Il Macellaio RC
Il Macellaio RC is an Italian steakhouse group in London founded by Roberto Costa, a butcher from Calabria whose surname initial gives the restaurant its name. The concept is built around Fassona Piemontese beef, a lean native Italian breed celebrated for its tenderness and flavour, presented with the theatrical directness of a traditional Italian macelleria — butcher’s shop — transposed into a dining setting.
At a glance
- Type
- Italian steakhouse · macelleria-style restaurant
- Location
- London, United Kingdom (multiple sites)
- Coordinates
- 51.4925° N, 0.1774° W
- Signature product
- Fassona Piemontese beef, dry-aged and served as bistecca
Overview
Il Macellaio RC brings the Italian tradition of the macelleria — an institution where butchery, connoisseurship, and social gathering overlap — to London’s restaurant scene. The menu centres on Fassona Piemontese, a cattle breed from the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, known for its unusually low fat-to-muscle ratio and intense flavour. The restaurant group operates several locations across London, each maintaining the same identity rooted in Italian meat culture.
History
Fassona Piemontese cattle have been bred in the Po Valley foothills for centuries, selected over generations for a natural double-muscle trait that produces exceptionally lean, finely textured beef. The macelleria tradition in Italy dates to medieval guild structures and remains central to food culture in regions such as Piedmont, Tuscany, and Calabria, where Roberto Costa’s family roots lie. Il Macellaio RC was founded in London to export this cultural practice in an era of growing international appetite for authentic regional Italian produce.
What you see
The dining room typically features hanging cured meats, butcher’s block tables, and visible cuts of dry-aged beef, reinforcing the macelleria aesthetic. The menu offers bistecca cuts of Fassona at various weights alongside traditional Italian antipasti, pasta, and a curated Italian wine list. Staff are trained in explaining the provenance and ageing of each cut, making the meal an education in Italian beef culture as much as a dining experience.
Cultural significance
Fassona Piemontese is a cornerstone of Piedmontese gastronomic identity, appearing in dishes such as the region’s distinctive raw beef preparations (carne cruda). By centering a London restaurant on this breed, Il Macellaio RC elevates a niche Italian agricultural heritage product to international visibility and connects urban diners with the pastoral traditions of northern Italy.
Practical information
- Address
- Multiple London locations — check official website for current addresses
- Hours
- Check official website for current opening hours
- Reservations
- Recommended; booking available online
Getting there
London locations are accessible by Underground, bus, and overground rail. Specific Tube stations vary by location — check Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) for routing from your starting point. The coordinates above correspond to the south-west London area.
Sources & resources
- Fassona Piemontese: Wikipedia — Piedmontese cattle
- Cultural Heritage Online — curated guides to Italy’s food and cultural heritage