Last night my family and I had the opportunity to dine at a new Chattanooga eatery named Boccaccia. Boccaccia (which I am told means “big mouth” in Italian) is a wonderful trattoria located in beautifully restored space in the old Southern Saddlery building on South Broad Street.
Boccaccia is owned and operated by the folks who made La Dolce Vita such an integral part of the Chattanooga dining scene.
The honest and appealing menu is divided into Antipasti, Insalate, Primi, and Secondi sections. I started with the Carpaccio: Thinly sliced filet mignon, arugula salad and shaved parmesan cheese. The dish was delightfully dressed with freshly ground black pepper and lemon juice. My wife enjoyed the Spiedini di Gamberi e Capesante which was grilled shrimp and scallops with proscuitto, fresh lemon sauce and rosemary. Both the boys ordered a pasta dish, Orecchiette con Salsiccia alla Piemontese, which was prepared with braised Italian sausage and roasted peppers and fresh goat cheese.
Although the wonderful Italian dessert options looked fantastic, we just could not do it after the delightful main courses and incredible bread. Boccaccia has a reasonably priced wine and beer list that includes Italian selections that we do not often see here in Chattanooga.
You can sit either in the modern yet atmospheric dining room or outside on an appealing deck. I am told that the pizza on the lunch menu far surpasses anything previously available in the Chattanooga area.
All in all, I heartily recommend Boccaccia and I would encourage all my friends to give it a try.
Clay Crouch
Lookout Mountain, Tn.
Jcc@summitdevco.com