Cafeteria, the trendy Chelsea restaurant, has reached a milestone of 25 years in business. In celebration of this achievement, the restaurant’s staff has come forward to share their most memorable celebrity encounters over the past 25 years.
One of the most frequent visitors was Mariah Carey, who was often seen there on Friday nights and would stay until the morning shift. One employee recounted how they would leave on Friday and come back for Saturday brunch, only to find Carey still there. Another employee shared how Carey ran to the deli across the street to buy the host a rose to ask him out, and on New Year’s Eve, she made a grand entrance by singing for the entire restaurant.
From Madonna to Mike Tyson
Other notable encounters include Janet Jackson mistaking the restaurant for a now-defunct gay nightclub and Madonna keeping the restaurant and her friend Ingrid Casares waiting for almost three hours. Calvin Klein was known for his impeccable manners, waiting for his party to be seated before joining Barry Diller at another table. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West also made an appearance and had the restaurant put up umbrella covers on the windows for privacy.
More recently, Pete Davidson had an awkward moment when he visited with his new girlfriend on the night his ex Ariana Grande released her breakup song, “Thank U, Next,” and the staff played it for the restaurant. Julianne Moore also left a lasting impression on one server when she breastfed her child at one of the tables.
The restaurant has also served as a rehab center for models during Fashion Week, providing them with emergency carbs to revive them after fainting on the runway. Even celebrities have been impressed with the restaurant’s menu, with Diddy stealing one of their cooks and Graham Norton gifting staff tickets to the “Ab Fab” opening night party. However, not all encounters have been smooth sailing, as Mike Tyson and his entourage were denied entry by security, causing tension at the door.
Cafeteria has truly become a staple in the New York City food scene and has seen its fair share of celebrity encounters over the past 25 years.