Kevin Hart's vegan McDonald's takeover: everything we know

Hart House comes to Hollywood

Hart House, actor and comedian Kevin Hart’s plant-based fast food chain, isn't afraid to make statement – and the latest opening is no exception. The new flagship venue for the vegan brand launched on 23 May within what’s known as Hollywood’s fast food corridor. On the corner of LA's Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue, the restaurant is housed in a former McDonald's drive-thru and provocatively close to fast food giants Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out Burger. 

Sustainability, cravability and more

Famed for its mission to make plant-based foods accessible to the masses, this is the third – and most exciting – Hart House launch yet. The former McDonald's building has kept a drive-thru (a first for the brand) and also has a 24-seat dining room and 16-seat patio. The modern, bright and light decor is all present and correct, as is the signature neon ‘Eat Your Hart Out’ sign. Reflecting the brand’s commitment to sustainability, existing palm trees were preserved during renovation and a rainwater retention system has been put in place.

The future of fast food?

Hart has never made a secret of that fact that he wants to go big with the brand, highlighting a desire to take Hart House global and positioning the chain as the future of food and quick-service restaurants. While the man himself might be known for jokes, Hart House's commitment to food is free from any funny business – cholesterol, hormones, artificial colours, preservatives, corn syrup and trans-fats included. And it seems they’re onto a good thing; both vegan and non-vegan customers rave about the Single and Double Burg’rs, Crispy Chick’n Nuggets and dairy-free shakes.

Countless other celebrities have invested in their own restaurants. Read on as we take a look at some of the best celebrity-owned diners, cafés and bars across the country.

Susan Sarandon: SPiN

Ping pong club-meets-restaurant, SPiN is the perfect choice if you fancy a change from the usual drinks and dinner – and plan to work up an appetite beforehand. Now in eight US locations, plus one in Toronto, Canada, the laid-back and lively chain is part-owned by actress and activist Susan Sarandon, who helped launch the first club in Manhattan in 2009. The menu includes tacos, pizza, sharing starters like nachos and wings, and cocktails.

Lady Gaga: Joanne Trattoria

Joanne Trattoria in Manhattan’s Upper West Side has all the feel of a traditional, family-run Italian trattoria. It’s run by Joseph and Cynthia Germanotta, Lady Gaga’s parents who have Italian ancestry, but the singer and songwriter herself is said to be part-owner. Both the restaurant and Gaga's album Joanne were named after Gaga's late aunt Joanne. Stop by for homemade spaghetti and Italian meatballs.

Robert De Niro: Nobu

High-end sushi restaurant Nobu was co-founded by Robert De Niro. The actor and director teamed up with chef Nobu Matsuhisa for the opening of the original downtown New York restaurant in 1994 and the pair have since launched nearly 50 Nobu restaurants and hotels on five continents. Signature dishes include black cod with miso, rock shrimp tempura, and squid pasta with light garlic sauce.

Jon Bon Jovi: Soul Kitchen

Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea opened the non-profit community restaurant Soul Kitchen in 2011 to help "address the issues of hunger and homelessness" in Red Bank, New Jersey. Following its success, the couple opened two more outposts at Toms River and Rutgers University. Diners are offered the chance to make a suggested donation for their meal, or buy a 'Pay It Forward certificate' for an additional $20, with the money going towards feeding others in need, while those short of cash can volunteer their time in lieu of payment.

Michael Jordan: Michael Jordan’s Steak House

Since his days of being the NBA’s greatest player of all time, retired basketball player Michael Jordan has turned to other interests: his business ventures. He owns four Michael Jordan’s Steak Houses across the US, which serve prime 45-day dry-aged steak to the athlete's standard. Find them in Chicago, Connecticut, and Washington State.

Pharrell Williams: Swan

Opened in November 2018, Swan, located in Miami’s Design District, is a partnership between hospitality entrepreneur David Grutman and musician Pharrell Williams, who is responsible for the 2014 hit Happy. The restaurant is distinctly pastel pink-themed with marble furnishings, animal print, chandeliers, and flowers. The menu, as impressive as the decor, is globally inspired and locally sourced, with dishes such as citrus-cured hamachi and lobster cavatelli pasta with tomato and garlic breadcrumbs.

Chip and Joanna Gaines: Magnolia Table

Chip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV series Fixer Upper – where they turned dilapidated homes in Texas into showplaces – opened Magnolia Table in 2018. A vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Waco, Texas, only breakfast and lunch is served, with locally sourced ingredients and produce grown in Joanna’s garden. Joanna has also written a cookbook, based on the recipes served at the restaurant.

Zach Braff: Mermaid Oyster Bar

Scrubs actor Zach Braff is a partner in Mermaid Oyster Bar, a high-end seafood restaurant with coastal vibes in Greenwich, New York. Mermaid Oyster Bar is known for its oyster happy hour and lobster rolls, but it also has some tempting cocktails such as Mermaid Mule, Black Pearl and Tidal Wave, which combines rum, passionfruit, ginger and lemon. The restaurant has twin sisters: The Mermaid Inn on the Upper West Side and in Chelsea.

Piper Perabo: Jack’s Wife Freda

She famously played a bartender in Coyote Ugly, but in real life actress Piper Perabo co-owns several New York restaurants. Located in Soho, Chelsea, Williamsburg and West Village, the outposts of Jack’s Wife Freda serve tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners, inspired by global cuisines. Alongside classic burgers and salads there's matzo ball soup, Persian meatballs with tahini, and chipotle chocolate cake on the menu. Piper Perabo is also an investor in Employees Only, a speakeasy in West Village.

Olivia Culpo: Back 40

This cozy Rhode Island restaurant, serving retro American comfort food, is owned by actress, model and 2012's Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and her family. Situated on a country road in North Kingston, south of Providence, the building has been designed to feel like a restored barn and opened in 2017 to much fanfare. Stop by pastoral Back40 for a hearty plate of baked mac 'n' cheese, fried chicken sandwich or crispy fish tacos.

Ralph Lauren: Polo Bar

Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar in New York is one of four restaurants the fashion designer owns – it opened in 2015, joining RL Restaurant in Chicago and Ralph’s in Paris. Expect to dine on the designer’s favorite dishes, including shrimp cocktail and the signature Polo Bar Burger, while drinking classic cocktails. 

Mark Wahlberg: Wahlburgers

Made famous by the TV series of the same name, Wahlburgers is a joint venture between actor Mark Wahlberg and his brothers Donnie and Paul, the latter an experienced chef. As documented on the award-winning reality show, the family opened their first burger bar in 2011 at Hingham, Massachusetts, and have expanded the franchise to 91 locations across the USA, as well as one in Germany, one in Australia and two in Canada. 

Jay Z: The 40/40 Club

Never one to miss a business opportunity, music mogul and entrepreneur Jay Z launched The 40/40 Club in New York City in 2003. The all-American sports bar, which is spread over several floors, is opulently decorated with bronze mirrors, leather-paneled walls, an 18-foot Champagne tower and countless flat-screens for the games. The menu includes wings and nachos, king crab sliders and bone-in ribeye.

Channing Tatum: Saints & Sinners

Styled on the old burlesque halls and bordellos of New Orleans in the early 1900s, Saints & Sinners was launched by actor Channing Tatum and his childhood pal Keith Kurtz in 2012. Tatum fell in love with the city’s colorful, risqué history while filming 21 Jump Street and opened the bar on Bourbon Street soon afterwards. The menu is described as "fun, not fine dining" and a portion of every menu item sold is donated to help feed families around the world.

Jon Huertas: Clutch

Best known for his role in HBO’S Generation Kill as Sergeant Antonio ‘Poke’ Espera, Jon Huertas is the owner of the Cali-Mex restaurant and bar Clutch in California’s Venice. Situated on Highway 1, the roadside spot is known for its dry-rubbed BBQ, craft beer, fine wine, motorcycles and classic cars. Stop by for Taco Tuesday or check out the mighty Cali Turf menu with options such as a one-pound fire-grilled Angus ribeye served with a 10-ounce cold-water lobster tail, house guac, pico de gallo and tortillas.

Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville

Country singer Jimmy Buffett, who famously sings Margaritaville and songs about Caribbean island life, owns a global chain of hotels, resorts, casual-dining restaurants and casinos under the same brand name. At Margaritaville expect to fill up on southern American classics: crispy fried wings with blue cheese, chicken quesadillas, nachos and plenty of shrimp. Naturally, the restaurant has an extensive margarita menu.

Ryan Gosling: Tagine Beverly Hills

When chef Ben Benameur prepared his grandmother’s Moroccan recipes for Ryan Gosling, the Hollywood actor told him it was “the food I want to eat for the rest of my life”. With nowhere else in Los Angeles serving similar dishes, the pair decided to launch Tagine Beverly Hills in 2004. With candlelit tables and jazz music, the romantic venue is now one of the top-rated restaurants in LA and was awarded the OpenTable Diners’ Choice award in 2016.

Giuliana and Bill Rancic: RPM Italian

Reality TV stars Giuliana and Bill are the ultimate business partners and husband-and-wife celebrity duo. With Bill the first Apprentice winner and Giuliana an E! News anchor (the couple met in an interview), they decided to focus their skills on the restaurant industry. RPM Italian is a contemporary Italian restaurant with a focus on sharing dishes, fresh pasta, slow-roasted meats and seafood, with locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington DC, and West Palm Beach. They’re also the owners of RPM Steak and RPM Seafood, both in Chicago.

Sandra Bullock: Walton’s Fancy & Staple

Actress Sandra Bullock closed her French restaurant Bess Bistro in 2015 after nine years but still owns Walton’s Fancy & Staple – a coffee shop, deli, bakery, restaurant, cocktail bar and catering company in Austin, Texas. Opened in 2009 in a once-neglected building, it's a modern yet rustic space with exposed brickwork and wooden floors. Classic southern dishes include biscuits and gravy and shrimp 'n' grits.

Danny Trejo: Trejo’s Tacos

Big screen villain Danny Trejo, who starred in films including Spy Kids and Machete, is the man behind Trejo’s Tacos, which created a buzz when it first opened in 2016. With options such as blackened salmon, chicken tikka and jackfruit on the menu, this isn’t your average taqueria. Get your taco-fix at four different locations around the US, or instead fuel up on coffee and donuts at Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts in Los Angeles.

Lisa Vanderpump: SUR, Pump Restaurant, TOMTOM

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump and her husband Ken Todd once ran 26 restaurants but now keep themselves busy running three successful spots in California and a cocktail bar in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. SUR in West Hollywood serves southern European dishes; dishes at Pump Restaurant, also in West Hollywood, draw on inspiration from around the world; and TOM TOM focuses on delicious cocktails and bar food.

Dierks Bentley: Whiskey Row

Country music singer and songwriter Dierks Bentley is the owner of American gastropub and go-to place for happening nightlife Whiskey Row, with locations in Scottsdale and Gilbert, Arizona, Denver, Colorado and Nashville, Tennessee. On the menu are sliders in soft brioche buns, beefburgers, sandwiches, and chicken and waffles, to name a few options. The Nashville venue typically boasts an impressive line-up of country musicians too.  

Ty Burrell: Beer Bar

Modern Family actor Ty Burrell opened Beer Bar in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2014. He launched the venture with chef Viet Pham, winner of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chef award in 2011. Committed to using local ingredients, the bar serves spicy sausages, apple strudels and Belgian fries, along with Pham’s signature 'Reuben Brat' sandwich with pastrami, bratwurst, Swiss cheese and pickled vegetables. Burrell also owns the bar next door, Bar-X, with his brother Duncan.

Sammy Hagar: Cabo Wabo Cantina

Not one to shy away from business ventures, rock musician Sammy Hagar (aka The Red Rocker) has turned his hand to restaurants and tequila. Cabo Wabo Cantina, with locations in Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, does Mexican-style quesadillas, shrimp dishes, enchiladas and burritos, and has live music daily. Hagar also owns Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill in Honolulu, Maui, Las Vegas and Cleveland.

Now read about the celebrity restaurants that flopped

Hugh Jackman: Laughing Man Coffee Shop

Hugh Jackman was inspired to open his own café after meeting young coffee farmer Dukale during a trip to Ethiopia in 1999 with the charity World Vision. Laughing Man Coffee has two locations in New York City, where you can buy fair trade coffee, with all proceeds going to charitable programs that support health, housing, education and fair trade farming. The brand has gone from strength to strength, recently undergoing a refresh and expanding the availability and varieties of its bagged coffees.

Richard Gere: Bedford Post Inn

In 2007, the old Bedford Post Inn building in Bedford, New York was looking rundown and neglected. So local residents Richard Gere, Carey Lowell, and Russell Hernandez came to the rescue and transformed the historic landmark into a luxury inn with eight bedrooms, a yoga loft, two restaurants and an outdoor terrace. These include The Barn, where they serve casual brunches, and The Farmhouse, a fine-dining restaurant with a large wood fire grill.

Toby Keith: I Love This Bar and Grill

Country music singer Toby Keith founded I Love This Bar and Grill in 2005 and named it after his hit song I Love This Bar. Expect southern American cuisine, including ribeye steak seared over an open flame, slow-smoked St. Louis-style ribs, fried catfish and live music. 

Ludacris: Chicken+Beer

Got a flight to catch at Atlanta airport? Make sure you check in to Chicken+Beer, the southern comfort-food diner owned by rapper Ludacris and named after his 2003 double-platinum album. Ludacris teamed up with chef Andrew Tabb to create the indulgent menu, which includes Luda’s chicken and waffles with bourbon maple syrup, sweet potato and pecan chutney, and fried chicken sandwich with pickles, slaw and spicy mayo.

Francis Ford Coppola: Rustic

Despite the name, at the award-winning Francis Ford Coppola Winery, you'll find so much more than vino. Located in Geyserville, California, this renowned resort from the director promises ‘wine, food and adventure’ with a vineyard, movie theater, swimming pool and restaurant, Rustic. The menu includes traditional Italian dishes like Neapolitan-style pizza and spaghetti al pomodoro.

Norman Reedus: Nic & Norman's

Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus and director Greg Nicotero teamed up to open Nic & Norman's in Senoia, Georgia, where the TV series was filmed. Among the all-American classics on the menu, you’ll find cheesesteaks, meatloaf, fried chicken and gourmet burgers including a bison patty burger with Cheddar, caramelized onions, applewood smoked bacon and the house N&N sauce. There are now two more locations in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Lexington, Kentucky.

Eminem: Mom's Spaghetti

Located in Eminem's home city Detroit, Mom's Spaghetti is named after a lyric from the famous 2002 hit Lose Yourself and has attracted plenty of attention from both fans and the media since it opened in late 2021. The menu at this hole-in-the-wall joint only features two items – the spaghetti sandwich and mom's spaghetti (available on its own or with meat or vegan meatballs). The famous rapper has revealed his favorite is the spaghetti sandwich. "Don't even eat a bite of your spaghetti until you put it in bread," he said in an interview.

Discover the fast food guilty pleasures of the rich and famous