Dining next to a celebrity...

A

accuratehorn

10,000+ Posts
Do you say anything to acknowledge their fame, or do you ignore them and let them eat in peace?
We were at Bucca de Beppo last night, and a well-known musician was dining nearby. The wifely unit wanted to go say that we enjoyed his music, or something like that, but I said he deserved some peace to enjoy his meal.
What do you do in that situation?
 
I'd think it depends on the situation. I don't see any harm or celebrity-worship in telling an individual you appreciate his art. But I think in the context of eating a meal, it was probably more polite to leave him be.
 
I say leave them alone.

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to not be able to finish one's meal and dine in peace without a ton of strangers (and if ONE does it, others will follow) coming up and interrupting.

A smile and a waive is more than sufficient, I imagine. They'll get the point.
 
My wife and I were in New York for our anniversry and were having dinner at A Voce. As soon as we sat down my wife's jaw dropped as sitting directly behind us was Jerry Sienfeld and his wife. Nobody bothered them and I thought that was pretty cool. Although we were hoping they would ask us to join them...it never happend.

Also a few years a go I ate at the Ivy in LA and sat near a backstreet boy and George Michael...I had no inclination to speak to either one.
 
I wouldn't bother them until the moment their food is put in front of them and then go up and tell them you're their biggest fan. Ask for several autographs.
 
I have almost always left celebs alone. Notable exception -- when I was a college freshman, the first time I bumped into Earl Campbell. It was at El Arroyo, and he was sitting behind me, having a beer. When we got up to leave (and I had to push my chair back into his), I tapped his shoulder and told him that when I was a kid, he was my hero, and he never let me down, so thanks. He said thanks, and I was on my way.

Hell, I sat next to Carlos Santana on a SWA flight to Lubbock years ago and only at the end of the flight did I say "You're Carlos Santana, aren't you?" He said yes, and I said "Cool. Nice to meet you." And I let him keep reading his book.

* This all excludes my awkward stalking experience with Dana Wheeler-Nicholson of "Fletch" fame, which was entirely unintentional.
biggrin.gif
 
I sat at a table right next to Nicolas Cage at Muriel's in NOLA a few months ago. I didn't say anything and everybody left him and his wife in peace. It was cool to see him, but I wasn't interested in bothering him.

I usually leave celebs alone, but I recently stood at a urinal next to a US Senator at an airport. Although he wasn't Republican, I didn't want to leave anything to chance, so I initiated a conversation about the election.
 
I saw Andy Roddick and Augie Garrido on separate occasions at Kenichi.

Augie was very cool and actually received applause when he came in, this was after the 2002 National Championship. As he ate, people came up and he was very nice and took time for everyone. I did not bug him though.

Roddick though, this was after he was bounced from an early round @ Wimbledon and his head was on a swivel. He pounded down his sushi and left. A lady addressed him as he walked in, and he responded with, "yeah, small world.". He did not come off well, but I did not bother him.

If they are out to eat on their time, I tend not to bug them.
 
Who is this Nicolas Cage you speak of? And for what is he famous?

/sarc

I wouldn't bother one second with Cage, except if I somehow could sum up the suck that he is in one awesome sentence. Even then, I don't want to waste my time on that guy.
 
I was at BDB last night as well, so I'm curious who it was? Which room were you in?

I've seen quentin tarantino numerous times at la traviata, but he's always so drunk and obnoxious that I ignore him lest I become the butt of one of his '**** you' tirades.
 
Living in LA this is a common occurance. Everyone here leaves them alone to enjoy their meal.
 
I bothered Chuck Norris for an autograph at Mazzio's Pizza in College Station in 1991. He was eating with a guy that had been in Bloodsport.
 
My last flight back down to Buenos Aires, I was in the (FIRST CLASS) seat behind Gabriela Sabatini. Since we would be sleeping together that night, I felt a little comfortable asking her for a photograph. So I said

Puedo sacar una foto con vos? (I used Argentine Spanish to let her know I was down with her peeps.)

In LA, after said celebrity paid for dinner, I said "Thanks". That was a few minutes before we all walked outside and photographers went chasing said celebrity with "to-go" bag in hand.
rolleyes.gif
 
I saw Rod Roddy at the Colonial Cafeteria on Berry Street in Fort Worth a few times. I never bothered him, but one time a guy came up to him and asked him if he was Bob Barker's announcer. Rod appeared to be cool with it and flattered that someone recognized him.
 
It was the very back room, we went throught the kitchen where they have that one table in there, and past the "Pope Room," to the back. This was a member of the Flatlanders.
I don't think anyone else recognized him.
Maybe they want to be acknowledged, I don't know.
 
We were the loudass birthday dinner in the room with all the italian album covers on the curved ceiling. Same room? No?
 
I ate catered tacos with Gaylord Perry once. There was a guy from Austin who played in the big leagues a few years who opened some batting cages around Georgetown or Round Rock (1980s). Perry came to the grand opening. Anyway, he was wearing a white dress shirt open at the collar. He dribbled taco juice all down the front of it. Lots of it.
 
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