John Travolta Dines at Homey Italian Restaurant After Returning from Paris Olympics: ‘He’s a Food Connoisseur'

Travolta enjoyed a meal at Via Canaletto in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

John Travolta enjoyed a hearty meal of Italian classics when he returned to the U.S. after traveling to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The Saturday Night Fever star, 70, has an estate in Ocala, Fla., the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported. So when he's passing through the New Smyrna Beach area, one of his favorite places to visit is Via Canaletto, the site added.

"He’s a food connoisseur,” the restaurant's owner Leon Geller told the News-Journal. Geller revealed that Travolta dined on Italian classics like carbonara, lasagna and bucatini with meat sauce during his most recent visit. Chef Antonio Mazzella also served Travolta the specials like swordfish puttanesca.

Geller raved about his chef to the News-Journal. "He does the majority of his food from scratch,” the owner said, sharing that his restaurant features a new house pasta each night.

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"[Travolta] loves chef’s food," Geller added.

The star even posed for a photo with the Via Canaletto team. "Always a great time when JT comes for dinner!" the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post.

Travolta and Geller became friends in 2010 after meeting in Ocala. The actor and producer has visited Via Canaletto several times since its October 2023 opening. He even sampled the food a few times before the establishment was open to the public.

Related: Tommy Lee Shares Cookie Recipe with John Travolta in Fun TikTok Video: 'Two Superstars Baking'

Geller said Travolta called the restaurant to say he was home from the Olympics and was looking to come in and enjoy a meal.

"JT is just one of the best people I’ve ever met in my entire life, and I’ve been all over the world,” Geller said of his friend. “He’s the greatest human and, like I said, when people come in, he never turns anyone down. He’s super personable and it’s just — it's good. It’s good to have him here, and we hope to have him more in the future.”

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Earlier in August, Travolta was a frequent visitor at the Bercy Arena in Paris with his daughter Ella Bleu. They cheered on Simone Biles and the other Team USA gymnasts as they vied for medals in various events.

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