Tom Cruise goes for a curry in St Albans
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From Hollywood to... Hertfordshire? Tom Cruise was last pictured dining at the upmarket Madeo's in LA on Sunday night but, just two days later, he was tucking into a chicken tikka masala at a curry house in St Albans.
The actor is in the area because he is shooting his latest film, All You Need Is Kill, also starring Emily Blunt, at Leavesden Studios.
Staff at the Veer Dhara restaurant on St Peter's Street said they were more than a little surprised to see their A-list guest.
Restaurant owner Darshit Hora told the Herts Advertiser: "It's very remarkable to have such a legendary Hollywood actor visit our restaurant, it adds well to the selling point! He seemed very relaxed and just wanted to have a nice evening with his family."
The actor arrived with seven guests and two bodyguards after travelling 15 miles to visit the restaurant following a recommendation.
Mr Hora said: "The bodyguards told us he wanted a hassle-free evening with no interruptions. So when he arrived, none of the guests noticed, and we were able to fully respect his request."
The group tucked into lobster, vegetable and chicken dishes, and sipped on water, cokes, and coffees.
Waiter Ashish Srivasdava told the Telegraph: "When I greeted him I was smiling and so was he and that's when I realised it was him.
"I was shaking, I was so nervous. At first I couldn't look in his eyes. I regret not asking for a photo or autograph now but at the time it wasn't professional."
When it came to settling the bill, Mr Hora could not accept Tom's American Express card. He explained: "We had to unfortunately decline Tom Cruise's card as we didn't accept American Express which made him laugh, but luckily one of his party was able to pay the bill in cash."
And the group kindly left a £79.15 tip on a £220.85 bill.
See more top restaurants around the world here:
Tripadvisor's ten best restaurants in the world
- 9. Europea, Montreal<p> At number nine is Europea, a 'charming Victorian mansion in the heart of downtown Montreal', which offers a creative and modern menu courtesy of Chef Jerome Ferrer (named chef of the year) and his team of 22 chefs. One Tripadvisor reviewer described Europea as "the best dining experience ever", while another said the restaurant deserved six stars! <a href="http://www.europea.ca/">europea.ca</a></p>
- 8. Guy Savoy, Paris<p> At number eight is Guy Savoy, a restaurant with several accolades including three Michelin stars and the AAA's "5-Diamond Award". The restaurant's interior, a blend of stone, wood, leather, sculptures, and paintings, includes a private dining room. The food offers a 'perfect balance of flavours and textures', says one reviewer. <a href="http://www.guysavoy.com">guysavoy.com</a></p> <br /> <p> </p>
- 7. Ciya Sofrasi, Istanbul<p> Creeping up the list at number seven is Ciya Sofrasi, a restaurant located in the Fish Market district of Kadiköy. Ciya specializes in a broad variety of dishes originating from "Mesopotamia to the Ottomans, the Balkans to the Caucasus and from Asia to the Arabian Peninsula", all crafted by chefs Zeynep and Musa. Recommendations from reviewers include the homemade Turkish soup, Tarhana Corbasi. <a href="http://www.ciya.com.tr/index_en.php?">ciya.com</a></p>
- 6. La Pergola, Rome<p> Standing at number six is La Pergola, which is widely recognised as the best restaurant in Rome. The restaurant has three Michelin stars in addition to an impressive wine cellar with over 53,000 bottles! Several Tripadvisor reviewers highly recommend getting a table on the terrace in order to enjoy the restaurant's "spectacular" views. <a href="http://www.romecavalieri.com/lapergola.php/">romecavalieri.com</a></p>
- 5. Le Gavroche, London<p> At number five is Le Gavroche, the first restaurant in Britain to be awarded three Michelin stars. Michel Roux Jr, who took over from his father Albert in 1991, has modernised the restaurant's traditional menu by incorporating subtle Mediterranean and Asian flavours into the dishes. The restaurant has become famed for its excellent French haute cuisine. One Tripadvisor reviewer described the suckling pig for two as "perfectly executed" and the chocolate truffle with Praline, Caramel and Banana as 'divine'. Hungry yet? <a href="http://www.le-gavroche.co.uk/index.html">gavroche.co.uk</a></p>
- 4. Girl & The Goat, Chicago<p> At number four is the relatively young restaurant, Girl & the Goat. Open since Summer 2010, Girl & the Goat serves "fun foods", "craft beers", and even its own wine. Bread is baked daily at the restaurant and you can always expect new creations on the menu. The interior offers bar seats, table seating and a comfy lounge. Reviewers seem particularly keen on the seafood, in particular the oysters and softshell crab <a href="http://www.girlandthegoat.com/about/">girlandthegoat.com</a></p>
- 3. Le Cirque, Bellagio, Las Vegas<p> High up the list at number three is Le Cirque, which is currently enjoying its ninth consecutive year as an AAA Five Diamond rated restaurant. Le Cirque is famed for its French cuisine, and the restaurant itself boasts an 'opulent dining room', 'coveted wines' and 'attentive service'. Tripadvisor reviewers were particularly keen on the coconut souffle and the chorizo crusted black cod. <a href="http://www.bellagio.com/restaurants/le-cirque.aspx">bellagio.com</a></p>
- 2. Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco<p> Pipped at the post at number two is Restaurant Gary Danko. Widely recognised as one of America's most talented and respected chefs, Gary Danko combines classical training with focuses on French, Mediterranean, and regional American cooking. His restaurant has received a number of accolades, and Triapdvisor reviewers describe his dishes as 'fresh and stunning'. <a href="http://www.garydanko.com">garydanko.com</a></p> <p> </p>
- 1. Le Bernadin, NYC<p> And in at the top is Le Bernardin! The restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars as well as<em> The New York Times</em>' highest rating of 4 stars, and has maintained its status of excellence for 20 years. Widely recognised as one of the world's top seafood restaurants, one reviewer described it as the finest dining they had ever experienced. <a href="http://le-bernadin.com">le-bernadin.com</a></p>
- 10. Toulouse Petit, Seattle<p> In at number ten is Toulouse Petit, a restaurant 'centered around the cuisine, decor and imagery of the French Quarter and New Orleans'. Toulouse Petit offers expansive menus with a diverse range of culinary options, from Parisian and French countryside preparations to dishes that are completely unique to the restaurant. One Tripadvisor reviewer praised the "fabulous cocktails" and the wine list. The Cauliflower Soup with Truffle Oil and Dungeness Crab went down well with reviewers, too... <a href="http://toulousepetit.com/">toulousepetit.com</a></p> <p> </p>
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