Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, head to Giuseppe's for a 'normal dining experience'

By Gary Seman Jr.FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH • Monday June 1, 2015 6:25 PM

Rock stars have to eat, too.

Two legendary members of the Rolling Stones — Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood — and part of their entourage dined Friday at Giuseppe’s Ritrovo in Bexley.

“It was first (and) foremost pretty surreal,” said Vesna Mangano, who co-founded the restaurant 19 years ago with her husband, Giuseppe.
Of course, the Rolling Stones were in town for their concert at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

Jagger, who was staying Downtown, said he wanted “the best Italian in the city” and was directed toward Giuseppe’s, 2268 E. Main St., Mangano said.

Part of the touring crew arrived earlier that day to check out the restaurant, Mangano said. They later phone in their reservation for 10, which was at 8:45 p.m. Jagger, Wood, his wife Sally Humphreys, keyboardist Matt Clifford, and other members of the retinue showed up for dinner.

“They could not have been more gracious dining guests,” Mangano said.

Word seemed to spread about the rock stars’ dinner plans.

“I’d have to say overall people caught on really quickly,” she said. “From 9 o’clock to 10 o’c lock, the restaurant just got packed and around 11 it was mayhem outside and inside the restaurant."

She said she would not reveal what dishes they ordered out of respect for their privacy.

Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and other musicians on the tour did not attend, she said.

Patrons were respectful during the visit. While some tried to sneak a photo, no one approached the band’s table, she said.

“As (the crew) exited, someone from the bar just started applauding,” Mangano said. “And then the whole restaurant broke out in applause and started cheering. That was a pretty cool moment as well.”

Mangano said she got a compliment, too.

“On the way out, the keyboardist said this was the most normal dining experience they had,” she said. “That made me feel good.”