So much for a quiet lunch: Ed Sheeran enjoys gluten-free pizzas with girlfriend Cherry at Italian restaurant on the Central Coast... before staff bombard him for selfies

He's been lying low-key since last December vowing to steer clear of social media as he enjoys a career break. 

But this week, flame-haired singer Ed Sheeran was spotted slipping into The Italian Restaurant at The Entrance on NSW's Central Coast for lunch with girlfriend Cherry Seaborn, before staff recognised him.

Ordering gluten-free Napoli and Calabrese pizzas, the 25-year-old Give Me Love singer was interrupted by staff who pleaded for selfies and the British crooner gamely obliged.

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Say cheese! Ed Sheeran slipped into The Italian Restaurant at The Entrance on NSW's Central Coast and posed for selfies with staff (pictured R to L sisters Emily and Cailtin Fisher, Nicole Newley and Kelly Furey)

Waitress Nicole Newley told Daily Mail Australia Ed and Cherry joined two other friends for lunch and made a booking before showing up at the venue.

She said they asked for directions before they got there before sitting down to eat, staying for around an hour. 

Nicole said she was 'shocked' to see the red haired singer walk in.

See Ed Sheeran updates as he enjoys gluten-free pizzas with girlfriend Cherry

Details: Waitress Nicole (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia Ed and Cherry joined two other friends for lunch and made a booking before showing up

She said: 'I sat them down and walked straight to the kitchen giggling like some silly fan girl, how I thought the guy on table 34 was Ed Sheeran. 

'And of course they didn't believe me to start with,' she said of the other staff members. 

Nicole said she and staff including manager Kelly Furey began looking on their phones to see if it was indeed the UK singing sensation.

'We all started google image searching him to find pics of his tattoos just to be certain.

'When we all finally came to the conclusion it was him I was too nervous to make Cherry her latte, I had to ask Kelly to do it for me because I didn't want to stuff it up.'

Down to earth: Nicole said Ed was nothing short of a gentleman, despite his superstar status (pictured in 2013)

She said her second in charge Caitlin and her little sister Emily came into work after hearing Ed was in the restaurant.

Nicole joined Caitlin, Emily, and Kelly posing for a photograph with Ed, saying he was more than obliging.

'He was really chilled about the photo we all know he gets bombarded by hundreds upon thousands of fans asking for photos so he is obviously a professional at selfies now.' 

She said Ed was nothing short of a gentleman, despite his superstar status. 

'He was very polite, very genuine. Stuck me as odd cause you always hear about how celebs (sic) are nothing like you think they would be, but he and his girlfriend Cherry along with the two other gentleman were lovely,' she said.  

For the day, Ed was dressed in white T-shirt with a green knitted jumper on top. 

Spotted: It comes after he was spotted on Sunday with Cherry and friends at Sydney's Bondi Icebergs restaurant. While there, he 'photobombed' TRHOM's Gamble Breaux and her husband Dr Rick Wolfe

It comes after he was spotted on Sunday with Cherry and friends at Sydney's Bondi Icebergs restaurant. 

While there, he 'photobombed' The Real Housewives of Melbourne's Gamble Breaux and her eye surgeon husband Dr Rick Wolfe.  

In December, Ed swore off social media and said he was taking a break from his thriving music career, taking to Instagram and Facebook to share the news with fans. 

'I'm taking a break from my phone, emails and all social media for a while, I've had such an amazing ride over the last 5 (sic) years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes so I'm taking this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed,' part of his post read.  

Bye for now: In December, Ed swore off social media and said he was taking a break from his thriving music career, taking to Instagram and Facebook to share the news with fans