Ristorante Passetto
Rome
Via Zamardelli, 14
(Piazza Navona)
00186 Rome
06-688-03696
ristorantepassetto@hotmail.com
Owner: Franco Fioravanti Family
Review copyright - Ginda Simpson
Ristorante Passetto has been in business for over 160 years - a period that has seen many changes in the streets of the old Rome outside its doors. A whisper away from one of Rome’s loveliest squares, the Piazza Navona, the Passetto has welcomed a continuous stream of customers over the years, including many Italian and foreign celebrities and movie stars. A stellar cuisine keeps them coming under the direction of Franco Fioravanti who has owned and managed the restaurant since 1991. He is assisted now by his children: three sons and a daughter. Son Marcello “reigns” in the kitchen, and if one submits to his temptations, one is surely to eat like a king.
Whether by land or by sea, the dishes are varied and generous in taste and size of portion. Being a large and popular restaurant with Romans and visitors to Rome, the menu is both very local and very international, with something to please every taste. An extensive cellar provides an impressive selection of wines.
An assortment of varied antipasti introduced us to Marcello’s offerings and to the goodness of things to come. Not able to choose between land and sea, we sampled some of each. I particularly enjoyed the intensely flavored bombolotti amatriciani as my pasta course, while my husband had the trofie ai frutti di mare. Seafood selections in Rome are always tempting – the baked sea bass with cherry tomatoes and olives was of the most delicate flavor and paired very nicely with a glass of chilled Chardonnay from the Castelli Romani.
When the weather warms up, the Passetto offers outdoor dining with a view of Piazza Navona, an experience that easily doubles the pleasure of a meal at this fine restaurant.