Stephen Starr
American restauranteur

Stephen Starr

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American restauranteur
Gender:
Male
Places:
United States of America
Is:
Restaurateur
Work field:
Business
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Biography

Introduction

Stephen Starr is a restaurateur and head of Starr Restaurants. His honors include "Restaurateur of the Year" accolades from both Bon Appétit and Zagat. Travel + Leisure noted that "Starr creates complete environments with an artistic, almost cerebral approach". USA Today identified him as "the 'It' guy of the city’s food scene", while Restaurant Hospitality reported his winning the annual Richard Melman Innovator of the Year award in 2013 and cited his popular restaurants in Philadelphia as "arguably the key reason for the city’s revitalized culinary scene". The Harvard Observer recognized Starr "for making contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of restaurant hospitality over the whole of his career"

Work history

A lifelong devotee of music and pop culture, Starr began his career at the age of 21 with Grandmom Minnie’s, a converted diner serving food by day and comedy by night, in Philadelphia’s Old City. He next opened Starr’s, a cabaret that featured then-emerging acts such as Jerry Seinfeld and Pat Benatar, and later Ripley Music Hall, a venue that showcased acts like U2, The Eurythmics, Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen. He founded The Concert Company to bring large-scale stadium acts to Philadelphia, and was responsible for many memorable shows in the city, including Madonna, Lionel Ritchie and George Michael. His company was purchased by Electric Factory Concerts in 1990, giving Starr the opportunity to explore the hospitality industry full-time. In 1995, he opened his first restaurant, Continental Restaurant & Martini Bar in Old City.

Today, Stephen Starr oversees more than 30 restaurants in five states.

Reality TV

Stephen was the guest judge on the Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef: Season 5.

Restaurants

South Florida

  • Steak 954 - Ft. Lauderdale. Opened April 30, 2009. Boutique Steak House inside the Largest W Hotel.
  • Makoto - Bal Harbour. Modern Japanese.
  • Continental Miami opened in 2015.
  • LeZoo, Miami. Opened November, 2015

Philadelphia

  • The Continental - Opened September 1995. Restored stainless steel 1960s "Continental Diner" located in the Old City section.
  • Buddakan - Opened 1998. Chef is Scott Swiderski.
  • Pod - Opened October 2000. Original chef was Michael Schulson.
  • Alma De Cuba - Opened April 2001. Chef Douglas Rodriguez.
  • Morimoto - Opened October 2001. Co-owned by Chef Morimoto of Iron Chef fame. Ranked 18th in 2011 Philadelphia magazine "50 Best Places to Eat Right Now."
  • El Vez - Opened November 2003.
  • Continental Midtown - Opened July 2004.
  • Barclay Prime - Opened October 2004. Chef Jeff Froehler.
  • Jones -
  • Parc - Opened July 14, 2008. French cafe, bistro, brasserie. Chef Joe Monnich.
  • Butcher & Singer - Opened October 27, 2008. High-end steakhouse. Ranked 19th in 2011 Philadelphia magazine "50 Best Places to Eat Right Now."
  • Pizzeria Stella - 2nd and Lombard, Philadelphia. Chef Shane Solomon.
  • El Rey - Opened April 25, 2010. Chef Dionicio Jimenez.
  • The Dandelion - Opened January 1, 2011. English pub. Chef Robert Aikens
  • Talula's Garden - Opened April 13, 2011. Chef Charles Parker.
  • Frankford Hall - Opened May 17, 2011. German beer hall, beer garden. Chef James Davidson
  • Serpico (partnership with chef Peter Serpico)
  • Fette Sau

New York City

  • Morimoto (opened subsequent to the establishment of the Philadelphia location)
  • Buddakan
  • El Vez
  • Clocktower at the New York EDITION Hotel (Opened 2015) in partnership with British Chef Jason Atherton
  • Upland (opened 2014) partnership with chef Justin Smilie
  • Le Coucou (partnership with chef Daniel Rose)

Atlantic City

  • Continental - located in Caesar's Pier
  • Buddakan - located in Caesar's Pier

Washington DC

Le Diplomate - opened April 2013, located at 14th & Q Streets, NW, in Logan Circle. Executive Chef Michael Abt.

Closed

  • Hybird opened May 16, 2013 (in Chelsea Market co-owned by Questlove)
  • Cafe Republic
  • Tangerine - (January 2000-August 2009)
  • Washington Square (June 2004-November 2007) - Head chef was Marcus Samuelsson.
  • Striped Bass (November 2003 (when purchased) - June 2008)
  • Angelina (2003–2005) - 1960's Italian
  • L'Ange Bleu (Blue Angel) (September 1999 – 2003) - Authentic French cuisine
  • Route 6 (2011 - 2014) - Seafood. Chef Anthony DiRienzo.