Papà Giovanni

I took this shot in the Papà Giovanni restaurant, in Via Sediari close to the Pantheon, a while ago while I was extending my book on Rome shops. Renato, the proprietor, was delighted to show me and tell me everything about the restaurant, including the amazing visitors’ book. He also took me on one of his morning shopping trips to Campo dei Fiori and introduced me to all the vendors there.

The restaurant started after the war. Renato’s father i.e. Giovanni, used to bring a wagon load of wine into Rome from the Castelli Romani every day by horse and carriage. (There’s a photo of the trusty steed, Turco, up on the wall too.)

Newly opened wine shops and faster delivery transport made his daily trek a no profit enterprise, and so he opened up his restaurant serving traditional Roman fare at a good price which was popular with the bohemian and acting community, many of whom left without settling the bill.

But since then many famous personalities have come to enjoy his hospitality and food, for example Picasso, Chet Baker, Rothchild, and Candice Bergman, and many many more from the days of the dolce vita.

Some of the anecdotes he told me are quite interesting. For instance, he said that his father would never have drunk red wine in his whole life.

That’s because, in those times the only wine available was locally produced, and in the Castelli Romani they only make white wine; like for example the famous Frascati.

He was a little perplexed when I told him about me wanting to publish a book with his restaurant in it. He likes his restaurant to be a little gem to be discovered, and not a busy stop on the tourist trail.
Discover it for yourselves!

Comments

[Larry]

Really cool place!