Stefano Pieraccini, 25, hopes to breathe life back into the Capital’s restaurant scene by throwing open the doors to his new venture, Rico’s, on North Castle Street in July, creating 25 local jobs in the city.
The new 56-cover restaurant and 20-cover bar will be situated on the former site of The Honours, which was previously owned by Michelin-star Chef Martin Wishart for 11 years.
Named after his grandfather Enrico Pieraccini, Rico’s is the latest addition to Stefano’s growing portfolio of restaurants known as the Rocca Group, which includes The Broughton on Edinburgh’s Broughton Street and The Seafood Ristorante in St Andrews.
Rico’s will help kick start the post-pandemic growth strategy for the Rocca Group by focusing on the quality of Italian dishes made with the finest, locally-sourced Scottish ingredients, including fresh pasta made onsite daily.
Fresh Scottish seafood and shellfish will be provided by David Lowrie Fish Merchants and award-winning wines will be supplied by Antinori; one of the most well-known names in Italian winemaking with a family history that dates back almost 600 years.
The restaurant will open for lunch and dinner five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday.
Building on the high standards he grew up with, Stefano and his team combine an eye for new trends with a commitment to quality.
His ambition is to grow his restaurant collection across Scotland and the north of England over the next five years.
Stefano said: “Despite all of the challenges of the last year, we’re always looking for opportunities grow and develop the Rocca Group further. When the chance arose to take on the space, I knew I had to grab it with both hands.
“I have no doubt that many will be sad to see The Honours go after ten years on North Castle Street. Martin and I have a good relationship and he has been somewhat of an inspiration to me in my career to date.
“We like to think of this as an exciting opportunity to bring something really different to Edinburgh city centre. The venue itself will be stylish, desirable and have a great atmosphere, but I also want it to be somewhere guests know they will get excellent, authentic Italian dishes and warm hospitality.
“It is fantastic to be announcing some good news after the trials and tests of the pandemic. We can’t wait to welcome guests to Rico’s in July.”
Chef Martin Wishart said: “Sadly, during the pandemic I made the unavoidable decision to permanently close The Honours Brasserie. It is now time for the next chapter to unfold at North Castle Street.
“It’s great to see a young and ambitious restauranteur coming through, especially following a really challenging period for the industry over the last year.
“I would like to take this opportunity to wish Stefano all the very best with his new venture.”
Rico’s will be located at 58A North Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3LU.
For more information, visit Rico's Ristorante website.
