Burro e Salvia means ‘butter and sage’ in Italian, and it sets the tone for the kind of food you’re in for: simple, comforting, and delicious.
It’s part restaurant, part pasta workshop that’s been rolling out fresh handmade pasta for over a decade now. Yes, before Padella. And what’s even better is that you can get some to take home with you. Almost none of the city’s other fresh pasta spots do that.
Sat proudly in the middle of Redchurch Street, it’s sandwiched between Brat down the road on one side of the road, Cecconi’s on the other, and Cycene opposite. So it’s in good company. And it can go toe-to-toe with any of them. Step inside, and you’ll find a white-tiled counter where staff are expertly rolling, cutting, and shaping pasta by hand, set against simple wooden shelves stocked with Italian groceries. Beyond that, there’s a narrow stretch of a dining area decked with wooden furnishings that feel – fittingly – as simple & rustic as the food they’re about to serve up on them.
The menu changes often enough to keep things interesting but stays true to its roots. You won’t find gimmicks or fusion mashups here. This is a place that respects the tradition of Italian pasta-making, and it shows in every bite. Start with some antipasti – maybe the burrata or a plate of salumi – but leave room for the real show: the pasta, served in generous portions that’ll make you reconsider your carb intake, but only for a second. Expect dishes like delicate agnolotti filled with ricotta and herbs, or tagliatelle in a rich butter and sage sauce that perfectly balances simplicity with flavour.
And if you’ve got the time (and the inclination), you can even sign up for one of their pasta-making classes, where you’ll learn how to create your own doughy masterpieces to wildly impress future dinner guests…
…just add a little butter and sage.
NOTE: Burro e Salvia is open now, Tuesday to Saturday. You can find out more, and make a booking at the Burro e Salvia website.
Burro e Salvia | 52 Redchurch St, E2 7DP
Want a drink after? Here are the best bars in Shoreditch…