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Crane Club Restaurant — Tao Group Hospitality’s new fine-dining eatery in New York City — opened this weekend with a two-night, star-studded extravaganza.
“The energy in the room was amazing,” an insider tells Page Six exclusively of the West Chelsea hotspot’s debut, which kicked off with family-style sit-down dinner parties on Friday and Saturday nights.
“Everyone was enjoying the food, and all the A-listers were hanging out and joining each other’s tables,” the source shares, gushing, “It felt like New York was back.”
Guests at the event included Bethenny Frankel and Jonathan “Foodgod” Cheban. Dan Nilsen Photography Pharrell Williams was seen making the rounds at the lively event. Dan Nilsen PhotographyCelebrity attendees — including Bethenny Frankel, Aaron Paul, Bill Maher and Pharrell Williams — were greeted with Champagne and indulgent bites by Michelin-starred chef Melissa Rodriguez.
Once seated, guests dined on upscale apps like a vibrant chicory salad with black truffle vinaigrette as well as mouth-watering entrées including a whole dover sole with soft herbs and lemon, a decadent 18-ounce bone-in filet mignon and white truffle arancini with Osetra caviar.
An enticing roving raw bar served table-side shrimp cocktail and razor clams for an added interactive element.
Bill Maher looked snazzy in a blue suite for the fête. Dan Nilsen Photography Noah Tepperberg’s wife, Melissa Wood-Tepperberg, was a co-host of the evening and posed for a snap with pal Winnie Harlow. Dan Nilsen Photography Aaron Paul was in attendance for the big event. Dan Nilsen Photography We hear Paul enjoyed his dinner with former co-star Bryan Cranston. Dan Nilsen PhotographyWe’re told Sofía Vergara stopped by J Balvin’s table and “ended up staying for a while,” while Frankel arrived with Jonathan “Foodgod” Cheban.
The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum later reflected on the blowout bash in a TikTok video, sharing that she and Cheban were greeted by another Kardashian BFF, Simon Huck, and she also introduced herself to Williams.
She raved about the menu items in the clip, calling the steak “amazing” and the razor clams “a sleeper hit.”
Sofía Vergara partied the night away with her friends. Dan Nilsen Photography An insider says Vergara joined J Balvin’s table for a while. Dan Nilsen Photography Justin Theroux and Matt Dillon buddied up all night as well. Dan Nilsen Photography David Grutman and David “Papi” Einhorn showed their support for the Tao Group Hospitality co-CEO. Dan Nilsen PhotographyWant more celebrity and pop culture news?
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“Sofía and Lorraine Schwartz were together the whole night,” the spy says, adding that Williams was spotted chatting with Tao Group co-CEO Noah Tepperberg.
We also hear Paul had dinner with his former “Breaking Bad” co-star Bryan Cranston and that Justin Theroux and Matt Dillon “hung out” throughout the evening.
Other stars at the event included Amelia Gray Hamlin, the Chainsmokers, Chelsea Clinton, Georgia Fowler, Henrik Lundqvist, Nicole Scherzinger, Nina Dobrev and fiancé Shaun White, Winnie Harlow, Harvey Spevak and more.
The new restaurant is located in the West Chelsea neighborhood. Crane Club “The energy in the room was amazing,” an insider tells Page Six of the opening celebration. Crane Club We hear the dining experience was served family-style. Crane Club Michelin-starred chef Melissa Rodriguez dreamed up the innovative menu. Crane ClubThe head chef’s mentor, Daniel Boulud, showed up to show his support, too.
Additionally, Tepperberg’s fellow nightlife empresarios David Grutman and Scott Sartiano were seen working the room.
Crane Club Restaurant will be officially open to the public Wednesday, though an insider tells us that it is already booked until February.
