Dabbawal, an Indian restaurant in Newcastle, has become ‘so popular with celebrities’ according to a spokesperson and recently welcomed Italian international Tonali to their venue in Jesmond.
The ‘midfield maestro’ has visited three or four times because of how much he enjoys the place, but is said to enjoy home comforts alongside his curry orders. Perhaps traditionally, Tonali enjoys a meal out accompanied by an espresso – something he puts down to his Italian heritage.
Tonali impressed staff and members of the public by giving his time to take photos before and after his meal.
“It seems we are a safe haven for footballers,” a spokesperson for Dabbawal said.
“There are a lot of nooks and crannies where they can have some privacy.”
(Image: Dabbawal) Most read in sport
But, there is one thing that the most expensive Italian footballer of all time seemingly can’t tackle. Spicy food.
Tonali is said to prefer a milder dish, opting for flavour over spiciness.
The midfielder joined Newcastle in 2023 in a reported deal worth around €70 million and quickly became a fan favourite, scoring on his Premier League debut in a 5-1 demolition of Aston Villa.
After signing for the club, he found himself becoming part of the club’s online folklore when he booked a table at a Wetherspoons pub. The moment went viral online and Newcastle fans tried to work out if he was sent there by his teammates as part of a prank, or if he just really fancied a Spoons.
More recently, Tonali has become an integral cog in Eddie Howe’s midfield as the club has fired their way into a battle for European football next season. A semi-final second leg in the Carabao Cup awaits on Wednesday evening with the hope of silverware very much still alive.
Dabbawal is highly rated on TripAdvisor, with reviews raving about the menu.
One reviewer, Austin W called the restaurant a ‘hidden gem’ and said: “We had starters and main course no dessert. The portion sizes were perfect, and we left very satisfied. We enjoyed it so much that we went back a few days later. Can’t rate it high enough. We will be back.”
