U2 in Montreal: Buonanotte Boss Has the Best Bono Story

U2 frontman Bono and his bandmates have been in Montreal for almost two weeks now. The Irish supergroup took over the Bell Centre for four shows on June 12, 13, 16, and 17, and, between gigs, managed to party with Arcade Fire and Guy Laliberté at Salsathèque. It looks like the Dublin native is a houseguest at the Cirque du Soleil honcho's mansion south of Montreal (see below). Bono was also spotted at Old Montreal restaurant Le Club Chasse et Pêche and, randomly this past weekend, up north at Saint-Sauveur spot Maestro.

It's amazing who you can find in St-Sauveur! #Bono #U2 #starstruck #makelovetothecamera

A photo posted by Leandra L. (@leandradarling) on Jun 20, 2015 at 2:33pm PDT

The best Montreal Bono story (other than the ones Win Butler won't tell us) comes, however, from Massimo Lecas. The Buonanotte boss hosted the singer-businessman-philanthropist at the famed supper club yesterday and, via social media, recounted how it was Bono who started the restaurant's wall of celebrity-autographed plates 23 years ago. See below, unedited.

Father's Day just got a little better. So here goes a good story: March of '92 I get a phone call on a Sunday night and at 27 years old I was little cockier, so I get a call telling me there's a fm famous person that would like tonight and they need a private room and I'm telling this person we don't have a private room and if he wants to come he can come or else it'll be for another time. The man puts me on hold and I'm thinking, wow this guy has balls and I'm thinking let me hang up. He I picks up the phone and says: fine we'll come! I head over to the restaurant and we're there waiting and wondering who the heck is this famous person. Now back in 92 Bono and his mates were still young lads who were looking for a good time. Well you had to see my mouth when out of an white Econovan comes Bono out with a Heineken in his hand! Everyone ran in the kitchen and just hid from being star struck. Well why we were serving them and the restaurant was slowly filling itself to capacity all I kept on saying is please no pictures, no autographs, no nothing... Oddly enough I had a: "act like you belong attitude" and just thought were cool like dat and we don't ask for anything. So my chef at the time, Matteo knew they couldn't let them leave without a memento of the evening and he decided and came up with the idea of having them sign the plate in which they ate in. Yes, this is how it all started! Well, now it's 23 years later and they come back totally unexpected without much fanfare and remember the events of 23 years ago to a tee and seeing Bono point out his plate to his guests was a really cool moment for me. In the pic you have the before and after plate, my kitchen staff and my partners and I . Btw when Bono is on stage and says he loves MTL.... He really does he's been here 12 days and his last concert was on Wednesday.

Father's Day just got a little better. So here goes a good story: March of '92 I get a phone call on a Sunday night and at 27 years old I was little cockier, so I get a call telling me there's a fm famous person that would like tonight and they need a private room and I'm telling this person we don't have a private room and if he wants to come he can come or else it'll be for another time. The man puts me on hold and I'm thinking, wow this guy has balls and I'm thinking let me hang up. He I picks up the phone and says: fine we'll come! I head over to the restaurant and we're there waiting and wondering who the heck is this famous person. Now back in 92 Bono and his mates were still young lads who were looking for a good time. Well you had to see my mouth when out of an white Econovan comes Bono out with a Heineken in his hand! Everyone ran in the kitchen and just hid from being star struck. Well why we were serving them and the restaurant was slowly filling itself to capacity all I kept on saying is please no pictures, no autographs, no nothing... Oddly enough I had a: "act like you belong attitude" and just thought were cool like dat and we don't ask for anything. So my chef at the time, Matteo knew they couldn't let them leave without a memento of the evening and he decided and came up with the idea of having them sign the plate in which they ate in. Yes, this is how it all started! Well, now it's 23 years later and they come back totally unexpected without much fanfare and remember the events of 23 years ago to a tee and seeing Bono point out his plate to his guests was a really cool moment for me. In the pic you have the before and after plate, my kitchen staff and my partners and I . Btw when Bono is on stage and says he loves MTL.... He really does he's been here 12 days and his last concert was on Wednesday. #u2 #bono #ourfirsteverplate #24yearslater #buonanotte #tantaroba #sunday #montreal #lamain #fathersday #lifeisgoodbro #picstitch

A photo posted by Massimo (@massimomtl) on Jun 21, 2015 at 8:56pm PDT

Update: Bono was also spotted at two restaurants in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville over the past few days. Guy Laliberté lives in the off-island suburb. The pop star ate at Louis XIV last Friday and Il Martini on Monday, where admirers posed for photos and absconded with his beer glass.

Bono at Louis XIV in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville [Photo credit: Versants.com]

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