Scopa Restaurant

9/24/2014

dined with family & friends sunday 21st, grp of 6. great dining experience -food -service ++
Had the house made tag w/ ragu from the spagh omg-wet yourself good (just sayin)
our server very cute personality & great fast wit. dinky kitchen, shes a young chef turning out not to be missed dining.
Thank you

10/7/2014

I would love to say we were able to write a review after dining here but we couldn't even get a call back to make a reservation.

We called and left a message two weeks ago and didn't hear back, called again a week ago and still haven't heard back.  I also called their sister restaurant to see if they could help me out and they said no we needed to wait to hear back from Scopa.

Really disappointing, would have loved to try this place out but with a group of six we knew we would need a reservation...ended up going somewhere else and had an amazing experience at a different place...with a small town like Healdsburg with so many places to eat one would think its in the best interest of a restaurant to make calling people back a priority.

I love to be able to write positive reviews when I can and hoped I could have for this place...guess not.

10/5/2014

Small unpretentious and phenomenal food especially the Tomasso & Nonna's!

Make sure to come early to grab a table or make reservation well in advance. Friendly services and great atmosphere even though its a cramp place.

A must try if you are in Healdsburg!

9/24/2014

UUUMmmmmm? not so special, sorry....

Food is goodish?... My friend and I had the nonna chicken something in a bucket anyway its was ok, chicken was very tender but the Pamento? was the consistency of mashed potatoes, just wasn't for me and my friend agreed. He had the same opinion. I believe most people like this so maybe it's just us or you need a couple of glasses of wine in you before it's served?  I was also left hungry when I finished.

*My other friend had stuffed ravioli  and wouldn't shut up about it, He practically picked up the plate to lick it. I'm guessing he may have given one more star then me... perhaps.

Scopa is considered the "IT PLACE" to eat at according to the locals I met. They don't even put their name on a sign, so be careful you can walk right past them.

Its between two buildings, basically an ally close doff with a roof. Small, tight and limited seating.

Will I eat here again? Probably, because I think everyone deserves a second chance... and if everyone is raving about it then they deserve it.

P.S I thought the prices were surprisingly reasonable for the area. Small kitchen so expect to wait awhile if they are busy.

10/15/2014

My boyfriend brought me to Scopa for our anniversary dinner. We had to make reservations even for a Tuesday night, so plan ahead before you make the trip out. Everything was amazing! Our server was polite and helped us choose a great bottle of wine. The food was simple but perfectly cooked. Arancini were so good! Cozy inside but can get a little loud. Can't wait to go back.

• 

  Arancini- yum!

  Arancini- yum!

10/11/2014

With so many great restaurants in Healdsburg, you may be tempted to not bother making a reservation here a month ahead of time, but you'd be missing out! Great food and very reasonable prices...definitely loud and not for date night.  Get the Sugo Calabrese - chicken was good, but the Sugo was fabulous !!

9/14/2014

We love Scopa!!

Our faves :

Goat cheese salad

Tomasso sugo calabrase spaghetti (They always offer a special tagliatelle pasta. We've tried the boar and rabbit in the past, but I don't think they beat the sugo.)

Nonna's chicken (sop it up with the ciabatta!)

Chocolate soufflé

Customer service is always great. Reservations need to be made well in advance, or if you're lucky you can snag some seats at the bar. It's first come first serve.  Six seats available.

10/15/2014

My husband and I came here last Saturday (10/11).  Both the food and the service were impressive (we had the kale and potato soup, the calamari appetizer, and two pasta dishes).   It's also a very cozy spot, perfect for a smaller group.  If you're in Healdsburg, this is definitely a great place to try.

9/11/2014

Everything we ate at Scopa blew our minds, from the budino appetizer to the spaghettini (OMG) and the panna cotta. We were in food heaven. The service and pacing of the food was also just right.

Scopa stands out above any other meal I've enjoyed in Healdsburg. Make a reservation - this place is a must-go if you love good food. And the location on the square couldn't be better for a nice evening stroll before or after. Go - you will love it!

9/21/2014

Excellent meal and service and well worth planning a month in advance to get a table at this dark, small intimate space.  I never order chicken at restaurants,  but the yelpers steered me toward the Nonna chicken and it is indeed fabulous. Tender chicken, rich depth of flavors, soft polenta.  

The sugo pasta was equally wonderful...exactly what comes to mind when thinking of comforting italian fare.

9/7/2014

This Tiny  restaurant gives you the feel of a New York restaurant , small compact but knows what they are doing. We started with bread and olive oil and red wine , proceeded to spicy meatballs that were near orgasmic. So good.
 For entree I had Nona 's chicken that was on a bed of parents and shard and served in a crock to keep it steaming hot. Incredible flavors. Jim had the wild boar tagliatelle which was fabulous. Very tasty.
 Would we go back here? In a heartbeat!!!

8/26/2014

Cozy, easy setting and frickin' deelish!  Great service and yummmaaayy food.  Have been going to Scopa's since they opened and for many special occasions - always consistent.

I know I'm being lazy but I'll finish this later ;-)

9/29/2014

I rarely post on Yelp but I felt I had to give credit to Scopa, home of my favorite dish in the world...The Sugo Calabrese

I first went here and tried the dish in 2012 and my wife describes it as 10 minutes of me eating without blinking or breathing...it was really damned good!
The next night we went back, partially because it's the only restaurant open past 9:00...but also because I needed to have more of the perfect Pasta!

Anyway I spent 2 long years talking about the pasta and finally had a chance to go back and was convinced that it would disappoint, once you have time to build something up it rarely, if ever, lives up to the hype.
Wow it was SO F*CKING GOOD.

The truth I'm writing this review selfishly...I'm worried that they might one day decide to take it off the menu and hopefully if people keep ordering it and requesting the Sugo it will still be there when I'm back in a few years.

9/27/2014

Absolutely amazing!!! I came here with friends for a bachelorette party dinner. The customer service was beyond great. And oh my, the food was wonderful! You won't regret dining here.

7/23/2014

Epicly boring menu: salads for $18, antipasta, a few pastas, 3 pizzas, and 2 entrees. Thta's not what we ordered, that's the whole list.

Tragic wine by the glass list of 6 or so with a few locals. Right in Healdsburg.

Service was very good.

If that was the lunch menu it would have worked better for me.

Really, check the menu before you book a reservation.

7/1/2014

Food was freaking amazing but weather @95 degrees...was too hot for us girls....we had sweats gliding down our back and chest region ={
We arrived 10min too early and waited at the outside table (well, the only outside table). Waitress opened the large window and we were told that's where we were sitting...outside. Because we had 7, none of the inside seating would fit. Oh boy, out in the heat and tons of flying animals. Make sure not to open your mouth for too long...

We each ordered the grapefruit soda to cool down, t'was yummy and refreshing.
Food: meatballs(about five small pieces, sauce was perfectly seasoned), mixed green salad(too sour), burrata(buttery toast and the melty mozza/arugala: OMG), fried olives(its heeeellla good), grilled calamari(this has to be the best ones i've yet tasted), heirloom tomato & cucumber salad. pizza Salsiccia, the HUGE rib-eye for two(loaded with potato and arugala, cooked to perfect medium rare), braised chicken(served in a hot pot, nice and juicy and tender). Most of their dishes had arugala in some shape of form...my all time fav!  Good thing we were not wearing jeans during dinner, buttons would have popped. Yet with all these food, we still managed to order the panna cotta(yummy and smooth) and affogato to share. Party of 7...about $50 per person.
Not a bad deal...i will return during fall when it isn't so hot.

9/21/2014

This is home.

Have come in tough times and in celebratory times. Always welcomed. It is like having an Italian grandmother who knows sending you back out in the world with a belly full of home cooking means the universe is back on track.

The first time we went, within a couple months of opening, ended up eating off the neighboring tables plates (they offered?!)  

Have enjoyed chatting with the other guests at the bar or at the neighboring tables--the few times we have come across single diners they have been restaurant folks wanting to eat the best.  

We have made reservations in advance (usually when bringing friends) and have dropped in (or on a whim while in Oakland, start calling the restaurant en route to see if a reservation opened up in case traffic keeps us from nabbing one of the precious bar spaces.)

Tomas sugo. Hands down have to order it every time. Even if all i do is have a single bite and bring the rest home.

I keep my ears peeled for the specials....oh and those meatballs. I don't like meatballs as a rule, yet, we pretty much order these every time.

The ricotta cheesecake (if they still make it?!) is a perfect balance of texture, taste, and tang.

The grilled romaine--we usually double order this if we have friends it is that good.

Great variety of Italian wines. Worth following the recommendations. Yes. You may save a few bucks by bringing your own bottle and paying corkage, but they have some great wines that pair so well with their food.

The only thing I don't understand is why the ribeye for two comes out charred on the outside Charred and is not tasty. Charred as in we are scrapping the charcoal layer off and leaving the scrapings on the serving board.  Every time we have ordered it. without the charring, very tasty. and with the side of arugala salad and potatoes, don't need anything else but maybe a good Barolo.

Yum. Yep. Just typing this up made me realize I've got a birthday coming up so time to make a reservation.

10/9/2014

Love the meatballs - always a have. Really good pizza, love the Nonna's chicken on a cold night cause it's such a wintery comfort food served hot in a cast iron pot. Their homemade pastas are always delicious, especially when there's wild boar- SO GOOD. I most often get the grilled calamari salad to start but be sure to order it lightly dresses because sometimes there's too much vinegar. A good tip for most of the salads if you don;t like a lot of dressing. Love the charcuterie plate, too and we've shared the steak for two one time ( it can feed three easily) and it's really really good, too, but I think the pastas are the stars here. It's a small restaurant so it can get loud and it's always packed so you do need a reservation. Best to call in the evening when there's a hostess there because it seems like no one is there during the day, but call at least a week or so ahead - like I said- always packed. I'd probably give five stars if they maybe added  a few things because the menu is limited and it doesn't change much ( they have a super tiny kitchen so it could be why) , but what is on the menu is always delicious and worth the trouble of going to for a reservation.

6/20/2014

Enjoyed an amazing meal at Scopa with my husband during a recent visit to wine country!

We had 6:30 pm reservations and were seated immediately. Service was fantastic - specifically our server Aaron - and the food was delicious and filling! We ordered the grilled calamari and burrata to start (both excellent) and then shared the Nonna's chicken and pasta special for entrees. The pasta was yummy and prepared perfectly, however, the chicken atop the creamy polenta and sauteed greens was just out of this world delicious! Definitely THE gem of their menu.

Go here for Nonna's chicken, stay for everything else and come back for more Nonna's chicken! So good.

6/24/2014

Simply put, one of the best meals in recent memory.

We enjoyed Scopa for our 10  year anniversary meal and it did not disappoint.  The restaurant is casual, as others have mentioned.  It is very small but not claustrophobic.  While the noise was not a bother for us, I could see if someone was expecting a more intimate meal they might be put off by the hustle/bustle of the restaurant.  I would recommend reservations.

I ordered the Nonna's chicken and my wife ordered a spaghetti with meat sauce dish.  Both were excellent.  My wife commented that the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente but was a bit spicier than she expected.  She was satisfied, however.  I cannot say enough good things about the Nonna's chicken.  It was definitely one of my top 10 meals of all time.  The interactions between the flavors was just perfect.  I initially hesitated ordering it because I didn't want to regret ordering "just a chicken dish" at such a great restaurant...boy was I glad I did.  

I should also mention we were there for Winemaker Wednesday.  The winemaker was from Freeman Winery in Sebastopol and we enjoyed his Pinot Noir with our meal.  It paired very nicely with both dishes and it was really neat to talk with the winemaker and talk about his craft and business.

I would not let a trip to Healdsburg go by without stopping by Scopa.  It is a can't-miss meal.

7/11/2014

After a day of winetasting in Sonoma, I sauntered around Healdsburg Square checking Yelp for the nearest top-star Yelpy rating and stumbled upon Scopa. It was during the prime dinner hour so I would've been surprised if a table would be even available without a reservation. Jessica took great care of me and called me within 15 minutes.

Scopa is a casual Italian restaurant with a few tables and a bar. Being a lone diner, I sat at the bar and made conversation with my bar mates who shared with me some inside tips on local wineries (Robert Young Winery and Stryker Winery). For supper, I had their Parpadelle pasta special. Their panna cotta topped with raspberry was a light dessert to finish off the evening.

I'm so glad to have stumbled upon Scopa. Service was very attentive and the food was incredible.

7/31/2014

Some friends took me and my wife here during a weekend wine tasting trip.
Karen had Nona's chicken, it came in a black cauldron on top of a creamy pile of polenta. I had a taste and thought it was great! I had Tomasso"s Sugo Calabrese. It's a pasta dish with shredded beef and pork outstanding! Make a reservation well in advance (more than 2 weeks) because the place is tiny in in serious demand. We'll be back,

8/18/2014

Food was really good, but the manager  (short blonde haired lady) was not!  She was a cold lady that treated us like scum and couldn't even crack a smile.  Our server was just ok and after the food was dropped off she was nowhere to be found for the rest of the meal.  It just goes to show that even with great food, if the service is off it can ruin the entire meal.  Tourists love this place though so I'm sure they will be just fine.  I'll stick to the places that treat me well.  Compliments to the chef though.  Fire the manager!

5/30/2014

I can't remember what used to occupy this spot prior to Scopa, but this little restaurant that could is pumping out some fine Italian cooking.

Scopa is located right off Healdsburg square so it's virtually impossible to miss.  It is fairly small with about a dozen tables and some bar seating.  Interior is simple and casual.  Dress code is also fairly casual.  In the summer, shorts, shirt, and sandals are fine so no need to dress up if it's hot out.  If you're sitting at the elevated tables, they are on the narrower side so don't expect to have tons of elbow room.

That said, the food is quite good.  The grilled calamari salad is excellent if you like this dish.  Calamari was fresh and properly grilled.  The burrata with jam and bread is definitely a great item to order.  The burrata is creamy and the bread is perfectly grilled.  Their pasta dishes are delicious as well so you can't go wrong.  Our severs were johnny on the spot when it came to refilling our water glasses or taking away dishes. I'm told it's important to have reservations to get seated, but I saw at least a party or two walk in and nab both bar and table seating so don't fret too much if you weren't a good little planner and made reservations a week or two in advance.

5/20/2014

OMG!!! Went here for dinner tonight and was blown away. We had
the grilled calamari appetizer that was amazing. Then Nona's chicken and I am not a huge fan of chicken but this dish was to die for! We didn't have a reservation so we sat at the bar and our server Josh was fabulous. A must place if you are in Healdsburg.

5/11/2014

If I could give this an 11 I would.  ("it goes to eleven")

My best meal of 2014, and it will be hard to beat.

We were on our way up to Clear Lake for a weekend getaway and I thought we should stop and get a nice meal on the way to break up the car ride. I called on Wednesday for a Friday reservation at 6pm (you just leave a message), They called back on Thursday saying they just had a cancellation at 5:30 and she was putting us down.

We got there right on time, found parking about 20 feet away.

There were a few specials - a fava bean panna cotta (which I kind regret not getting), and a house made salami (which we did get), and while this would be my least favorite thing of the night, it was by no means bad, it is just that everything was sooooo good. The other appetizer we got was the arancini...holy crap these were good and served with a thick, simple but spectacular tomato sauce.

For entrees we split the chicken and polenta dish...I know it sounds pretty meh/average, but it was so freaking amazing, I only wish they would publish the recipe. For sure there was tons of cheese in the polenta  - and the presentation in the  3-legged cast iron pot put it over the edge. We also ordered a pasta - sumo calabrese. (One of the servers said she could eat it every night). I'm not sure i've had better pasta in the United States. Both of these entrees were HUGE, and they were both in the $18 range  - we struggled to finish both, but with fortitude we accomplished the goal. I know if I had left any on the plates I  would have had nightmares of sacrifice.

OH and important to mention - in the main menu there is a small note on the side to order ahead a chocolate soufflé. My #1 rule about ordering dessert, is if there is something you must order ahead of the meal, then go for it. (so we did)

The bill including a $50 bottle of wine was $130 (not including tip) so really for 2 apps, 2 entrees, a split dessert, the house made bread, and a bottle of wine that is a great deal.  Even better if it is the meal of a lifetime!  Cannot wait to go back, but Michael Baeur just put it in the top 100 list, and the place is small so we'll have to plan ahead.

5/22/2014 Updated review

Allison was wonderful! We had no reservations so we waited in line at 5:30pm for two of the six bar seats. The food was exceptional! Service was stellar!

Consumed the Noona's chicken and pappardelle-- yum.

5/9/2014

We made reservations WAY ahead of time to secure a spot at this very popular restaurant. I can see why it is so popular, because it is insanely good.  The service was on point with knowledgeable staff and the environment is fun and bustling.

We started with the margherita pizza as an app. It was perfect, the crust cracklingly crisp, but not too thin, and the tomato sauce, basil, and mozzarella toppings in just the right proportion. We also had the grilled calamari with white beans and picked onions. It was average along with Italian wine, of course!

I had to try Nona's chicken after reading all of the wonderful reviews, and it did not dissappoint. Nonna's Tomato-Braised Chicken with sauteed Greens & Toasted Piedmontes Polenta was absolutely divine. The chicken was falling-off-the-bone tender but was still moist and full flavored and came beautifully presented in a little black pot.

Whatever you do, just get the chicken!

4/21/2014

I've been here twice so far.  The first time, I stumbled upon Scopa during a business trip and had the time of my life sitting at the bar alone.  The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful with choosing an Italian wine.. which is a region I am not particularly knowledgeable about... yet ;-) .... I happily chatted with other diners, enjoyed the hell out of my stuffed fried olives and seasonal tagliatelle and nobody batted an eye when I ordered a bottle of wine just for myself with the intention of taking the rest back to my hotel to watch tv and chill.  

The second time I took my SO here for dinner during a recent weekend getaway.  We ordered the Nona's chicken, meatballs and a braseola special.   Again with another lovely bottle of wine and outstanding service.  Everything was completely delicious. The hostess even remembered my name as we left (and pronounced it correctly.. which is rare).  

We will definitely return again and again... There is no signage aside from the door, though.. so look for the black and white barber shop sign.. they're right next door to Bistro Ralph.

• 

  Meatballs

  Meatballs
• 

  Nonna's Chicken

  Nonna's Chicken
• 

  Bresaola

  Bresaola

3/25/2014

Steve T has been hounding me to get to Scopa during one of my trips to Healdsburg. I'm glad to say I finally took his advice and was rewarded with a very tasty meal.

I worried that, coming from Philly, an Italian-style meal would simply not match up with the offerings at home. This theory was debunked with each plate: a delicious crab salad on special that evening, creamy burrata, spaghetti with tender, tomato-rich beef and pork, and a special pasta with mushrooms, chicken stock and a dash of red pepper flakes. We also had arancini, which were just okay; I'd opt for something else next time.

Wines by the glass paired well but I was surprised that there weren't many local options.

We scored seats at the bar but, had they been occupied, we would have been out of luck without reservations. So be sure to plan ahead in order to ensure a table at this tiny gem.

9/15/2014

We cannot say enough about the amazing dining experience at Scopa. We love Italian food and are always looking for a great one everywhere we go on this planet. We ordered the grilled calamari as appetizer, Noona's chicken and wild boar pappardelle as our main entrees. Everything we had on our table was so flavorful and tasty. I wish I could try everything on the menu and their desserts too. I also secretly wish they'd just expand their menu a bit. Perhaps with a couple more seafood pasta dishes then it'll be perfecto!  The service was friendly and the atmosphere is upbeat. I'd definitely recommend any of their homemade pasta dishes. Scopa gets my two thumbs up for a delicious Italian food experience.

8/18/2014

One of the best meals I have ever had...wife and I had dinner there this last Sat. I called on Thurs to make a 7:00 reservation but was told it would have to be earlier, say 6:00 or much later at 9:00...so 6:00 it was. Our waiter, Andy was very attentive without being in our face. This is a cozy restaurant, as in tables are very close together...kind of a long hallway, there is some outside seating as well. For an app we had the Barrata...delicious...I thought I knew what mozzarella tasted like...buy was I wrong....it was creamy and savory, came with a marinated egg plant, tomatoes and two pieces of grilled bread..it was a great start to a great meal. For dinner I had the Nonna's tomato braised chicken...it was fantastic! It was not the biggest portion but it made up for that with big yummy savory flavor. It came in this like little pot, the chicken and greens on top of this wonderful polenta...it was freakn good! My wife had the Calabresa...it is this spaghetti with braises beef and pork rib meat topped with romano cheese, my wife said it was the best spaghetti she had ever had. We had no room for dessert, but both ordered a cappachino. We were speaking to Andy and asked him who the manager was as I wanted to compliment him on his service to his manager. Happens she was right behind us, a tall, kinda serious looking blonde. I let her know that Andy had made a wonderful dinner even better...THIS IS WERE ALL THE GOODNESS ENDED.
So our cappachinos are delivered along with the tab ...the drinks were burnt, you know when your coffee drink has the bitter taste. Andy was not around but his manager was walking by...you know the nice gal I had just spoken to...I let her know that the drinks were burnt....without a word, she swooped them both up along with the tap...she come back a few mins later and again with out a word drops the check off and walks away. She may have been busy but DANG....both my wife and I were like...wow, talk about hump and dump...I felt like I had just had a great food orgasm and was then abruptly kicked outta bed...I felt used and abused! I will always remember the wonder experience/dinner we shared at Scoopa but I  will never forget the cold slap on our arses on the way out!

Food - 5 stars
Service -3.5...Andy was great, his manager not so much.

6/18/2014

Where to start? It's endless because every single item is so perfectly delicious that I honestly wanted to stab anyone with my fork who wanted a "taste" of what I ordered. Dinaii was brilliant.  Recommended a fun white to go with our meal. Location and interior feels very Manhattan. Can't wait to return. Why oh why must I live so far away?

9/7/2014

Love! We came here for the first time on a busy summer night.  We had tried to go to Campo Fina, but they were packed.  We walked over to Scopa and saw from outside that they were packed too.  We were ready to come up with a plan C when the hostess walked outside to greet us and offer us a table that was going to open up in about 10 minutes.  The food was spectacular and we came back a few weeks later to celebrate a birthday.  Good food, good people.

4/4/2014

Disclaimer: only been here this once, but will return.
No reservation, but we were able to get the outside table, that was a good deal, due to accustoms inside it gets very loud. Able to socialize easier outside.
Food: the wife and I shared the rib-eye for two served with roasted potatoes and a salad. All I can say is this was done right, and would have been enough for my nine year old to join us.  Service was friendly and professional.

• 

  Rib-eye for two.

  Rib-eye for two.
• 

  Exterior.

  Exterior.

7/16/2014

The best Italian food I've ever had. Nonna's chicken was phenomenal, if you go here, you have to get it. The polenta on the bottom is wonderfully creamy and it perfectly complements the savoriness of the chicken and the chard/sauce. The special with the fresh pasta and ground pork bolognese was great too, I could tell that the pasta was fresh, not dried, it practically melted when I took a bite. We are really looking forward to going back and trying their pizzas!

One of the best highlights of the meal was the service, which was superb. Josh was one of the best waiters we have ever experienced! It seemed that the whole wait staff was expertly attentive, anticipating our needs, but not interrupting our dinner or conversations at the same time. Excellent.

5/20/2014 Updated review

Second time having the pleasure to dine here and even more amazing.  Love the service and the food is simply incredible. This is the place I try things I haven't eaten before and find them out of this world.  

If they have any dish with tagliatelle don't even think, just get it.

Reservations on any day are likely a must.  Plan ahead and you will be rewarded.  If not, be prepared to wait.

7/28/2014

Best restaurant my boyfriend and I have been to in awhile.  The wine recommendations were excellent; I don't usually see wines from Central and Southern Italy on wine lists, so it was fun to try some new varietals.  We had the bread and olive oil, which were excellent; as well as Nona's chicken. Omg so good.

6/19/2014

Make a reservation.  There.  Now to the food--everything was excellent, even the bread!  The Nona's Chicken is a must-do.  A local merchant recommended it and we were not disappointed.  Everything else was great too and the wine list was great for our taste.  Our server let us "slow the meal down" from their usual pace and we were there for a couple of hours and really enjoyed ourselves.  I've eaten Italian many place, large and small, and this was right up there with the best.

3/30/2014

3 words. GET. NONA's.  CHICKEN.

If I lived here, it would be our favorite restaurant.