Coppa Enoteca, which opened in early 2010 and is owned by Chef Jamie Bissonnette and partner Ken Oringer, features Italian small plates, pasta, and wood-oven pizzas. This neighborhood favorite is both rustic and relaxing and is a great destination for an evening out with a friend or for a date; especially in warmer months when you can dine outside on their street side patio.
Best known for their small plates, many of the handmade pasta selections can be ordered as a main dish if you are not in the mood to share. Coppa’s menu is primarily comprised of small bar snacks $5-$8; Italian meats cut from their beautiful Berkel slicer (see below) $10; Antipasti $7-$9; wood fired pizzas $14-$16; handmade pastas $13-$16.
On this visit we started our meal with Burrata ($9) and arancini, two fried risotto balls stuffed with cheese ($6). The Burrata was creamy and cool on the palate. The flavoring of the pesto and honey in particular makes this antipasti worth trying again. By contrast the arancini was warm and salty. Upon cutting the arancini, we could see all the delicious, melted fontina cheese.
As if the aromas coming from the kitchen isn’t enough to set your mouth watering our first two “small plates” awakened our appetites and we dived into the Cavatelli di Pollo ($13) and Feta di Popeye pizza ($14) (shown below). The pasta was surprisingly salty and left me wanting more. The pizza, topped with melting feta cheese and spinach, was slightly blackened from the wood-oven. Having both pasta and pizza is carb loading, but it is an undeniably delicious combination and one I suggest especially when sharing like I did.
Coppa is located at 253 Shawmut Ave in the South End; open 7-days a week and serves lunch during weekdays starting at 12pm.
Restaurant Tip: Getting a table is difficult in part because of Coppa’s reputation and in part because it is so tiny so make a reservation or try visiting for lunch or early in the week when it is less crowded.
BosGuy 