If you’ve been down the Thames during winter, then no doubt you’ve got sight of the beautiful glass domes of Coppa Club at Tower Bridge. Within easy striking distance of several tube and bus stops, it really is one the coolest (and most eminently ‘instagrammable’) on offer.
We arrived relatively early, and were immediately greeted and seated by our wonderful waitress. The sliding doors to the gloves are just as heavy as they look- after some heroic efforts, we got into our tastefully decorated dome and the fun began!
Gasping for a drink, a bottle of house red was immediately ordered, and just as quickly received. Great value, and honestly surprisingly good bouquet and taste- not many restaurants with views (or locations) like this bother with value, but Coppa Club has it in spades. Refreshed, hungry, and now mildly tipsy, we moved to the starters with ravenous enthusiasm.
Truffle arancino was the first up to bat; perfectly crisped rice balls under a snowy blanket of parmesan, served alongside a creamy truffle mayo that just sang of depth, indulgence, and earthy truffle flavours.
Buttermilk fried chicken arrived shortly after, and it became clear that whoever was working the frier was in the zone that night. The batter was perfectly proportioned to the chicken, and shatteringly crisp with a lovely kick courtesy of the house chilli mayonnaise. We ate this down to the absolute last crumb. No matter how fancy you are, there’s just something about fried chicken that crosses class and social boundaries. Call it the theory of social unification via fried chicken.
If you’ve read my reviews before, you’ll know one omnipresent starter is the burrata; tonight was no exception. Artfully adorned with prosciutto, this was a fine burrata indeed. Creamy, fresh, and livened up with a bit of olive oil. While not a standout in its own right, it was a soothing, casein balm to the lingering tingle of chilli mayonnaise.
First-round done, and we were eyeing up the mains. It is a recommendation in its own right when you find it difficult to choose which dish you’d rather have. After much deliberation, I went with the lamb, while my companions ordered the carbonara and the Coppa burger. Despite being happy with our choices, we all looked at each other with mild jealousy that we couldn’t have their dishes as well. Such is life!
I needn’t have fretted long; as soon as the mains arrived, I knew I had chosen a winner. The lamb itself was wonderfully cooked, the just-pink meat innocently nestled into a bed of creamy, buttery mashed potato. The whole affair was topped with a rosemary and roasting pan ju; slightly earthy, rich and absolutely perfect.
Elsewhere on the table, my comrades tucked in. The carbonara was exemplary- cheese ensconced strands of fresh pasta provided the base for crispy bacon, blending into layers of cheesy, salty perfection. When they weren’t looking, I stole a quick bite; it was everything you could ask for and more.
The coppa burger, as advertised on the menu, was a force to be reckoned with. The first notable feature of the burger was the layered balance of texture, from the crack of the first seed on the bun, through the crispy streaky bacon that put up the exact amount of resistance, and finally falling gracefully through the generously sized, cheese-covered patty. The patty, smokey bacon and mature cheddar cheese are a match made in heaven, especially with Coppa Clubs decadent burger sauce!
Sated, we fell back. Five minutes later, we were ready for some cocktails to finish the night. A pornstar martini was exactly as advertised and pleasingly well balanced, a nice change in a city full of mediocre examples.
The espresso martini had a strong head on it and went down smoothly despite being (welcomely) strong; much better than it had any right to be. Finally, a generously named cookie old fashioned. This was literally an oreo in an old fashioned, as far as I could tell. Groundbreaking? Doubtful. Did I take great pleasure in both the old fashioned as well as dunking the oreo in said drink? Absolutely.
In summation? Coppa Club at Tower Bridge was a delight. Hearty, uncomplicated meals cooked extremely well with great ingredients; what more could one ask for? Whether meeting for drinks or a big dinner out, this is a great place for groups. Book one of the personal domes- if they aren’t booked already!
