The dining room at Passo
So, what do need to know about Passo?
This is the second restaurant from the team behind Fitzrovia restaurant Foley's. Head Chef Massimiliano Iaquinoto, trained in Sicily’s two Michelin-starred restaurant, Locando Don Serafino and has also worked at Zafferano.
Where is it?
At the top of City Road, practically right on Old Street roundabout.
Where's good to meet friends for a drink first?
There are LOADS of places around here. Across the roundabout you have top cocktail spot Nightjar, The Bower has a Draft House and there's plenty of bar space at The Magic Roundabout above the station itself. Passo also has a large bar area as you enter. We only got time to try one of their cocktails - the Grape Gatsby (£11) was pretty decent if a little sweet for our tastes.
Burrata with courgette crisps
Where should we sit?
The main dining room is pretty big and split into a mixture of communal dining, normal tables and counter spots. It was packed just a week after opening, so you'll really just take what you can get..!
What's on the menu?
The menu kicks off with small plates, salads and vegetables before moving onto pastas, dishes off the charcoal grill and pizzas.
Of what we had, standouts were...
- Fried artichokes with green sauce (£6) with a sauce of such a vivid green hue it just HAD to be good for you
- Grilled hispi cabbage with Parmigiano Reggiano barley risotto (£9.50) - a wonderful, winter warmer of a dish from the veg section. The BBQ whole cauliflower looked spectacular too although we didn't try it.
- Ravioli with burrata, tomato and langoustine (£17) - apparently already a favourite dish with the punters and we can see why
A short list of desserts all looked good but in the run-up to Christmas you'll really want to order the fried Panettone slices with pistachio ice cream.
Ravioli with langoustine and tomato
What about wine?
With Zeren Wilson in charge of the wine list, you can guarantee some decent drinking here. Wines start at £19.50 and shoot up to £10 for a 2013 Barolo. I really enjoyed my glass of Sardinian Vermentino at £9.50.
Overall thoughts:
In such a prime site, it would be hard to do badly here, but Passo has pulled out the stops creating a restaurant with good vibes and decent food. We can see ourselves very easily popping back for a plate of pasta and a wine up at the counter. It's going to prove very popular with the Silicon Roundabout crowd. There's also an extensive alfresco area which will be great when the weather finally heats up.
Fried panettone with pistachio ice-cream
More about Passo
Where is it? 80 City Road, London EC1Y 2AS
How to book: Book online.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @passo.london..
