Sometimes it seems like we spend all our time in search of
the elusive happy medium.
Coda — the lip-smacking
South End eatery that opened two years ago this June in the heart of foodie
central — seems to have solved that time-consuming problem for us
hard-to-please Goldilocks. The atmosphere is hip but homey, the staff laid-back
but attentive, and the food
… well, it more than beats a bowl of porridge. Its generously
sized appetizers alone are big enough to feed Father, Mother,
and
Baby Bear, but with all the starters falling pleasingly under a $12
price point, you won’t be selling the cottage in the woods to pay for your
indulgences.
In time for its second birthday, Coda has revamped an already
stacked menu of cravable comfort food. The standout new addition? A soft-shell
crab ($11) that is fried to crunchy perfection and flanked by curried yogurt
slaw (the ultimate dog-day homestyle side) and topped off with a light
sprinkling of herb oil. The slaw on its own would make even the most seasoned
heat seeker quickly reach for a drink. But when paired in your mouth with the
pillowy and perfectly browned crabmeat, the amalgamation can only be described
as divine. Suddenly — thrillingly — the hot spice gives way to the rich flavor
of the meat, leaving the dish just enough of a satisfying kick without removing
it from the comfort-food billing.
But don’t let the crab steal the show (and believe us, this tasty
crustacean easily could). Satisfy your penchant for game with Coda’s rich duck
confit ($9), a hearty portion of the yummy stuff served over lightly toasted
crostini and under warm roasted tomato and bleu cheese. Or, take a
fungus-focused route with the stuffed mushroom app ($8), which arrives spilling
over with a warm jumble of candied walnuts, bleu cheese, and bacon.
So grab a few friends who are down for breaking their summer
diets and spoil yourselves with some treats that are sure to placate the
pickiest eater you know. And, if your friends aren’t around … well, you
know where to find us.
