A fresh pasta restaurant is opening its fourth London restaurant next to what was once Sherlock Holmes' fictional address.
Emilia’s Crafted Pasta already has outlets in Canary Wharf, Aldgate and St Katherine's Dock and now brings its winning combination of daily-made fresh pasta, and cooked-from-scratch sauces next to the spot where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle located his famous sleuth.
When the stories were written, the street numbers in Baker Street didn't go as high as 221b, but when they were reallocated in the 1930s, the block from 215-229 was assigned to Abbey House, the art deco headquarters of the Abbey Road - later Abbey National - Building Society.
Soon afterwards, letters started arriving from fans all over the world addressed to the detective, and a full time secretary was employed to deal with them. The building has since been partially redeveloped, with the part at 215 Baker Street now becoming the 85-seat pasta restaurant.
Luckily they won't have to deal with any correspondence. After contesting the bank's right to receive fan letters, The Sherlock Holmes Museum - located at what should be 237-241 - was given special permission by Westminster Council to use the postal address 221b.
Emilia's will open on January 8 with 30 spaces on the alfresco terrace and room for 55 indoors, seated at the counter with a view of the kitchen, or in booths which take advantage of large windows overlooking Baker Street.
All the pasta shapes are made fresh every morning at a pasta making station in full view of passers by. The menu will feature all the chain's favourites such as the creamy burrata DOP served with heritage tomatoes, the four-hour slow cooked bechamel Bolognese pappardelle made with grass-fed beef from a small farm in Devon, and the handmade ravioli with high welfare lamb served in a butter and sage sauce.
From rigatoni, to pappardelle, gnocchi and bucatini, Emilia’s take their pasta and sauce matching seriously – arguing that there’s a science behind making the perfect pasta that allows the right sauces to stick perfectly.
The brand was founded in 2016 by Andrew Macleod when he was just 25. He named his first restaurant in St Katherine's Dock after the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, and now hopes the new restaurant will be a lively space where diners can enjoy affordable, high quality pasta in a sophisticated setting.
The Baker Street restaurant has a two week soft launch between January 8-21 ahead of the official opening on January 22. During the launch, Emilia’s will be offering 50 percent off the bill for all diners.
Seasonal specials will be launched soon after the opening along with a new kid’s menu.
Emilia’s Crafted Pasta opens January 8 at 215 Baker Street, London, NW1 6XE.
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