In Los Angeles, celebrities walk among us. They hide behind hats and oversized sunglasses, use back entrances to avoid being noticed, or hire discreet car services to be chauffeured. Despite the density of celebrities in one city, they're actually pretty hard to spot. If you want to accidentally rub shoulders with Hollywood's elite, you have to go to Crossroads Kitchen.
Led by celebrity chef Tal Ronen, this vegan restaurant has received numerous awards and accolades, including Best Vegan Fine Dining Restaurant, Best Vegan Restaurant in Los Angeles and Best Vegan Restaurant in America.
With its multiple awards under its belt, it's no wonder Crossroads attracts countless entertainers craving the perfect plant-based meal. Vegan or not, Ronen's food has wowed everyone from Jane Fonda to Paul McCartney. We wanted to know: what makes Crossroads the ultimate celebrity destination? Here are the answers.
Jacob Reiman
Familiar but great vegan food
Famous or not, diners seated at crisp white tablecloths receive five-star service, but the pretension ends there: Crossroads' menu is the same as that of any other acclaimed Los Angeles restaurant (minus the animal products), with exquisite appetizers, exceptionally prepared vegetables, and beautifully presented desserts complementing the house-made pastas and hearty protein mains.
“It's been really great to introduce our style of cuisine to non-plant-based diners. Diners often come to the restaurant with friends and don't know what to expect, but it's always the dedicated meat-eaters who become long-time fans of our food and regulars at the restaurant,” Ronen explained.
Jacob Reiman
The variety of items on offer may also be the reason for the restaurant's repeat customers. To try everything, you'll need to make multiple visits. Or, in Lizzo's case, bring a friend. The entertainer has been spotted here with Shaun T, and we wonder… did they order the Impossible Cigar with Almond Yogurt or the Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms for an appetizer? Did they share a classic Caesar Salad before tucking into a slice of the Truffle Mushroom Bianca Pizza, or opt to share the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka and Lentil Tempeh Piccata? To find out, we'll have to keep a close eye on their social handles.
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Oprah's former chef
Owner and chef Tal Ronen has a notable resume: he created the dishes for Oprah Winfrey's 21-Day Cleanse diet, catered star-studded events like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's wedding and the first-ever vegan U.S. Senate dinner, and designed the plant-based menus for all of the restaurants at Wynn Las Vegas Hotels (owner Steve Wynn is himself a vegan).
When asked why Crossroads attracts celebrities, Ronen replied, “Hopefully it's because of the delicious food! But more importantly, we value our guests' privacy, and I think that's definitely the draw. When we first opened, we were plagued by paparazzi every night, so we built a garage in the back so VIPs can come in and not get photographed. We also offer a private dining room, and are regularly visited by guests who want privacy.”
While you may not see Katy Perry or any of the Kardashians coming into Crossroads and asking the host to take a seat, you can definitely enjoy your meal knowing you might be breathing the same recirculated air.
Ronen says he's incredibly humbled by his incredible clientele, but also honored by everyone who chooses to dine at his establishment. “I'm so grateful to everyone who supports the restaurant, whether they're famous or not. It's just nice to be able to feed so many people at the end of a long night,” he said.
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Celebrity endorsements
Given the number of celebrities who have dined and returned to Crossroads, Ronen might want to consider adding another level to the backlot parking garage. Just a few of the notables who have visited the space include Travis Barker and his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, who list Crossroads as their favorite dinner spot in Los Angeles. Other notable guests have included Kevin and Harley Quinn Smith, Alicia Silverstone, Addison Rae, Paul McCartney, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Ellen DeGeneres, Tobey Maguire, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara and Miley Cyrus.
The restaurant has even received accolades from celebrity chefs, courtesy of the Food Network: Los Angeles chef, restaurateur and Food Network personality Michael Voltaggio chose Crossroads as the network's charity restaurant of choice. Tournament of Champions This spring, Voltaggio won the first round of the competition, earning a $10,000 donation for Crossroads.
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The birth of a vegan empire
Crossroads is of As Los Angeles' vegan fine dining destination, Ronen has expanded the fan-favorite institution with two new locations. In 2022, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Crossroads Kitchen will debut within Resorts World Las Vegas, officially becoming the Las Vegas Strip's first vegan fine dining restaurant. It now serves the Strip's first vegan brunch buffet, featuring bagels with endless toppings, stuffed French toast, chicken and waffles and eggs Benedict Florentine.
Following the Las Vegas opening, the restaurant will open a new location in Calabasas, California, a well-known celebrity enclave, in October 2022. The Calabasas menu takes inspiration from the Melrose location, with dishes such as calamari fritti, truffled potatoes, and house-made pastas like tagliatelle bolognese and spaghetti carbonara.
After all, everyday people and celebrities alike are looking for comfort and flavor when choosing to dine out, and Crossroads delivers on both perfectly: “We strive to make everyone feel welcome. We don't have a dress code, and although it's a white tablecloth restaurant, it's a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Our food appeals to everyone, plant-based or not,” Ronen concludes.
For more vegan restaurants, read on:
Tanya Flink is the Digital Editor for VegNews and a writer and runner living in Orange County, California.
