Food review: Coppasta

Coppasta combines comforting Italian cuisine with innovative flavours to dish out same unique fare

The ambience is to die for - the sparkling stars, the trees covered with fairy lights, the streets decked up for the season and the Burj Khalifa standing majestically in all its grandeur with a kaleidoscope of colours projected on it. And nestled among this, at Al Manzil, Downtown Dubai, is Coppasta, the little Italian restaurant where you can get five star fare without having to doll up. You can even order a variety of  pasta from your home, for  Coppasta delivers the steaming bowl of saucy goodness  in a cup, making it convenient to have it even on the go. So that's gourmet pasta for you in a cup. Cool!
No, the cups are not used for dine in, it's formal dining at the swanky, yet casual restaurant, which boasts of using high quality  ingredients, and making fresh pasta in-house.  
The festive spirt was too much to resist, so al fresco dining it was; we could enjoy the outdoors as well as watch the chefs at work. Starters like Cheesy Italian Focaccia with Cheese Fondue Dip and Insalata Di Burrata impressed. So did the desserts - Tiramisu, Eton Mess and the Torta Della Nonna Con Gelato Alla Vabiblia.
Coppasta offers a three-course meal along with a kids menu, thus catering to the family. Customisation allows guests to combine the pasta, sauces and other ingredients, adding in flavours, including South Asian, providing a unique experience that pleases every palette.

Taste: The Pollo E Alfredo with chicken and mushroom was rich and creamy, the pasta cooked al dante and could be any pasta lover's favourite. The Lasagne Al Tartufo E Fungi with delicate layers of truffle, mushroom, béchamel, and mozzarella was more than satisfying. However, the carbonara left a lot to be desired.

Ambience: The  restaurant - with  light and airy interiors, high ceilings and glass walls - provides the best view of Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa and sets the mood for a lovely evening, especially during the winter months. Full marks there. The spectacular vantage point adds to the experience.

Service: No complaints as far as service is concerned. Being a relatively small place, the waiters were attentive throughout, taking every cue to serve us right. Parking, however, is a problem and it would be a good idea if valet services were offered just like the restaurants close by.

Presentation: Coppasta combines simplicity with diverse Italian cuisine and hence the bend towards presentation was minimal. Simple yet different seems to be the motto. That does not mean no efforts were made. The desserts were a delight. The infused sparking water with orange, ginger and cinnamon was a good gesture.

Value for money: Ranging from Dh48 to Dh72 for a main course, the offering is value for money.  It's rarely that one gets to have freshly made, warm bread, and it's a steal to get a plateful at Dh38, along with cheese fondue dip. To have a meal a stone's throw away from the world's tallest tower, well, it's worth every penny.

AT A GLANCE
Coppasta, Al Manzil, Downtown, Dubai
Reservations: 80026772
Cost: Dh250 for two people
roopa@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining