Best of Boston

2012 Best Italian Restaurant, Casual

Coppa

One of the biggest misconceptions about Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette’s South End enoteca is that it’s for hard-core meat eaters only. Sure, the restaurant was named after a cured cut of pig and boasts some of the best meatballs in the city, but it also serves beautiful marinated cauliflower with ricotta salata and crispy shallots, briny squid-ink pasta studded with lobster and olives, and cool glasses of bubbly Lambrusco. With this many options (let’s not forget the fully loaded pizzas), it’s a destination suitable for all.

253 Shawmut Ave., Boston, 617-391-0902, coppaboston.com