The future home of Song’E Napule.
By Maya Mau
Community Board 7’s Business and Consumer Issues Committee approved new liquor license applications for three restaurants at its Wednesday meeting.
Coppola’s West, a Southern Italian family-style restaurant at 206 W 79th St (between Broadway and Amsterdam), has been operated by Salvatore Coppola at this location since 1991. The restaurant is applying for a new liquor license because it had to change its corporate name from Coppola’s of New York City Inc. to Sal 79 Associates.
There is another Coppola’s in Kips Bay at 378 3rd Avenue (28th Street). Coppola’s serves an assortment of Italian staples such as salad, pizza and pasta. It also hosts private events and offers catering services. Coppola himself attended the meeting to express his appreciation for the community.
Song’E Napule, an Italian pizzeria and trattoria opening at 464 Amsterdam Avenue (82nd Street), is replacing Mokum, which served internationally-inspired American food before it closed in Summer 2020. In addition to pizza, Song’E Napule will serve salads, pastas, panuozzis, and desserts.
Manuel Coccaro, one of Song’E Napule’s owners, attended the committee meeting to express his optimism about joining the Upper West Side community. He mentioned his 10 years experience in New York City’s fine dining scene, and helping his family run three restaurants in Italy. Coccaro also shared that Ciro Iovine, the chef, was voted Gambero Rosso’s best pizza chef in New York City for three years in a row. Coccaro and Iovine own a restaurant of the same name on West Houston which has been open since January 2015.
Moonrise Izakaya, a lively Japanese gastropub at 774 Amsterdam Ave (98th Street), sought approval by the committee because it is looking to expand to the building next door. The restaurant has been open since Fall 2019 and serves fun Japanese fusion food – including a rotating “Bao of the Month” and cheesy corn with edamame – in addition to cocktails.
A representative for Moonrise Izakaya said that the new space has apparently been vacant for five years and is owned by the same landlord. Despite challenges presented by the pandemic, it has still seen an abundance of demand, which made them want to expand.
All three rounds received unanimous votes in favor by both committee and non-committee members. The three applications await final approval by the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA)
Hats off to Coppola’s for hanging in there. Solid food and a nice vibe. You don’s survive this long unless you are good and they are.
Am also supportive of Moonrise, haven’t had the chance to go there yet, but they seem quite determined and taking over vacant space is to be applauded…I think I read in these pages that they are a bit noisy, so I hope they can get along with their neighbors.
I’m a huge fan of Coppola’s – best chicken parm around. May they have many successful years ahead of them.
Can’t say enough good things about Coppola’s. Best chicken & veal parm around, generous wine pours, good prices and cozy vibe. They didn’t have the benefit of optimal outdoor space during the dark months of the pandemic, so indoor dining couldn’t have come back soon enough for this neighborhood jewel.
And yet they denied a liquor license for what could have been an Alamo movie theater where the Midtown is. Senseless. They want north of 96th St. to be a culture-free zone.
Coppola’s is our favorite restaurant. I can’t tell you how many people we’ve introduced to the delicious cuisine of this Upper Westside gem.
Any of their parmagiana, fish, and pastas will blow you away, as will everything else on their ample menu. And their pizza? Delizioso!
The staff is friendly and helpful, and everyone from the manager to the wait staff, to the busboys work their tails off.
You will never be disappointed with anything on their fantastic menu.
And don’t forget to try their tartufo for dessert.