three-course (£28/$35) sample menu that features pan-fried trout almondine, ham with Swiss cabbage and chocolate mousse trifle.
An undeniable force in modern American cooking, Egyptian-born Michael Mina has grown his restaurant empire to more than 40 locations worldwide. Known for his cooking style that revolves around balancing four basic elements (spice, sweetness, acidity and richness), he is the executive chef at his namesake restaurant in San Francisco. The express lunch menu (£40/$49) offers a glimpse into his culinary philosophy with dishes like sumac-marinated beets, Yemenite-style beef short rib and harissa corn.
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