The Dave Chang Show Taking Big Swings With Stephen Starr
Oct 23, 2025
Stephen Starr, the visionary restaurateur behind STARR Restaurants, shares insights into his journey of opening high-profile culinary spaces. He reveals the risks of massive build-outs and discusses how film and music influence restaurant atmospheres. The conversation dives into finding and nurturing culinary talent, emphasizing the balance between large and intimate venues. Starr also compares his restaurant strategy to that of a record executive, as he successfully scales chefs' concepts while evolving dining standards.
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Betting Everything On A Single Big Launch
- Stephen Starr recounts opening Buddakan with a $17 million build-out despite having only $9 million and scrambling for investors.
- He personally guaranteed loans and admits it was reckless but says the shock-and-awe approach made him visible in New York.
Buy The Building If Possible
- Buy the building if you can to capture real estate upside and control your destiny.
- Starr says owning property would have been smarter and he wishes he'd done it more.
Restaurants As Movies Or Albums
- Starr frames each restaurant as a show, movie, or album and insists each must feel different from the last.
- His film and music background shaped his focus on atmosphere and storytelling over pure culinary pedigree.