Good Life Projects Will Open “LA Italian” Restaurant Passo in Old Street

Passo, “a contemporary LA inspired Italian” in Old Street will launch in October this year. It is the latest venture by the group behind Foley’s and Rum Kitchen — run by Jonny Boud and Alex Potter of GoodLife Projects.

Head chef Massimo Laquinoto, who has joined Passo from his previous position as Head Chef on the (principally Italian) 6th floor restaurant at Shoreditch House, will create a menu of “authentic Italian dishes that are simple, fresh and contemporary with an LA meets East London twist.” Quite what that means, only time will tell.

All dishes will be available as (Small Plate Klaxon!) small sharing plates or larger portions. They allege that the “spirit of community trickles down through the staff and into the food as each ingredient on the menu is sourced through trusted, local producers.”

Laquinoto comes Ragusa, in south-eastern Sicily, where he trained at Locanda Don Serafino, a two Michelin-starred restaurant. In 2006 he moved to London and found a position at Giorgio Locatelli’s Zafferano. Since, he has held positions at L’Osteria Dell’Angolo, Briciole and most recently Shoreditch House, before joining the team opening Passo. He will be working alongside group executive chef Joe Hill who has also previously worked at Shoreditch house.

Passo will not take reservations in a 40-cover deli style area at the entrance which will serve casual takeaway dishes. This area will also act as the restaurant’s wine bar, serving pre– and post–dinner selection of cocktails and fine wines.

The main dining room is structured around a open “theatre kitchen.” Passo will offer 140 covers in the 3,500 sq ft space with an additional 40 covers on the year-round outdoor terrace. East London designer, Alexander Waterworth, who designed Luca and Soho Farmhouse, is behind the restaurant’s design. It will, they told Eater London be “a palate of sandy and concrete tones the restaurant boasts large oval striped oak tables, a vast marble bar and a stunning copper clad pizza oven.” The larger seating areas, including a semi-private chefs table to the right of the kitchen, also include a area with banquet style seating.

Passo will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am to midnight seven days a week and a DJ will play live from Thursday through the weekend.

Passo opens at 80 City Road, EC1Y 2AS in October.