Lea Michele experienced an unforgettable moment when she appeared on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” leaving her completely surprised and delighted.
The star of Broadway’s “Chess” was immortalized by one of her favorite New York City establishments. She will forever be linked to the business in one unique, and tasty way.
Lea Michele Was Honored By Legendary Broadway Eatery
During an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Broadway legend Lea Michele was shocked when one of New York’s legendary eateries honored her in an unforgettable way.
Joe Allen NYC, a 60-year-old eatery in the heart of the theater district, surprised Michele with a meal named expressly for her.
In an Instagram clip, Barrymore told the actress, “I have a baton to pass to you. Do we have our special surprise for Miss Michele?”
“We are having a special menu item in honor of you. It’s got the best of both. This is our gorgonzola salad topped with Cajun chicken, and we’re calling it the Lea Michele,” the legendary eatery noted.
Additionally, Michele was so excited, she jumped up and down with, well, glee! Barrymore rushed to hug her, overjoyed that she could surprise the actress in this way.
Barrymore then presented Michele with a framed copy of the menu with the menu item on it. Her shock was evident, and she couldn’t find the right words to express herself.
As the segment concluded, Michele said, “This is a menu from Joe Allen restaurant, which is one of the most iconic New York Broadway staples. I am blown away.”
She continued, “When I tell my parents about this they are going to freak out.”
However, as the actress showed off her framed menu, actress Sharon Stone saw her in the hallway of the CBS building where Barrymore tapes her daytime series. “Have you been to Joe Allen?” Michele asked the acting legend.
“Well of course, I’m an actor,” Stone deadpanned. “Do you know what a big deal that is? You’re big now, you’re very big.”
Lea Michele Currently Stars in the Broadway Musical ‘Chess’
The revival of Lea Michele’s musical “Chess” opened on Broadway in November, 2025. She stars alongside Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher.
Michele is scheduled to end her run at the Imperial Theatre on June 21, 2026. Stepping into the role of Florence Vassy will be Joanna “JoJo” Levesque.
Currently, Michele is one of three former “Glee” stars who are starring in Broadway musicals. Darren Criss stars in “Maybe Happy Ending,” and Matthew Morrison took over for another former castmate, Jonathan Groff, in “Just in Time.”
