JON BON APPETIT!

‘He walked down from the hotel with his family for a meal. He is a very simple man,’ said Massimo. ‘ The whole family were lovely. I recognised him straight away because I am a fan of his music.

‘He was very simple, very casual. At the beginning I just said hello, how are you, because there were other diners in the restaurant too. When he came up to pay the bill I asked him for a photograph and he was very happy to get some taken.

‘He said that he loved Enniskerry. He said that when he is in Ireland he usually stays in Dublin but thought that Enniskerry and Wicklow were beautiful. ‘He is a very simple man, very relaxed.’

While at Emilia’s Jon Bon Jovi enjoyed a salad, seafood pasta and an iced tea.

Massimo who has been the mainstay at Emilia’s for the past 13 years said that the staff were thrilled to have such a famous customer but said that Bon Jovi was allowed to enjoy his meal without interruption.

Massimo and the singer had plenty to talk about with their Italian connections.

‘He told me that his dad was Italian American and came from Sicily. He was born in New Jersey himself and still lives there.’

Bon Jovi was in Ireland to perform an acoustic at the Academy on Friday night to a select crowd of just 850 people. Tickets for the gig quickly sold out despite not being on sale In Ireland despite the €1,330 price tag.

In addition to the concert, guests also received a photo opportunity with the star, attendance at the after-show party in the Academy, a trip to the Guinness Storehouse and an autographed picture of the singer.