Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has lifted the lid on some of the buffoonery stars, including Freddie Mercury, Kate Moss and Keith Lemon, who get up when they visit his Soho restaurant Signor Zilli.
The 67-year-old restaurateur – who specializes in Italian cuisine and also opened restaurants Zilli Green, Zilli Café and Zilli Bar – has opened up about when the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury filled his restaurant with smoke.
He also revealed why he had to ban comedian and TV presenter Keith Lemon from his restaurants after he “behaved badly”.
Reflecting on visits from his friend Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991 aged 45, Aldo told The Sun: “There were a lot of celebrities at Signor Zilli’s that night and everyone was a little drunk. “
‘It sounds crazy to say it out loud, but Freddie Mercury had come down to make some fries but he forgot to put the oil in the fryer.
Celebrity secrets: Chef Aldo Zilli, 67, has lifted the lid on the antics Freddie Mercury, Kate Moss and Keith Lemon used to get up to at his Soho restaurant Signor Zilli
“All that smoke started coming up the stairs, filling the restaurant.
“I went down to see what was going on and there was Freddie standing there in all that thick smoke.”
He said that despite their strong friendship, Freddie always insisted on paying Aldo when he dined at his establishments.
Aldo recalled the times Freddie would walk 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, real name Leigh Francis, from his restaurants after he wreaked havoc doing karaoke before rising to prominence.
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 into a costume to perform as the character, once interrupting filmmaker Alan Parker’s meal to serenade him at his table.
Alan reportedly told Aldo, “Listen, if you don’t ban this guy, I’m never going to your restaurant again”, so Keith was banned from visiting Zilli Fish, prompting the couple not to talk. during 10 years.
Blunder: The restaurateur has opened up about when the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury filled his restaurant with smoke after frying fries (Freddie pictured in 1985)
Aldo also sang the praises of model Kate Moss, 49, whom he described as “charming” and insisted on never “misbehaving” in his restaurants.
Chef Aldo built his catering business from scratch after arriving 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 the Harvey Nichols department store in upmarket Knightsbridge.
Cheeky: Aldo recalled the time he had to ban Keith Lemon, real name Leigh Francis, from his restaurants after causing havoc by doing karaoke before rising to prominence (Keith pictured in 2008)
Angelique: Aldo also sang the praises of model Kate Moss, 49, who he described as ‘charming’ and insisted on never ‘misbehaving’ in his restaurants (pictured in 1993)
Fashionista: Model Naomi Campbell was also a regular visitor to her restaurants (pictured in 1995)
High life: Aldo said he used to spend afternoons drinking with TV and radio presenter Chris Evans when his restaurants were open in London (pictured in 1993)
And the location brings back fond memories for Aldo – he said the bar next door reminded him of the afternoons he spent drinking with TV and radio host Chris Evans, 41.
He said no one would know the pair were hiding in the corner of the pub having a drink, with the pair sitting there for hours undisturbed by fans.
Aldo added of his new restaurant: “We’ve had a few famous faces already and we’ve just started stocking Gary Barlow’s wine.
‘It’s good to be back.’
Success: Chef Aldo built his restaurant business from the ground up after arriving from Italy with just £100 to his name in the late 1970s and opened a new establishment in the UK (pictured with Patsy Palmer in 2008)
