Tucked away in the charming town of Medina, Passantino’s Concert Café is a delightful surprise that strikes a perfect chord between delicious Italian comfort food and a vibrant true Chicago eatery with a cozy live music vibe. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm smiles and the inviting hum of good conversation, often underscored by local musicians who make the café feel alive.
For the Passantino family, opening their café in Medina has always been more than just a business venture — it’s a dream built on family, tradition, and a deep love for sharing good food and music with the community. Passantino’s Concert Café is the realization of that dream, where every dish served and every note played carries a piece of their story.
Rooted in their Italian heritage and inspired by the rich musical spirit that has always filled their home, the Passantino’s envisioned a place where people could gather not just to eat, but to connect — Their dream was to create a café that feels like an extension of their family table: warm, welcoming, and filled with joy. With every recipe passed down through generations and every performance that lights up their stage, Passantino’s Concert Café stands as a tribute to their roots and a gift to the Medina community. It’s the Passantino dream made real — and they’re just getting started.
The menu is a love letter to classic Italian cuisine, in which the meatball sandwich tempted my tastebuds, a masterpiece of flavor and texture which I had the pleasure of devouring. The meat balls were true star: tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned. Each bite was rich and savory with a melt in your mouth quality that can only come from hours of slow cooking. They were generously smothered in bright, tangy marinara sauce that had depth without overpowering the meatballs.
The bread held its own, well, lightly toasted on the outside to give a satisfying crunch, while remaining soft and pillowy inside to soak up all those delicious juices. The melted mozzarella blanketing the top with pulled everything together in a cheesy harmony. Every element work in concert, the savory me, the zing of the tomato sauce, and the creamy richness of the cheese and the hearty bread. The sandwich was deeply satisfying, but left me already dreaming about the next one.
The cannoli went beyond. Chrisp shells filled with sweet, creamy ricotta, and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. Simple but exquisitely executed. The cappuccino was crafted to perfection, like a silky work of art with a cloud, like foam crowns, with a delicate floral of latte. The espresso shown through the notes of dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts. Yeah, well the milk added a smooth sweetness that’s soft in the intensity, just enough without losing that bold character…and the foam was textbook perfect.
Other delicious menu items include the Italian Beef Sandwich, Chicago Style hotdog, Maxwell Street Polish Sausage sandwich, sausage, Italian beef jumbo sandwich, gyros, wings, and more
The Café is open from Wednesday to Saturday with live music concerts on Saturday nights. They begin at 7:00 PM and are followed by meet and greets. Both Tinamarie Passantino and Josie Passantino-Boone surround their lives with music as the hosts and founders of the Josie Music Awards, the most respected and revered Award in the independent music industry, set this year on November 2, 2025 at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
Visit The Passantino Music Café @
144 N. Second Street
Medina, Tennessee
The official website for Passantino’s Concert Café may be found at
https://www.passantinosconcertcafe.com/#
Article by Eileen Shapiro
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