Restaurant shut after overcharging

by Anthony Smith (staff) | Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

The ‘Passetto’ restaurant in Via Zanardelli, near Piazza Navona, was shut down yesterday after  foreign tourists informed police their credit card had been charged €695 for their meal.

The Japanese couple who ate there last Friday reported being surprised by the bill total but realised something was definitely amiss when a €115.50 tip that they claim never to have offered, showed up on their receipt. They immediately reported the restaurant to officers at the Trevi Campo Marzio police station (situated on Piazza Collegio Romano 3, midway between the Via del Corso and the Pantheon) who upon investigating the incident found the couple had been charged above and beyond the prices listed on the menu. They also uncovered several health and safety defects at Passetto.

The cost was broken down as follows: two starters of lobster and oysters (€142), two pasta dishes of linguine all’astice (with crayfish) (€208), a main course of sea-bass (€82.50), topped off with a €108 bottle of white Sauvignon and a €31 dessert.

Passetto manager Franco Fioravanti, reported Italian media, was bemused by the affair: “They checked the menu, ate everything, paid the bill without question and even gave us a big tip. They even asked to have their pictures taken with the waiters.”

According to Fioravanti guests can pay “anything from €50 to €3,000 for a meal here, there’s even a wine – the 1982 Brunello di Montalcino riserva – for sale at €3,200 a bottle.”

Established in 1860, the Passetto is popular with local celebrities and the well-off and has been frequented by the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Salvador Dalì, Gary Cooper and the reigning British monarch Queen Elisabeth II. Yet, if the claims are proven, is days could be numbered. Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno stated,  “as far as I’m concerned this restaurant should not be allowed to reopen and in such cases the permanent revocation of licences are required.”