Business & Tech

Great Escape: Coastside Edition

Looking for some summer fun in the sun? Have lunch on the back patio at Osteria Coppa.

Last week Great Escape featured in Santa Cruz as a sunny spot to catch some rays.

This week, get out of the fog again by heading east to San Mateo and soak in the sun on the back patio of Osteria Coppa, a farm-to-table restaurant recently opened by restaurateurs Paul and Julie Shenkman (owners of in Half Moon Bay).

The restaurant inside is spacious, lovely and cool, but for Coastsiders seeking some sun, the back alley-side patio— reminiscent of an European bistro with umbrella-clad tables and comfy benches with pillows — is the perfect setting not only to heat up and experience a hot summer day, but to also enjoy an exquisite seasonal meal.

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Working directly with the farms and growers, sourcing over 95 percent of their produce from local Bay Area farms, all the ingredients used by executive chef Chanan Kamen and chef de cuisine Joe Cracco are fresh, local, organic and always seasonal. Pastas are handcrafted, pizza dough is hand stretched and salumi are cured in house.

Specializing in farm-to-table contemporary Italian cuisine, highlights on the menu include the thin-crust Neapolitan style pizza, antipasti, and other Italian specialties like bruschettas, baked polentas and pasta dishes. The menu changes regularly based on the offerings of local purveyors, artisans and farmers.

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In the Italian tradition, patrons are encouraged to share dishes because here, the portion size couldn’t be more appropriate for passing around the table. The Artichoke, Caramelized Onions, Feta and Fresh Oregano pizza is a winner as is the Chopped Salad, a wonderful medley of chicken, crispy bacon, blue cheese, almonds, salami and romaine hearts with green goddess dressing. Sandwiches are served on Acme ciabatta bread. Try the tuna confit, celery heart, preserved organic, capers and olives sandwich. The smoked duck breast salad on arugula with hazelnuts and aged balsamic is a sure bet as well.

Cool things off with a glass of their freshly squeezed lemonade, and for dessert, this is no doubt the place to go on the Peninsula for some of the best ice cream in the Bay Area: Bi-Rite Creamery’s ice cream.

Located at 139 South B Street, in the heart of downtown San Mateo, near the Century 12 movie theatre, the SamTrans train station, and a four-story City parking garage. Bar opens at 5 p.m. nightly; Dinner 5:30-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 5-9 Sundays; Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday (closed for lunch on weekends).


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