By Jane Wilson
“Discover the Latest Trend in Stylish Casual Dining at Coppa Club Putney”
Eat, drink, meet and relax, anytime, in your own space within a club-like atmosphere. There’s a new breed of the café culture concept dawning – one of which is quietly flourishing under the name of Coppa Club. Last November, it daringly opened its doors amid covid threats in London’s southwest suburb of Putney and is steadily carving a name for itself.
I visited Coppa Club on a Saturday evening this January and found myself submerged in a bustling, jolly atmosphere, teeming with excitement and relishing the new 2022 vibe with the return of the dining-out trend.
And I was pleasantly surprised. Replacing the fashion for the minimalist, clinical, all-white look, this was a club mood decked with leafy palm corners with soft lampshades radiating warmth from a backdrop of painted walls rich in earthy colours with chestnut overtones which harmonise with the wooden décor. These complementary textures create an ambience befitting of a private members club, without those eye-watering fees.
Set on the riverside with enviable views over the Thames, Coppa Club is distinctive by three individual space-like dining igloos at its entrance and an outdoor dining terrace when the weather is kind.
Inside you can stroll through this spacious place to find the right area to suit your mood and occasion. There’s a snug encased with bookcases offering privacy for those cosy chats with a friend over a flat white or a “super glow smoothie”, a perfect corner to reveal secrets over a bottle of Gavi Di Gavi or mull over domestic issues over a Curious Brew IPA. Tucked away is a private dining area to celebrate a birthday, a retirement or simply a reunion and there will be many of these, I’m sure. Coppa Club is open for breakfast, brunch and right though to last orders. Workstations mean you can work anytime of the day while grazing on sourdough pizzas, sipping on non-alcohol drinks or sharing menus while conducting meetings.
The dishes are generous and the menu based on a modern interpretation of British and Mediterranean classics. We enjoyed the Devon crab salad, fresh and full of flavour and the seared king prawns, with a touch of spice which were attractively served on chunky crusty bread. For the main course, the 10oz dry aged sirloin was perfectly cooked to order accompanied by truffle cream, portobello mushrooms and skinny fries. Sadly, the grilled lemon sole, with peperonata, salsa verde and caper berries, was not available due to supply issues, (blame Brexit) so I opted for the corn-fed half chicken with piri piri sauce with pan roasted spouting broccoli. The tempting dessert menu included an apple and pear crumble smothered with Bird’s custard, conjuring up memories of childhood and a sticky toffee pudding with crushed honeycomb vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce – scrumptious. The dishes were served hot, the service both efficient and friendly. And if you are lucky enough to reserve an igloo you can choose from an exclusive menu which lists specials such as truffle wagyu burger and a decadent, warm chocolate fondant while enjoying the views in your cosy outside bubble.
After dinner, we moved to the lounge bar area for coffee. Here, we joined the company of a Labrador, Cockapoo and a Border Collier relaxing on rugs at the feet of their owners, all enjoying the laid-back setting. Adding another element is the fireside glow and comfy sofa for couples sipping cocktails, maybe a tiramisu martini or a glass of prosecco.
This home from home place has heaps of atmosphere, is big on the clubby casual living feel, neighbourhood friendly and serves well-presented dishes. International in its feel and style and local in its character and mood, regulars need to watch out as the Coppa Club concept attracts the new wave of casual diners in search of this new trend dawning in neighbourhoods.
https://coppaclub.co.uk/coppa-putney/ or call 01491 525 879.
Jane Wilson is editor of www.thewellnesstraveller.co.uk
