Italian restaurant, Rico’s Ristorante, will open its doors to guests in Edinburgh's New Town from 6.30pm on Friday 9 July.
Scots-Italian Stefano Pieraccini, 25, has created the new 56-cover restaurant and 20-cover bar on the former site of Michelin Starred The Honours, which was previously owned by chef Martin Wishart for 11 years.
Open for lunch and dinner five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday, Rico’s aims to attract city centre workers and the New Town community as well as visitors to the city with focus on quality and authentic Italian dishes made with locally-sourced Scottish ingredients, including fresh pasta made onsite daily.
As well as a selection of cicchetti pre-dinner snacks, antipasti will include hand-dived Isle of Mull scallop & guanciale; risotto with East coast crab and shellfish bisque; and Carpaccio of Tweed Valley beef fillet, smoked onion & truffle.
Homemade pasta will feature Pappardelle with organic Peelham farm rose veal ragù & black truffle.
Oven baked sea bream served at the table; Tweed Valley Ribeye; Black faced lamb with violet artichoke; and fillet of Pittenweem Day Boat Halibut will feature on the main courses menu.
A fixed price set lunch menu will also be available.
The bar will be open to non-diners until around midnight as soon as all Covid restrictions have been lifted, offering an extensive cocktail menu and award-winning wine list be supplied by Antinori; one of the most well-known names in Italian winemaking with a history that dates back almost 600 years.
Named after his grandfather, Enrico Pieraccini, Rico’s is the latest addition to Stefano’s growing portfolio of restaurants and will create 25 local jobs in the city.
Led by Stefano, Rico’s will become the latest addition to independent restaurant collection, The Rocca Group, which already includes The Broughton on Edinburgh’s Broughton Street and The Seafood Ristorante in St Andrews.
Commenting on the launch of Rico’s, Stefano Pieraccini, said: “We’re really excited to be putting Rico’s on the map as Edinburgh top destination Italian restaurant.
“We think now is the time 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’s a great feeling to be announcing some good news after the trials and tests of the pandemic. We can’t wait to welcome guests to Rico’s from 9th July.”
Rico’s will be located at 58A North Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3LU.
Table reservations will open from Thursday 1 July via the Rico’s website.
Bookings can be taken from 6.30pm on Friday 9 July.
