Lunch at Coppa

[9lives]

I've been wanting to try Coppa since they opened; like what KO has done overall and Bisonette is very talented.....just liked the menu and what it seemed they're trying to do. Ch reports have been good but I don't like eating dinner at 5 or 10..so when I saw they were open for lunch...barking up my tree.

Ms 9 and I shared 2 apps...chicken liver crostini and a pork ear terrine. Ms 9 asked if it was really pork ear and our waitress may have a very bruised ankle from my kicks (JK..she was great) and then the clam pizza.

Eveyting was superb, and K liked the fully disclosed pig ear terrine.

Service, casual and professional.

Food great...the unspoken queston was clam pizza..Pepe's or Coppa...no conversation during lunch...hate comparing, distracts from my enjoyment...but it's hard to ignore

With a few hours thought, they're different. Coppa has a crust that's more like Gran Gusto..Pepe is a great traditional pizza. More large clams at Pepe's but great balance at Coppa. Bacon undercooked at Pepe's, Coppa's perfectly done. I hate to nitpick over several very good restaurants so I won't.. You won't go wrong,wherever you choose.

I included a Pepe's clam pizza in the pics...for a different take

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61246842...

The dinner menu had a few other items that sounded very interesting...definitely worth a return trip.

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Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[celestialmundane]

What was the stuff sprinkled on the pig's ear terrine?

[MC Slim JB]

The streaks of white creamy stuff on top of the orecchio are yuzu aioli. If memory serves, the crunchy bits are strips of fried pork rind.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[almansa]

I believe the crunchy bits are fried garlic, actually. Jamie's going through a phase. At least they were when I had it.

[whops]

Orrechio terrine and carbonata with uni not available at lunch today. The triple app salumi sampler (chef's choice of coppa, nostrana, proscuitto, mortadella, lardo) very nice indeed, but the lardo fell short of outstanding. Burrata only okay, not so good that I would order it again. Tuna carpaccio, recommended by the waitress, was delicious. Aperol spritzer was just right for the beautiful summer day. Interior of restaurant unavailable for seating at lunch due to work being done. French park style chairs matching tables in tourquoise shaded by orange Aperol umbrellas made for a pretty seating area outside.

[yumyum]

Me and a few friends had time to enjoy a mid-week lunch at Coppa -- which I've been dying to try forever. I am determined to go at dinner sometime as I want to try the pasta, but I have been unsuccessful a few times already so I was happy to be able to try lunch.

Started with a pitcher of Aperol Spritz, which was a refreshing way to start the meal. Then we ordered the chicken liver crostini, a burrata pizza, duck prosciutto, pig's ear terrine, octopus, cauliflower, fra mani toscano, red peppers with feta, and a few glasses of wine.

My favorites were the pig's ear terrine -- soft, almost smoky in flavor, with that yuzu aioli good gawd! -- and the octopus which was a little more firm/chewy than I expected but had delicate shaved fennel, farro, salsa verde and swoony olive oil. The burrata pizza was also very good -- charred crust with light toppings.

If you're interested in getting a sense of what the buzz is about, lunch at Coppa is a good way to start.

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Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[Alcachofa]

After hearing about all the long lines at dinner, it is nice to waltz in and immediately get a table at lunch. Although I do want to try the hyped-up pasta. Also heard the skirt steak is worth trying.

I've got some pictures of some items from their lunch menu. My favorites (so far) were the pig's ear, the octopus, and the pizza was surprisingly excellent. The chicken liver was served on very crusty bread, which I really liked, but is not everyone's favorite paté delivery mechanism. Was very happy with the rabbit "porchetta".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_e...

[MC Slim JB]

Nice photos, Alcachofa! I love that new exterior sign.

I'm glad to hear it sounds like most of Coppa's dinner menu is available at lunch; I'd thought it was going to be a bit more limited, with the addition of some panini. I don't know if it's the kitchen's improving technique, but I wasn't all that wowed by the pizza in the early days, but it has really grown on me: it seems a lot closer to being worth the $15 for a very small pie these days.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Coppa
253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

[Alcachofa]

Thanks. I think that sign attracted a PETA member to the door while we were there. No fisticuffs ensued, thankfully.

"Worth it", of course, is tricky to define, but it was a seriously top-notch pizza.

[yumyum]

Wow. Thanks -- and especially for the pix! I've been dying to get into this place but have been denied both times I went at dinner. Lunch sounds like a better option -- I too don't like dinner at 5 or 10 p.m. I would love to have a clam pizza in front of me right now.

[Pegmeister]

That clam pizza looks exactly like what I've been looking for,and the lunch option just may work for me.

[pollystyrene]

Great pics, thanks! Is that photo of the bar and the row of tables against the opposite wall the whole place? Or is that just the bar area?

[MC Slim JB]

The widest angle photo of the bunch only shows about half the seating in the place, and not all of the bar. Including the bar, there's about 40 seats inside, another 24 on the patio.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[9lives]

Yes...This wasn't meant to be a comprehensive photo set; just to give people a feel..very comfortable.

I'm sure MC's numbers are accurate.....patio was closed due to weather but a great addition.

[MC Slim JB]

Nice photos, BTW! I don't know how anyone could get the whole space in one frame without a fisheye lens.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[pollystyrene]

Thanks. I was thinking it's no wonder the waits are so long. In a couple of weeks, I'm picking up a friend at the airport and we want to go straight to a celebratory dinner. Her flight gets in at 8:30 on a Wednesday, so I'm thinking (hoping) that two of those 40 seats will be open by around 9:30. My interest is piqued!

[opinionatedchef]

thanks, 9, look forw to it. yuzu aioli, cool!