Celebrity Chef in-restaurant sightings?
 

With the recent trend of celebrity-chef branded restaurants across the country... has anyone ever seen any of the celebrity chefs in their self-named restaurants (besides, at least, the opening day)?

Yes, quite often. Pierre Gagnaire came out and greeted every table one day when I was there. I've seen Charlie Trotter everytime I've ate at his restaurant in Chicago. I've seen Wolfgang Puck. There are more, but that's what I can think of off the top. Oh yeah, saw Joel Rubochon cooking in Paris, and Roxanne Klein was always at Roxanne's when I went.

Nobu in LA.

Gordon Ramsay - at Boxwood Café and his Royal Hospital Road restaurant. And he was friendly too! :p

Puck at Chinois in Santa Monica

Saw Puck twice, once at Chinois, and when he had the place in Malibu that shuttered.

For L.A. foodies, I've seen Nancy Silverton and Piero Selvaggio a couple of times.

Wolfgang Puck at Spagos. He's often there, milling around the restaurant. Short little guy!

Nobu Matsuhisa in Matsuhisa Aspen

Iron Chef Morimoto at his namesake in Philidelphia. He came over and sat with us, got his autograph and picture with him. Told us a little bit about what it was like to be on the show. It was a great experience.

Mario Batali at Babbo in NYC. Was in the back. Great food.

My problem is that I wouldn't recognize a celebrity chef if he or she sat down at the table. :( I think that the only two I'd recognize are Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsay.

Before Steven Starr opened Morimoto's new restaurant in NYC, he was at his restaurant in PHL all the time - you could go in on a weeknight, sit at the sushi bar and have him prepare sushi right in front of you. Super-friendly guy too.

I've spotted Puck at the flagship Beverly Hills.

Ones with multiple restaurants who I can clearly recall:

Wolfgang Puck at Spago.
Daniel Boulud at Daniel.

In LA, many of the locally well-known ones. Have seen Neal Fraser not only at Grace but also at BLD.

Saw Morimoto in NYC. Though the restaurant is a hugh disappointment.

I'd rather not see a chef in a restaurant in the same way that I don't want to see a Captain walking round a flight.
Get back where you belong,I say !