Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli on the antics of the stars at his restaurant trends now
Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has lifted the lid on some of the antics stars including the likes of Freddie Mercury, Kate Moss and Keith Lemon used to get up to when visiting his Soho restaurant Signor Zilli.
The restaurateur, 67 - who specialises in Italian cuisine and also opened eateries Zilli Green, Zilli Café and Zilli Bar - has spoken of the time the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury filled his restaurant with smoke.
He also divulged why he had to ban comedian and television presenter Keith Lemon from his restaurants after he 'misbehaved'.
Looking back at his visits from friend Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991 at the age of 45, Aldo told The Sun: 'There were loads of celebrities at Signor Zilli’s that night and everyone was a little bit drunk.
'It seems crazy saying it out loud, but Freddie Mercury had gone downstairs to make himself some chips but he forgot to put the oil in the fryer.
Celebrity secrets: Chef Aldo Zilli, 67, has lifted the lid on the antics stars including Freddie Mercury, Kate Moss and Keith Lemon used to get up at his Soho restaurant Signor Zilli
'All this smoke started coming up the stairs, filling the restaurant.
'I went down to see what was going on and there was Freddie stood there in all this thick smoke.'
He said despite their strong friendship, Freddie always insisted on paying Aldo when dining at his establishments.
Aldo reminisced about the times Freddie would come into the restaurant and quietly sit in the corner to eat his food before the pair went clubbing together 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 caused havoc while doing karaoke before he rose to prominence.
The former Celebrity Juice host, 49, would go Zilli Fish at lunchtime and sing the 1998 hit When Will I Be Famous? by Bros to the diners.
