I recently popped into Coppa on a Monday night for a light meal. I’d already been at an event with appetizers and was tempted with the prospect of a small, yet flavorful nibble. The problem was, after savoring one small plate of pasta, it just left me wanting more.
Coppa Restaurant, Boston by Bellyglad From Flickr
Coppa is located on Shawmut Ave., a quiet street in Boston’s South End. The restaurant itself has a neighborhood feel and a cozy atmosphere. Tables are aligned close to one another, making it an ideal spot to visit in parties of two. Plan to wait with a larger party, as Coppa does not take reservations. However, as discovered by savvy locals, you can swing by, put your name in and come back later when your table is ready.
Even on a Monday night, Coppa was packed with a lively crowd. My wonderful dining companion and I didn’t want to wait for a table, so we sucked it up and took quite possibly the worst two seats in the house, which are located along a small side bar directly to the right of the entrance. At first, we felt like we were encroaching on the hostesses space by the door, but they couldn’t have been more kind and gracious.
I ordered a small bowl of the fettuccine with a wild boar ragu and my friend the spaghetti alla carbonara with smoked pancetta, sea urchin, farm egg and scallions. Both were fantastic. I adored the fat fettuccine noodles and the leftover wild boar ragu was so good that we kept dipping our bread into it. We also appreciated the carbonara’s melt-in-your-mouth sea urchin. Similarly notable was their hot buttered rum, which put any other hot toddy I’ve ever tried to shame.
Coppa is located at 253 Shawmut Ave. in Boston’s South End. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.coppaboston.com/