Jeffrey Epstein reportedly dined at New York City’s fanciest hot spots with restaurant guidebook mogul Tim Zagat — but the convicted pedophile preferred simpler fare such as burgers and peanut butter-and-jelly “like a sixth-grader,” according to a report.
Stand-up comedian Bobby Slayton, who met Epstein in the early 2000s when his gal pal and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell invited the popular comic to perform for Epstein’s birthday, recalled how the disgraced financier didn’t even like going out to dinner, The Daily Beast reported.
Epstein told Slayton that he was friends with Zagat, though “was not a fan of going out to dinner,” the stand-up comic told the outlet.
Slayton recalled Epstein eating burgers and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches “like a sixth-grader,” instead of indulging in the costly spreads he would provide for guests.
Zagat and Epstein met as early as 2002 when the guidebook guru hitched a ride on Epstein’s private jet to a TED Conference in Monterey, Calif., emails obtained by The Beast revealed.
However, fellow passenger and TV exec Geraldine Laybourne told the outlet that TED organized the free plane ride.
Despite being spotted at Manhattan’s finest eateries, Epstein “didn’t understand why people like to eat good food,” Slayton told The Beast.
“Once he said, ‘You and Tim always talk about food. What is it with you guys and food?’ He said that about a few people,” the comedian recalled.
Slayton, who said he didn’t know who Epstein was when he first met him, remembered asking Epstein about a restaurant recommendation, to which he responded: “Call Zagat, he knows about food. What do I know?”
The Post reached out to Zagat for comment.
The emails show Epstein and Zagat were frequent dining partners.
In February 2012, Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff — who was alleged to have aided his abuse but never faced criminal charges — asked her boss via email: “Would you like to try to schedule in Tim Zagat for this week or weekend?”
Epstein responded: “Perhaps Friday lunch out with him?” according to email exchanges obtained by the outlet.
Three months later, Epstein and Zagat reportedly planned to meet “the Sultan” for a meal in New York, an apparent reference to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the chief executive of Emirati logistics firm DP World.
As Sulayem’s trip approached in May 2012, Epstein emailed the Zagat Survey boss, stating: “Sultan will be back next week I suggest we take him for food.”
Zagat’s assistant then emailed accused Epstein co-conspirator Sarah Kellen — who reportedly worked at Epstein’s Manhattan office on the Upper East Side and booked flights for him and Maxwell, according to The Beast.
“Hi! Can we set up a time for Tim and Jeffrey to take the Sultan to eat? Thanks!” Zagat’s assistant wrote to Kellen.
In 2016, Epstein used Sulayem’s name to disguise his identity to buy the 165-acre Great St. James private island in the Virgin Islands, according to court records.
The sultan never agreed to let the convicted pedophile use his name for the transaction, the Miami Herald reported.
Also in May 2012, Groff noted in an email containing Epstein’s schedule that “Tim Zagat will try to come,” referencing a birthday dinner being held at Del Posto for Epstein’s then-girlfriend Karyna Shuliak.
Slayton and Zagat were among the guests at a 2014 dinner at Epstein’s upper East Side Mansion, the comedian said. Others in attendance included Epstein’s girlfriend Shuliak, director Woody Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn, former Hyatt hotels boss Nick Pritzker, magician David Blaine and JPMorgan executive Jes Staley, among others, The Beast reported.
An email from Groff obtained by The Beast showed that Epstein had penciled in plans to see a screening of one of Allen’s movies in November 2012, and “invited Tim Zagat to go with JE.”
One year later, Groff wrote “Reminder: Tim Zagat” in Epstein’s calendar alongside the foodie’s phone number.
Then in 2014, Groff messaged Epstein: “DINNER OUT(?) w/ Tim Zagat (he needs you to confirm you want to go out and if so, how many for dinner?)”
The dinner was reportedly set to take place at the upscale Ristorante Morini, which closed in August 2019.
Zagat Survey was sold to Google in 2011 for $151 million. Google then sold the niche publication to The Infatuation in 2018, which was acquired by JPMorgan along with its subsidiary for an undisclosed amount in 2021.
When The Post reached out to Zagat Survey for comment, a spokesperson for the company said it hasn’t had any affiliation with Tim Zagat — besides the company name — since it was sold to Google.
JPMorgan faces lawsuits over its ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in his jail cell while awaiting trial in August 2019.
The Wall Street giant agreed to pay $290 million last week to settle one complaint filed by anonymous Epstein victim Jane Doe, though it’s still facing ongoing litigation with the U.S. Virgin Islands and Staley.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
