Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has revealed some of the antics stars like Freddie Mercury, Kate Moss and Keith Lemon used to pull when visiting his Soho restaurant, Signor Zilli.
The 67-year-old restaurateur, who specializes in Italian cuisine and also opened Zilli Green, Zilli Café and Zilli Bar restaurants, spoke of the time the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury filled his restaurant with smoke.
It also divulged why it had to ban comedian and TV host Keith Lemon from its restaurants after he “misbehaved.”
Looking back on visits from his friend Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991 at the age of 45, Aldo told him Sun: ‘There were a bunch of celebrities at Signor Zilli’s that night and they were all a bit tipsy.
“It sounds crazy to say it out loud, but Freddie Mercury had gone downstairs to make himself some fries but forgot to put the oil in the fryer.
Celebrity secrets: Chef Aldo Zilli, 67, has lifted the lid on the antics that stars like Freddie Mercury, Kate Moss and Keith Lemon used to pull off at his Soho restaurant, Signor Zilli.
All this smoke started going up the stairs, filling the restaurant.
“I went downstairs to see what was going on and there was Freddie standing in the middle of all this thick smoke.”
He said that despite their strong friendship, Freddie always insisted on paying Aldo when he dined at his establishments.
Aldo remembered the times Freddie would come into the restaurant and sit quietly in the corner to eat his food before the couple went clubbing in London’s West End.
Meanwhile, Aldo recalled the time he had to ban Keith Lemon, whose real name is Leigh Francis, from his restaurants after she caused havoc while doing karaoke before he rose to fame.
The former Celebrity Juice host, 49, would go to Zilli Fish at lunchtime and sing the 1998 hit When Will I Be Famous? by Bros to diners.
Aldo claimed that Keith would go to the bathroom and change his costume to act like a character, once interrupting filmmaker Alan Parker’s meal to serenade him at his table.
Alan is said to have told Aldo, “Listen, if you don’t cut that guy out, I’m never coming back to your restaurant,” so Keith was banned from visiting Zilli Fish, resulting in the couple not speaking for 10 years. .
Fatal mistake: The restaurant owner talked about the time the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury filled his restaurant with smoke after cooking some fries (Freddie pictured in 1985)
Aldo also praised supermodel Kate Moss, 49, whom he described as “lovely” and insisted she never “misbehaved” in her restaurants.
Chef Aldo built his restaurant business from scratch having arrived from Italy with just £100 to his name in the late 1970s.
He left the London restaurant scene in 2012 after selling his restaurants, but returned just before Christmas last year with Lucarelli, which is located in Harvey Nichols department store in fashionable Knightsbridge.
Cheeky: Aldo recalled the time he had to ban Keith Lemon, whose real name is Leigh Francis, from his restaurants after she caused havoc while doing karaoke before he rose to fame (Keith pictured in 2008)
Angelic: Aldo also praised supermodel Kate Moss, 49, whom he described as “lovely” and insisted she never “misbehaved” at her restaurants (pictured in 1993)
Fashionista: Supermodel Naomi Campbell also regularly visited her restaurants (pictured in 1995)
Good life: Aldo said he used to spend evenings drinking with TV and radio presenter Chris Evans when his restaurants were open in London (pictured in 1993)
And the place brings back happy memories for Aldo: He said the bar next door reminds him of afternoons he used to spend drinking with 41-year-old TV and radio host Chris Evans.
He said that no one would know that the couple were tucked away in the corner of the pub enjoying a drink, with the couple sitting there for hours undisturbed by fans.
Aldo added about his new restaurant: ‘We’ve already had some famous faces and have just started stocking Gary Barlow’s wine.
“It feels good to be back.”
Success: Chef Aldo built his restaurant business from scratch after arriving from Italy with just £100 to his name in the late 1970s and opened a new UK outlet (pictured with Patsy Palmer in 2008)