Coperta Adds Lunch Menu and Hours

Paul Reilly and Aileen Reilly, owners of Beast + Bottle at 719 East 17th Avenue, opened their second restaurant, Coperta, just a few blocks north at 400 East 20th Avenue at the end of July. But today marks the launch of something that the brother-sister duo have never attempted at their flagship eatery: lunch. Coperta begins lunch service today and will continue serving lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., from a list of new dishes along with a few favorites from the dinner menu.

The most noticeable diversions from Coperta's dinner menu are new salads and panini — four of each, to be exact. The salads, two of which can be ordered in a half portion along with a soup, are big and hearty enough to stand in as mains. The panini, built on focaccia from Babettes Bakery, are grilled to a firm crunch on the outside and stuffed with filling combos: the four-cheese Quattro, the eggplant-based Caponata, the chicken-and-pepperoni Pizzaiolo, and the house-special Coperta, with prosciutto, pickled peppers, arugula and provolone.

Guests can also choose from Coperta's antipasti, pasta plates and four larger secondi plates, some of which can be ordered as a "power lunch" that includes a soup or small salad, a cookie and a soft drink. For lunchers not looking for boozy beverages, there's a selection of "bebitas fizzante" — sparkling mocktails made with fruit juices and botanicals.

Other than the new lunch, Coperta's neighborhood appeal extends to a takeout dinner program and an upcoming cafe-style breakfast that will feature housemade pastries and coffee. Soon Coperta — which is Italian for "blanket" — will have you covered for every meal of the day. Keep reading for photos of some of the new lunch offerings.