By: Haley Bosselman By: Haley Bosselman | August 25, 2021 | Food & Drink,
In the fall of 2020, celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi had just over 350,000 followers on Instagram. In the approximately nine months since, that number has exploded to a million, proving that DeuxMoi is not just a curator of pop culture, but a tastemaker.
DeuxMoi speaks to those who once relished in the tabloid rags of the early aughts, but have grown more of a moral backbone in the last decade or two. She’s transparent that any statements made on the account have not been independently confirmed, nor does she claim any information is fact (just take a look at her bio). However, her track record shows that she really knows what’s up. Earlier this year, she was at the forefront of what became the Armie Hammer scandal. She also posted about Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost’s marriage and Zoe Kravtiz’ split from Karl Glusman before any official word.
A fair amount of DeuxMoi’s Instagram Stories content is delegated to celebrity encounters: confirmations from entertainment professionals and fans alike if their fav talent is kind or cold. Every Sunday she posts celebrity sightings from the week that people send in from around the globe, but namely New York and Los Angeles. One of her Instagram Story Highlights is dedicated to just the names of celebrity-frequented restaurants.
So where does a cosmopolitan New Yorker with the hottest intel at her fingertips spend her time? On a late afternoon in August, DeuxMoi hopped on a phone call to chat about her favorite restaurants in the city. And yes, most of them have celebrity sightings.
“It’s really hard to pick a favorite when you live in a city like New York,” she explained. "A place might be a favorite for reasons that don’t have anything to do with food.”
Read below for DeuxMoi’s 5 restaurants she goes to over and over.
52 Gansevoort St. Website.
“This is such a corny answer, but I love Pastis,” she said of the French restaurant. Nestled in the Meatpacking District, Pastis closed in 2014, but reopened in 2019 to much fanfare. DeuxMoi called it a “tried and true New York staple”— one that was seen quite a few times on “Sex and the City” and boasts Rihanna, Lucy Liu and Andy Cohen as patrons. If you’re having a hard time figuring out what to eat, go for DeuxMoi’s recommendation: the chicken paillard.
See also: The Most Fabulous Filets in New York City
24 8th Ave. Website.
One of DeuxMoi’s must-include spots on the list isn’t quite known for attracting a high-profile clientele. “It’s not a celeb hangout, but I’m sure celebrities have been there because its in the heart of the West Village,” she said. One of her favorite sushi restaurants, Kawa Sushi is a no-frills joint with hardly a dozen tables and a small sushi bar. Pinpointing their spicy tuna pizza “that is to die for,” she reminisced on all her memories of heading to Kawa after work or for birthdays for tons of sake, wine, sushi and fun.
5 King St. Website.
Also to die for? The roasted farm chicken at Charlie Bird. She described it as a typical SoHo restaurant, and that its upbeat, lively atmosphere makes it the perfect place for a fun girls’ dinner. And for Charlie Bird, DeuxMoi had better than just a list of celebrities that have been spotted chowing down on Italian-inspired cuisine. She was once told “a really cute little story about how someone sat next to [Drew Barrymore] and chatted them up and they shared a dish.” One might wonder if Barrymore has been back, considering she’s a DeuxMoi follower.
180 Prince St. Website.
For a sexier, moodier SoHo locale, DeuxMoi suggested Raoul’s. She noted Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as celeb spottings, not to mention Andy Warhol, Bill Clinton and Julia Roberts as part of its decades-long history. Her standard order includes a salad, selections from the raw bar and a delicious cocktail. “You go there on like a date,” she said, describing it as a place to get “a little martini drunk.”
80 Wythe Ave. Website.
Capping the list is the Wythe Hotel’s French restaurant. Having gone recently for an early dinner (“I tried everything”), DeuxMoi attested to Le Crocodile’s fantastic raw bar. “The Waldorf salad is so good,” she added. “It’s the best salad I’ve ever had.” With its open, bright layout, she sees it as a good place for brunch, which has attracted the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Emily Ratajkowski. Desserts are also a must if you dine at the Williamsburg restaurant. “The sticky banana date pudding is f---ing amazing,” DeuxMoi said.
See also: Get Exclusive Access to The World's Most Sought-After Restaurants
Photography by: Elina Sazonova/ Pexels
