13 Restaurants Beloved By Jacques Pépin

Jacques Pépin knows a thing or two about restaurants. After all, the celebrity chef has been in the business since he was a child. His mother, Jeannette Pépin, ran a local eatery in France. Pépin helped with its day-to-day work. As he told the Harvard Business Review, "I was seven years old and already in the kitchen with my mother. She was a cook at the little family restaurant... I loved the kitchen. When I finished primary school, at age 13, I went into an apprenticeship." 

Although Pépin started at the bottom, he rose within the industry to its top. During the 1950s, he cooked for French presidents, including Charles de Gaulle. Later, the chef moved to New York, where he organized kitchens for a hotel brand. Eventually, Pépin teamed up with the cooking legend Julia Child to film the PBS series "Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home."

Due to his deep knowledge of the culinary world, Pépin can differentiate the best restaurants from mediocre ones. In his free time, he frequents top-tier eateries from cities across the United States. From The Iron Chef restaurant in Madison, Connecticut to the Eastern Standard in Boston, here are some of Jacques Pépin's favorite restaurants.

Although Pépin was born in France, the chef settled in Madison, Connecticut — becoming a vital member of its restaurant community. The culinary master has been known to dine out at restaurants around town, supporting local chefs and popping into their kitchens to say hello. While he loves many establishments, one of Pépin's favorite eateries is Iron Chef Sushi. In an interview with CT Insider, Pépin discussed his discovery of this spot, stating, "The Iron Chef in Madison is new and I had dinner there three times, and it was way above my expectations."

According to the Iron Chef website, this restaurant offers plenty of interesting Japanese eats — ranging from sushi to udon noodle dishes. The best part is that their menu offers dinner-sized sushi plates like the sushi sashimi combo — which includes six pieces of seasonal sushi, ten pieces of sashimi, and a full tuna roll. These arrangements allow patrons to sample a variety of fresh options without having to order several different rolls. This restaurant provides all the comfort of a neighborhood spot with fresh and hearty eats.

Iron Chef Sushi is not the only Connecticut eatery that Pépin frequents. As he told CT Insider, he also likes to hit Westbrook Lobster to eat some local seafood. Apparently, Pépin enjoys going to this Clinton eatery for their shellfish special. After all, Westbrook has been known to offer $1 oysters — a treat that the French celebrity chef has been known to indulge in from time to time. 

If you're looking to enjoy some fresh seafood on the cheap, head to Westbrook Lobster on a lazy afternoon. According to the restaurant's Instagram, their $1 oyster deal is available every Thursday — and you can order as many of these shellfish treats as you want! Although this promotion is only available once per week, you can order oysters at Westbrook Lobster any day that you want. So, if you pop into this restaurant on a Saturday, you can still order food the Pépin way. The only difference is that you will end up shelling out more cash. Normal oyster prices hover around $16 for half a dozen.

Just because Pépin is famous doesn't mean he doesn't love a good old-fashioned family restaurant. One of the celebrity chef's local favorites is Taste of China, an eatery located in Clinton, Connecticut. Pépin was particularly impressed by this locale, as he has publicly recommended it in multiple interviews. In a conversation with CT Insider, he even dropped the L-bomb with reference to the restaurant, stating, "I love the Chinese restaurant we have in Clinton, Taste of China."

From what is shown on Taste of China's official website, the eatery is the definition of a family restaurant. The site even mentions the owners' toddler, noting, "our five-year-old son ... says our food is yummy." Perhaps it's this nice, family-oriented atmosphere that draws Pépin in and reminds him of his childhood running around his mother's restaurant. Regardless of the reason for the chef's deep connection to this locale, it is clear he adores it. The Taste of China website even mentions Pépin, stating, "[we] are fortunate to have many local chefs that share their opinion on our food including the famous French chef, Jacque Pépin."

Pépin is not always easy to impress. The French celebrity chef has gone on the record stating that the culinary culture in Los Angeles is not what it once was. As he shared in an interview for the LA Times, Pépin recalled, "The restaurant scene was very exciting in Los Angeles at that time [in the 1980s]. Maybe even more than San Francisco at that time. Then it kind of changed."

Even with that controversial opinion, there was at least one restaurant that the culinary expert enjoyed. He gushed to the outlet, "I had a great meal yesterday. I ate at Union. You know that restaurant in Pasadena?" According to the restaurant's website, Union serves Northern Italian cuisine, with items ranging from squid ink lumache to pork meatballs. The menu offers both single-portion meals and traditional family-style plates — allowing patrons to immerse themselves in classical Italian dining. 

Pépin said he particularly enjoyed the noodles, sharing, "The pasta was incredible, and he gave us a lot of it. With truffles on top. The food was incredible." To order like the French chef, try the truffle fettuccine and enjoy a plate of rich white truffles with creamy organic butter and piquant parmesan cheese. 

Providence, Rhode Island is known for its Italian restaurant scene. As the home of Johnson and Wales University — one of the nation's top culinary science programs — Providence is full of fun, creative chefs. Many open restaurants after their graduation. In the midst of this vibrant scene, Pépin's go-to restaurant is Persimmon. The restaurant's owner, Chef Champe Speidel, told The Providence Journal that Pépin has been to his establishment on multiple occasions. Every time the celebrity appears at the locale, it's a huge treat for him.

Pépin has been known to head back into the locale's kitchen, where he likes to mingle with the chefs. Speidel revealed, "He still loves to be a part of it. So he sort of wanders back, and he's shaking hands and stirring sauces. It's really sweet."

According to Persimmon's website, the restaurant serves modern American fare. The menu includes a diverse range of items, such as salmon tartare, foie gras, and black spaghetti. If the photographs of the food are anything to go by, these delicious eats are presented in a gorgeous and almost scientific way. 

Les Trois Chevaux may be the passion project of chef Angie Mar, but Jacques Pépin was integral to its design. The French celebrity chef frequented Mar's now-closed restaurant, The Beatrice Inn, and was disappointed when its landlord forced it out of business during the pandemic. When Mar signed a lease on the space next door, Pépin helped Mar design a new menu.

During their collaboration, Mar drove to Pépin's Connecticut home with a bunch of food — including pheasants and chicken pie. The older Frenchman would taste each of Mar's creations and give his honest feedback. On one occasion, as reported by The New Yorker, he turned to the younger chef and said, "Your cooking is very sincere, very straightforward... It's very honest in many ways." Coming from a big-time TV chef like Pépin, this is an enormous compliment. 

After much trial and error, Mar and Pépin came up with the perfect menu. Thus, Mar opened her new masterpiece, Les Trois Chevaux, and her hard work paid off. The locale has been recognized in the Michelin Guide – thanks to its scrumptious frog legs on artichoke hearts and crab pithiviers, which are stuffed with scallop frangipane. 

Pépin might be a television star, but he doesn't limit himself to only eating at fine dining restaurants. The celebrity chef is famous for encouraging his fans to be open to any food experience — regardless of how informal it may be. As he relayed in a panel with 92 New York, Michelin-starred restaurants aren't guaranteed to offer the best food of your life. Au contraire, Pépin believes that oftentimes the best meals out there are those served in more humble neighborhood venues.

When it comes to french fries, Pépin is down to go to an even more casual spot. As the TV chef stated in an interview with the Seattle Times, he finds that McDonald's French fries taste "pretty good." He has nothing against eating at a fast food chain. Pépin explained, "I'm not a snob, so fast food — I don't care!" Apparently, this is part of his habit of embracing all kinds of locales, no matter how much they cost. Plus, Pépin likes a good deal. When asked what kind of wine he likes to drink, the celebrity chef replied, "Free wine or cheap wine!"

While Pépin has nothing against fast food, he has no issue eating at an expensive fine dining venue. The TV chef has a lot of respect for his colleagues making waves in the world of haute-cuisine. One of the professionals Pépin holds in high esteem is French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who has been recognized on several occasions by the prestigious Michelin Guide. 

Pépin considers Vongerichten one of the most innovative men in the business, telling Dispatch that talent is "taste." He added, "The capacity of discernment and the ability to improve a dish. The ability to innovate. Not every chef has this talent. Jean-Georges Vongerichten [and] Thomas Keller — these are guys who can do it."

Due to this high praise, it's likely Pépin would enjoy Vongerichten's flagship restaurant in New York City, Jean-Georges. The locale, which holds two Michelin stars, offers a fine dining experience and serves French-style favorites. According to the Michelin Guide, one of the best things to order here is charred beets with saffron. Reportedly, the Wagyu beef is also excellent. 

When he's not enjoying an evening of fine dining, Pépin loves haunting the local eateries close to his residence in Madison, CT.  One of his go-to favorites is Clam Castle, a shack-style beachside restaurant that serves local seafood. In an interview with NewEngland.com, Pépin opened up about this restaurant choice, explaining, "I do like to be with friends cooking together at home, but when it comes to eating out, I go to the Clam Castle in Madison."

As per Clam Castle's website, the restaurant has been open for over sixty years — making it something of a "shoreline landmark." The menu includes typical seaside fare like fried shrimp, fish and chips, and lobster rolls. But that doesn't mean that the location limits itself to serving traditional New England snacks. It also offers Mexican-style tacos stuffed with seared scallops and different varieties of fish. You can pair these dishes with scrumptious sides like cole slaw, pickles, and other condiments. 

Just because Pépin lives far from France doesn't mean he doesn't love the gastronomy of his home country. Pépin occasionally goes out to enjoy a taste of his home country at a local restaurant. In an interview with the Boston Globe, Pépin explained, "New England food has gotten more refined. I can give you 10 restaurants that I go to now that didn't exist 40 years ago ... [like] Bar Bouchée, a French restaurant."

According to the Bar Bouchée website, Jean Pierre Vuillermet founded the eatery. He hoped to bring a piece of his native France to the United States. Reflecting on the purpose of the restaurant, Vuillermet shared, "I wanted to open a restaurant that was deeply rooted in my past ... A place that reminded me of home: Great food, drink, and conversation. For me, a bouchon represents the heart of French cooking." Perhaps it is this sense of home that Pépin enjoys. Of course, he likely also savors the high-quality menu items such as mussels and profiteroles.

Although Connecticut has tons of great eateries, Pépin doesn't always stick to his local neighborhood restaurants. Come wintertime, the French chef loves heading down to Florida, where he soaks up some sun at St. Fernandina Beach. During these getaways, Pépin enjoys Spanish-style dining. Speaking to the Fernandina Observer, the TV star revealed that his favorite restaurant in the area is España Restaurant & Tapas. Apparently, his favorite things to order are the almejas borrachas and paella. 

Interestingly, the restaurant offers way more than your typical Spanish dinner. According to the locale's website, they also serve Basque-style pintxos and Portuguese fisherman stew. The Peruvian classic — ceviche — and Italian-style calamari also appear on the menu. Among these choices, Pépin told the Fernandina Observer that he's a huge fan of the local shrimp. However, that doesn't stop him from trying a bit of everything. "I am a glutton — I eat anything," he told the outlet.

Not all seafood experiences are created the same, and Pépin knows it! Although he's known to enjoy casual beachside dining, he has a penchant for the finer things in life. When Pépin is in the mood for a sophisticated night out, he heads to the Oyster Club in Mystic, Connecticut. As he told NewEngland.com, when he wants "a more formal dinner," the Oyster Club is the spot. 

As suggested by the restaurant's name, its menu offers several types of shellfish, including roasted oysters and oysters Rockefeller. Oysters on the half shell can be enjoyed during the nightly Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and cost only $1.50 apiece. Of course, oysters are one of the house specialties. But there is much more to enjoy here! The restaurant includes Italian fare like cacio e pepe and tagliatelle and Argentine-style empanadas with chimichurri. One of the biggest draws of the Oyster Club is that it has treehouse seating with views of the local river.

When Pépin arrived in the United States, he was not a huge fan of the food scene. Speaking to the Boston Globe, the chef relayed that he was unimpressed by the offering. "Boston was kind of a gastronomical wasteland," Pépin shared, before adding that things have improved substantially in the last few decades. "There are fantastic restaurants." One of these top Bostonian eateries, in Pépin's view, is the Eastern Standard. 

The Eastern Standard, which closed in 2021 during the pandemic, was so popular among locals that it has organized a comeback. The restaurant launched plans to reopen in 2023 (via Mass Live). After all, this American take on a French brasserie sells classic eats from both sides of the Atlantic, ranging from charcuterie à la francaise to local oysters and some delicious bread pudding. Pépin will likely be happy to see this restaurant come back. Chef, Jeremy Sewall even participated in a Pépin-themed dinner at Boston University, according to Public Radio Kitchen.