Casa Coppelle — Restaurant in Rome

Let’s talk about a wonderful culinary experience!

I was recently in Rome and the one restaurant I really wanted to attend was Casa Coppelle. Not only was this restaurant named to the Michelin Guide it rang bells across Italy. I had lunch in Milano at Savini and the staff were shouting high praise for Casa Coppelle and their owner.

When I got to the restaurant I was greeted by the hostess Tania. Throughout the night Tania checked up on me a couple times to see if I had everything I needed and even recommended some palatable drinks and delicious dessert options which did not disappoint.

The ambiance at Casa Coppelle I can say was chic elegant. I felt the sophistication as I was lead to my table and caught myself a few times gazing at the beautiful decor that was exhibited on the walls.

As I placed my order and throughout the night I had some wonderful conversations with some of the staff members. They were well versed in all topics ranging from Italy’s culinary scene, to European travel and even current politics. What’s a great meal without great conversation. The staff at Casa Coppelle made me feel right at home.

Now what can I say about the food. Bravo! My antipasto was the Foie gras with cherry/grape accents scented with flowers and my main dish was Lamb served with eggplant dripped in a scrumptious barley sauce. Each dish was full of plentiful flavor and the succulence of lamb that I ordered was extremely savouring. I was very pleased with the options that I selected. I can say Casa Coppelle lived up to its name and the Michelin Guide.

I’ve been fortunate enough to dine at a few a Michelin Star restaurants throughout my life time (Boka, Spago, Picasso, Bouchon, Da Vincenzo’s) to name a few but I can say this was one of my all-time favourite dining experiences.

Last but not least as I finished up closing the bill the hostess Tania walked me out which I felt was class all the way. As I mentioned previously the staff made you feel like you were at home. When I stepped out to exit towards the patio the owner of Casa Coppelle graciously caught my attention and asked me about my experience and we had a great conversation which ended in a big hug. She was such a sweet and humble lady.

This culinary experience was First Class...

Food was tremendous. Sadly the chefs and their creations are hugely let down by the maître d' and front of house including other clientele. We made a reservation for the same day and, despite speaking to the maître d' on the telephone just hours earlier and the list of reservations in her hand being very short, she made us feel like imposters when we showed up. We were shown to our table and seated next to a group of people in t-shirts & baseball caps. It was 8pm and we’d gotten dolled up and looked like the outcasts. She told us there was no dress code at the restaurant and so relocated us to an empty portion of the dining area which we initially appreciated but were then made to feel like an imposition for the remainder of the night. The sommelier told us we were in an area typically reserved for the tasting menu. We’d actually made the reservation with the hope of doing the tasting menu but the entire experience put us off that. We ordered a $200 bottle of wine which one of the various servers slopped over the table without apology. Plates were dropped in front of us and used to push other items on the table out of the way. At the end the maître d' thrust, snatched & grabbed card reader, credit card & receipt. It was a $600 joke. I don’t know if restaurants need to do anything to maintain a Michelin star; if not I suspect this restaurant earned one in the 80s and still goes by that reputation. Like the Pantheon, this place is a relic but one that should not be visited. The wine menu featured €9k wines and yet it was very well thumbed and falling apart-...

We ordered a bottle of Etna Rosso 2011 (a volcanic region in Sicily) off the menu but we were served a Faro Rosso 2011. This is the only reason that I am giving this restaurant a 4 rather than 5. Faro Wines are also from Sicily but coming from different hills of the region.

We made a reservation through our hotel concierge who highly suggested it. Within walking distance from Spanish Steps and Pantheon the place was pleasantly hidden on the corner of Piazza Coppelle. I highly suggest that you make a reservation and dress appropriately as the crowd and ambiance demands it! Our server Sean was fluent in English and was knowledgeable about the wines and their best vintages (2014 was not a good year for Tuscan wines FYI). You have the option of Prix Fix and ordering a la carte. The portions are small so if you are there with a big appetite I suggest that you consider ordering prima and secondi plates and even add an appetizer. The candle lit room along with black and gold wall paper and intimate setting is perfect for a romantic dinner in Rome. I appreciated that they could accommodate us with a green salad that was not on the menu (but us Californians need our greens anyway!). We shared a home made Tagliatelle with duck which was generously plated into 2 portions and then we each had an upside down Branzino on a salted board. The pasta was an absolute 10 and the branzino was 1/3 of a fish along with a few vegetable. Alas there was no room for deserts. The bill came just a few bucks under...