Stephen Starr is Taking Over 2 Restaurants Founded by Mario Batali
January 30, 2025 | 1 min to read
Stephen Starr has taken over Babbo and Lupa, two iconic restaurants from the Bastianich family, which struggled after the decline of Mario Batali. In this new venture, Mark Ladner, the renowned chef associated with the Batali-Bastianich era, will lead the kitchen at Babbo. Starr's accomplishments include partnerships with notable establishments like Le Coucou and the new Mozza restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Plus chef Mark Ladner will return to Greenwich Village to run Babbo
Prolific restaurateur Stephen Starr — behind notable endeavors like the recently opened cafe at Louis Vuitton, Le Coucou, Upland, and a Pastis partnership with Keith McNally — has a new set of iconic Italian restaurants under his umbrella.
Starr is taking over Babbo and Lupa, two iconic restaurants from the Bastianich family that had taken a hit after the fall of Mario Batali, Grub Street confirmed. And in the process of Starr’s takeover, Mark Ladner, the Batali-Bastianich-era chef who went from opening Lupa to Del Posto, will be running the kitchen at Babbo.
Most recently, Starr teamed up with Nancy Silverton’s Mozza, with its flagship in Los Angeles, to open the DC restaurant that debuted in November.
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