Rocker Rod Stewart was turned away from a plush Hollywood restaurant - after the chef accused him of being far too difficult and miserly to accommodate.

Stewart, who has faced countless accusations of being mean with money, reportedly arrived solo in a stretch limousine at West Hollywood's LA BASTIDE at 9.45pm recently. The kitchen shuts down at 10pm so the maitre d' asked the chef if he could seat Stewart, a regular.

A source says the chef responded, "Rod Stewart? No way. I am tired of him. Tell him we don't want him."

The chef's reasons for rejecting the MAGGIE MAY rocker, according to American tabloid the STAR, are that the star tips badly, doesn't order fine wines, criticises the food harshly and always has the place stay open for him.

This time, three polite waiters walked him back to his car, and even opened the door for him.

The source says, "We don't expect to see him again."

02/05/2003 09:05