Al Passetto di Borgo — Restaurant in Rome

SCAM AND POOR FOOD QUALITY

Let me start by saying that I have been working in the sector for more than 10 years and I am Italian so I also know how the dishes are supposed to taste, mostly the norcina which I have seen great reviews about but…

I had lunch with my boyfriend during our stay in Rome, what can I say, high expectations given the reviews especially of the pasta alla norcina specialty, but nothing special, on the contrary.

I asked for an appetizer to share and the waiter kindly indulged me and actually offered to divide the appetizer for two, an appetizer contains 3 slices of melon and three slices of ham and we got 2 and 2 per plate since we took a starter for two which instead costed us like two entire starters! (€8 per plate)

Apart from the well-organized scam, the dishes left much to be desired... the pasta Norcina was not made with ricotta but with béchamel and the grilled calamari was tasteless.

We spent in total €50. I would have take the picture of the bill if it was that when I have asked for explanation one waitress took it and the other one, who served us, was very evasive and than we...

This was another wonderful restaurant we ate at, after our Vatican Tour, and before our Castel Sant’Angelo visit.

(Not pictured) we ate their Mixed Bruschetta (divine, especially the truffle one), their House Specialty Rigatoni with Sausage and cream (my friend enjoyed it dearly), and their Canneloni (house made) was also very enjoyable.

We finished the meal with a Ricotta cake with chocolate drops. The texture was delightful, and the sweetness was just right.

It was an accidental - but much appreciated - discovery.

I cannot compliment the staff enough. They made sure to check for me if the Tirmasu had alcohol in it, and they were so jovial I just enjoyed the visit after an exhausting...

It's an awesome place to eat when in Rome: two steps away from the Vatican, so it's the perfect place to grab lunch after the Sunday Angelus, the Wednesday Audience, or a visit to the Vatican Museums. I've been in and out of Rome for the better part of the last decade, and I never leave without my Al Passetto fix!

My favorite is the pictured Rigattoni alla norcina, arguably the best norcina in Rome. It pairs beautifully with an Aperol or with the house fizzy white. (When in Italy, do as Italians do: a glass of wine is not only acceptable, but almost mandatory!)

For trivia, it used to be a favorite place for Joseph Ratzinger, later known to the world as Pope...