Foodie Faves With Serious Star Power

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  By Gregg Rosenzweig
  
  As an actor, opening movies is a scary endeavor fraught with high stakes, insecurity and often times, improbable failure. The only thing more difficult in this world? Opening a successful restaurant.
  
  In an industry that tends to be more fickle than even Hollywood, the celeb-backed restaurant scene involves a requisite blend of buzz, quality chow and consistency over time to keep a hungry stable of people coming back for more.
  
  So, whether you're Justin Timberlake, Robert De Niro or Ludacris (all whose eateries are featured to the left), having a blockbuster destination that not just stays in business -- but flourishes -- is a feat truly worthy of Academy consideration. Bon appetit!