By Matt Conti
Longtime North End resident, Gennaro Riccio, has opened Scopa, a new Italian restaurant at 319 Hanover Street. The 22-seat eatery is right in the center of Boston’s North End, at the location of the former Pomodoro (now co-located down the block with Volle Nolle). The name Scopa comes from one of the two major national card games in Italy, meaning “broom” as in taking a Scopa “to sweep†all the cards from the table.
The influence of family friend and Chef Marisa Iocco from Gennaro’s 5 North Square is clear at Scopa. Iocco is Boston’s only Italian-born female chef and recent author of Ecco Perché Amore (Every Menu is a Love Story).
The menu is “refined Italian†with extensive starters including braised octopus, venetian meatballs, chef creamed mozzarella and a calamari trio. Five pastas and entrees make up the core of the dinner selections highlighted by raffiche, agnollotti, pappardelle, pork baby ribs and Colorado lamb steak.
A brick pizza oven is the centerpiece of the open kitchen offering classic margherita and specialty pizzas, such as fried pepper and broccoli rabe. The bread is also made fresh in the oven.
A select offering of wines is also available, including Rose & Frizzanti along with an Italian-heavy wine list of whites and reds available by the glass or bottle.
This is Gennaro’s first eatery, but the young Riccio is no stranger to the business having grown up working in the various family establishments, including Caffe Vittoria, Florentine, Gennaro’s 5 North Square and Stanza dei Sigari.
Leather backed seating along the walls helps maximize the space that includes only 22 seats. The best seats in the house may be at the windows overlooking Hanover Street at the raised dining table.
Scopa is open daily for dinner at 319 Hanover Street (857-317-2871) with lunch potentially being added in the future.