If you need any reason to believe Windsor's restaurants are world class, consider where former late-night talk show host David Letterman dined.
Letterman, who is in Detroit for the Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix, decided to cross the border for a walk along the riverfront when he decided to stop for dinner. He later told restauranteur Mark Boscariol that a quick Google search led him to The Willistead Restaurant in Walkerville.
Boscariol says he had no prior notice that a regular Friday night would become a special experience for him and diners in his Wyandotte St. E establishment.
"I was actually on my way to the restaurant anyhow when I got a call from Chef Renaud, who said 'I think David Letterman's in the restaurant," says Boscariol. "I said, you're messing with me, ha ha ha."
He says diners seated around Letterman and his guest seem to didn't notice.
"I didn't want to bother a customer and stranger while they're in the middle of dinner, so I left him alone," says Boscariol. "But I had friends sitting all around him. So, I said 'Is that David Letterman sitting right behind you or next to you?' [and they said] 'No, Mark it's not' or they'd laugh at me. Not one person thought it was him."
Former late-night talk show host David Letterman at The Willistead Restaurant, June 3, 2016. (Photo courtesy of Mark Boscariol.)
But when Boscariol finally did speak with the man he suspected was Letterman, his voice was unmistakeable.
"He joked that he might be in the country illegally," Boscariol says. "He said, 'I see by the taste of your food why your restaurant's busy. Everything we had was wonderful.'"
So, what did Letterman order? According to Boscariol's Facebook page, he ordered mussels, perogies, ribs, fries and The Willistead Burger.
Boscariol says Letterman was "extremely complimentary" to Windsor, the riverfront, and The Willistead.
Boscariol wonders if the Grand Prix can bring a star like Letterman into his restaurant, who would the Windsor International Film Festival bring in with city investment.
"Could you imagine how many more celebrities we'd get?"
