Coda di Volpe

Anybody been? Thoughts?

Coda di Volpe
3335 N Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 687-8568

I went last Monday night. It was very busy but possibly a pre-Pearl Jam crowd. The biggest complaint I had was that it is uncomfortably loud in the dining room. We were a table of 4 and we had to strain to hear each other.

We saw most tables ordered pizza. It is wood-fired in their large oven that is open to the restaurant in the back.

We decided to share plates as it seemed that that was what made the menu most manageable. We put in our entire order and the server said he would pace it for us.
(Note: Dining with a pescatarian in the group so we didn't order any meaty dishes.)
We started with wood-grilled octopus with fingerling potatoes. It was good and tasty but not necessarily memorable. Second to arrive was the cheese plate. I eyed it on the menu but was hesitant to order it because I always think that I could make it at home but it was delicious and possibly my favorite part of the meal. Next our two pastas arrived. We opted to order 2 half portions - one of the squid ink garganelli and the other was the bucatini pomodoro. (We had a lengthy conversation with the server about what salt-cured tuna heart was that was listed as an ingredient in the dish. ) Both pastas were fine but the squid ink garganelli was the weakest version of a squid ink pasta dish I've had in recent past.

Lastly the funghi pizza arrived. As you might have seen elsewhere this pizza is served with a pair of scissors and someone at your table has to dive in and cut it. The pizza with smoked cheese was good, the crust fairly salty, very garlicky. Again good but nothing I'm racing back for.

The interior definitely has a rustic/wood/wintery vibe and I could see returning and sitting near the pizza oven on a cold evening.

They have a website, too. Click here.

Going tonight. Anyone been recently?

hoppy2468 wrote:Going tonight. Anyone been recently?

Was there a couple of months ago. Had a few items, none of which blew me away except for the Baby Arugula Salad. It was a bit heavily dressed but delicious and the one item we had that I'd order again. I'm not sure if it's still on the menu. The bar is distinctive, well-curated, and absolutely worth a round or 2 . . . or 3.

=R=