Celebrities Eating: Top Restaurants and the Recipes They Love

The Forge Restaurant & Wine Bar specializes in "progressive American food based on local ingredients served with a twist," says executive chef Dewey LoSasso. The vibe is casual, fun, and over-the-top—"perfect for our clientele," he says. Getting cozy at the tables: Gabrielle Anwar, who often has the grilled salmon with basil mashed potatoes; Jennifer Lopez

, who's mad for the grilled Maine lobster; and

Venus Williams

, whose grand-slam pick is the lobster PB&J—the most popular appetizer on the menu. Try these authentic Cape Cod lobster sliders.

You won't find any odd-tasting vegan baked goods at Babycakes NYC. Instead, you can take your pick of truly mouth-watering treats. (Almost everything at the bakery is gluten-free too.) No wonder a bevy of health-conscious celebs—like Hilary Swank

, Madonna, Zooey Deschanel, and

Anne Hathaway

—keep coming back. "I love baking sweets that will thrill everyone—not just vegans," says owner Erin McKenna. Now with locations in Los Angeles, Orlando, Florida, and soon San Francisco, everyone can get their fix. Make your own dairy-free treats with these vegan dessert recipes.

Try to name a celebrity who hasn't eaten at the boutique Italian restaurant Il Sole and you're sure to come up blank. Nicole Richie

,

Jennifer Aniston

,

Courteney Cox

,

Sheryl Crow

, Britney Spears,

Cameron Diaz

, and Ellen Pompeo are just a few of the stars who go gaga over chef Issac Rivera's menu. The fresh fare includes such favorites as whole Mediterranean sea bass for two; risotto with porcini mushrooms and truffle oil; and the lemony chicken Monte Cristo roasted with garlic, veal stock, and a splash of white wine.

Once an upscale coffeehouse, Fido has morphed into a laid-back eatery with a strong health bent. And if you saw who was filling the tables—Taylor Swift

, Nicole Kidman, and Miley Cyrus—you might think you need a red-carpet invitation to get in (you don't). What's attracting the stars: the fresh, inventive dishes, which chef and general manager John Stephenson describes as "hash browns meet haute cuisine." "Much of the produce and meat we use comes from local, organic farmers," he says—which must have been a draw for

Gwyneth Paltrow

, who stopped in for the veggie scramble while filming Country Strong in the area. Try this springtime tofu scramble.

The sleek Osteria Mozza—complete with a freestanding mozzarella bar—attracts lots of bold-faced names. Eva Longoria, Victoria Beckham, and Amanda Peet have been known to stop in for the succulent antipasti, pasta, seafood, and meat dishes, such as grilled Santa Barbara spot prawns with radish salsa verde, and orecchiette tossed with pork sausage, cheese, and broccoli rabe. "I'm passionate about feeding people wholesome, delicious food," says Nancy Silverton, who co-owns the restaurant with Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich. Try this orecchiette with broccoli rabe and roasted tomatoes.