Who Is Stephen Starr?
Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starrs forthcoming 14thStreet restaurant,Le Diplomate,is generating a lot of buzz. But many of you are probably wondering, Who the heck is this guy? We met up with him last week in Philly for a tour of his empire and a chat about his plans for DC.
Le Diplomate is slated to open early April. It will be Stephens first foray into DC, and he tells us hes looking forward to doing more. He has 20 restaurants in Philadelphia, and each is a completely different concept. As Randi Sirkin, his director of creative services, explains, "Every concept has its own personality and soul. We want each restaurant to tell a story, and I think this is what sets us apart." Here are a few that we visited last week:
Buddakan:One of Stephen's most famous restaurants, the modern Asian concept is one of only three Starr concepts to have multiple locations. The second Buddakan is in Manhattan's trendy Meatpacking District, and the third is in Atlantic City. All three locations of Morimoto, his contemporary Japanese collaboration with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, are just steps away from all three Buddakans. And the Continental, Stephen's very first restaurant, has two locations in Philly.
Talulas Garden:This seasonal American, farm-to-table concept is heavily rooted in the outdoors. The huge, multi-level patio(entrance pictured above) is a major draw, and the indoor space is bedecked with nature-inspired touches like planter boxes sporting live tulips and other seasonal greenery.A collaboration with Philly chef Aimee Olexy, Talula's offers farm-fresh cuisine, an impressive wine-and-cheese program, and a whimsical experience in a garden-party setting reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
El Vez: Stephen's modern Mexican concept, El Vez is well-known for its creative guacamoles and a dangerously tasty blood orange margarita. A spinning, custom-made lowrider bike is the focal point of both the bar and the restaurant, a photo booth draped with sombreros invites customers to get in touch with their inner muchacho, and the neon color scheme aptly reflects the restaurant's high-energy vibe.
The Dandelion: This charming British pub is so convincingly outfitted with vintage china, squashy armchairs, cozy fireplaces, and antique trinkets that it's difficult to believe it's only two years old. The cuisine will definitely make you rethink British food's reputation for being bland and boring. The Dandelion offers lunch, dinner, brunch, and of course, afternoon tea.
Parc: This French bistro located on Philly's posh Rittenhouse Square is the inspiration for Le Diplomate. But while Parc's menu is fairly traditional, we can expect more adventurous menu items at Le Diplomate. Randi tells us that it's Stephen's attention to detail that really brings his concepts to life. "He obsesses about every detail, from approving every graphic to meeting every prospective employee--even servers. He's passionate about all of the details, not just the big ones."
