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

Mar. 15, 2025

John Travolta at Via Canaletto.Photo:Via Canaletto/Instagram

Via Canaletto/Instagram

John Travoltaenjoyed a hearty meal of Italian classics when he returned to the U.S. after traveling to Paris for the2024 Summer Olympics.

TheSaturday Night Feverstar, 70, has an estate in Ocala, Fla., theDaytona Beach News-Journalreported. So when he’s passing through the New Smyrna Beach area, one of his favorite places to visit isVia Canaletto, the site added.

“He’s a food connoisseur,” the restaurant’s owner Leon Geller told theNews-Journal.Gellerrevealed 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 theNews-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 anInstagrampost.

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.

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

John Travolta and Ella Bleu in Paris.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

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Earlier in August, Travolta was a frequent visitor at the Bercy Arena in Paris with his daughterElla Bleu. They cheered onSimone Bilesand the otherTeam USA gymnastsas they vied for medals in various events.

source: people.com