Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo made an unannounced visit to Cardiff's acclaimed steakhouse Pasture on June 27, the night before the band's sold-out concert at Principality Stadium. The musician and his party of four dined at the restaurant, which was ranked 48th in the 101 World's Best Steak Restaurants list and holds three stars from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
Surprise Arrival and Accommodation
Assistant general manager Marius Sakaliunas, a long-time rock fan, recounted the surprise arrival. "We had no idea they were coming in, but I guess I had hopes that at least one of them would come in!" he told WalesOnline. The restaurant was extremely busy, but a bar table had just become available, allowing the group to be seated.
Trujillo's party shared starters including beetroot tartare, smoked beef carpaccio, and beef shortrib croquettes. For mains, they ordered fillet steaks, monkfish with panzanella salad for his wife Chloe, and fire-roast chicken for Trujillo himself.
Disco and Funk Requests
During the meal, the group asked if the restaurant's DJ took requests. Sakaliunas responded that they could accommodate, and the group requested disco and funk music. "As it turns out they love disco and funk music!" he said.
Sakaliunas, who was inspired to play bass guitar by Trujillo as a teenager, described the rock star as "quite chatty, and just an all around very pleasant person." He added that the shoutout on stage at the concert in front of 76,000 people was "crazy" and brought him great joy.
Post-Dinner Activities
After dinner, Trujillo attended the first-ever Blackbird Festival at Cardiff Castle, where friends Skindred were performing. The festival also featured Alter Bridge, Mammoth, Florence Black, and Cardinal Black.
Pasture Restaurants, with branches in Bristol, Birmingham, and Cardiff, uses hand-picked meat from its own raised cattle and organic produce from ButterCliffe Farm near Bristol.
