Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly dined at posh Manhattan restaurants with New York power couple Tim and Nina Zagat years after he was arrested and placed on the sex offender list, a report claims.
Following his 2008 arrest on state charges, the pedophile financier quickly returned to his life of luxury after his time behind bars, continuing to party with a string of billionaires, heads of state and industry titans.
According to a report from the Daily beastEpstein and Tim Zagat were closely linked in the years following his arrest, where they reportedly enjoyed meals with famous faces, including Hollywood director Woody Allen.
Despite his reputation for opulence, those who knew Epstein also claimed that he never enjoyed meals in fancy restaurants because he “ate like a sixth grader.”
Pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein lived a life of luxury from his 2008 arrest until his suicide in custody in 2019
Tim (right) and Nina Zagat reportedly befriended Epstein and enjoyed an exclusive dinner with the disgraced financier
The report covering the decade between Epstein’s Florida arrest in 2008 and his death by suicide in 2019 revealed that his sphere of influence continued to grow despite the troubling allegations leveled against him.
Tim and Nina Zagat, who rose to fame after creating the eponymous guide to fine dining, reportedly ran in the same high-rolling circles as Epstein and reportedly attended at least one dinner hosted by the sex trafficker in 2014.
The dinner also reportedly included a dozen others, including Epstein’s girlfriend Karyna Shuliak, magician David Blaine, and Hollywood director Woody Allen.
The exclusive guest list was obtained by the Daily Beast via a public records request.
Epstein would continue to have dinner with his high-rolling friendship group, which reportedly included director Woody Allen (left) and magician David Blaine
The origins of Zagat and Epstein’s friendship are unclear, but they had known each other since at least 2002, when they traveled to the annual TED conference on Epstein’s private jet.
And according to the report, Epstein and Zagat’s relationship continued after his 2008 arrest. That year, Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution and underage prostitution, and spent more than a year in Florida jail. A highly criticized plea deal caused U.S. attorneys to refuse to federally prosecute him for more than a decade.
The two reportedly became closely entwined in the years since, and emails have revealed how Epstein continued to enjoy a well-connected lifestyle after breaking the law.
In an email exchange, Epstein and Zagat planned to treat “the Sultan” to dinner in New York, who was said to be Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
Sulayem’s name was also reportedly used by Epstein to buy his private island, the notorious center of his depraved sex trafficking empire.
When reached by the Daily Beast for comment, Zagat reportedly described Epstein as “radioactive,” but declined to comment on their encounters.
Jeffrey Epstein lived a life of luxury, but former friends have revealed he would ‘eat like a sixth grader’ during elaborate meals
Epstein reportedly used Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem’s name to buy his infamous private island in the US Virgin Islands (pictured)
Epstein and Zagat ate at some of Manhattan’s most exclusive restaurants, including now-closed Italian hot spot Ristorante Morini (pictured)
According to emails detailing his activities, Epstein would repeatedly go out to dinner with his famous friends. One dinner mentioned in the report included a dinner between Zagat, the disgraced financier, and Woody Allen.
The group dinner was reportedly at Ristorante Morini, a now-closed Italian restaurant on Madison Avenue.
Comedian Bobby Slayton, who also attended events with Epstein, told the Daily Beast that despite his sophisticated lifestyle, Epstein “wasn’t a fan of dining out.”
He once said, “Tim and you always talk about food.” What is it with you and food?’ He said that about a few people. He didn’t understand why people like good food,” Slayton said.
“I could never get him to go out. He had invited me to his house a few times for dinner with a bunch of comedians.
“One time when I asked him about restaurants, he said, ‘Call Zagat, he knows about food.’ What I know?’
He claimed that Epstein would “eat like a sixth grader,” usually surviving on just burgers and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while his guests enjoyed lavish meals.
“Every time I went to his house he just talked about comedy,” added Slayton. “He would never talk about girls, I never saw any of the girls.”
In a telling moment, he says that Epstein showed him his private island, but when he suggested he bring his wife to visit, Epstein turned to him and replied, “No women.”