For Italian tennis players in particular competing at the US Open, one New York restaurant has become much more than a place to eat.
Tucked away at 87 East 4th Street, Via Della Pace has quietly developed into a home away from home for Italy’s tennis contingent during the Grand Slam.
Passionate Roman
At the heart of it all is owner Giovanni Bartocci, a passionate Roman whose energy, authentic cooking and loyalty to the players have transformed his neighbourhood trattoria into an unofficial Italian tennis sanctuary.
Bartocci’s connection with Italian tennis dates back more than a decade, when players including Thomas Fabbiano and Luca Vanni began visiting during qualifying week.
Having spent years around touring professionals, Bartocci understands the physical and mental demands placed on players who can spend weeks away from home.
His response was simple: create somewhere they could relax and feel Italian.
There is nothing particularly flashy about Via Della Pace. Instead, players find a distinctly Roman atmosphere where they can sing, watch tennis and enjoy Italian films.
The food is similarly uncomplicated.
With athletes needing to remain tournament-ready, Bartocci keeps the menu focused on clean, authentic comfort food, including pasta with olive oil and Parmigiano and the classic Roman carbonara.
For South African tennis fans travelling to New York during Grand Slam season, the restaurant offers a chance to experience the passionate Italian support surrounding the tournament – with plenty of tennis talk and the possibility of spotting a player.
Bartocci even promises a complimentary glass of Prosecco to anyone who mentions this article when visiting!
While tennis has made Via Della Pace a gathering point for Italian players, Bartocci’s sporting passion began elsewhere.
He is a devoted supporter of Italian football club Lazio and embraces the fierce rivalry that defines football in Rome.
His sporting interests also extend across the Atlantic.
Bartocci is a passionate Green Bay Packers fan, with his support partly inspired by his initials, Giovanni Bartocci, and the team’s famous green and gold colours.
His dedication to the Packers reached another level at Super Bowl XLV in 2011.
Bartocci travelled to Dallas without a ticket, but after Green Bay defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, he somehow ended up on the field, grabbed kicker Mason Crosby’s water bottle and subsequently appeared in a national Disney commercial alongside Packers quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers.
Living every point with the players
Bartocci’s relationship with the tennis stars goes well beyond providing a restaurant.
He becomes emotionally invested in their matches.
Whether cheering from the players’ box for underdogs such as Lucrezia Stefanini or preparing late-night meals for close friend Matteo Berrettini after matches, Bartocci experiences the highs and lows alongside the players.
He admits that watching them compete can be physically stressful for him.
He becomes so nervous that he sweats heavily and carries a towel to dry himself during matches.
But that is precisely what makes his connection with the players so special.
They are not simply customers walking into his restaurant. They are athletes fighting for their dreams, and Bartocci feels a responsibility to stand behind them.
He wants to win with them and, when things go wrong, lose with them.
For Italy’s tennis stars navigating the pressure cooker of the US Open, Via Della Pace offers something that cannot be found on a tournament schedule – a little piece of Rome in the heart of New York.
Dave Marshall is reporting exclusively from the 2026 US Open in New York for The South African.
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