Coppell has scored a hip new trattoria and lounge: Called San Daniele Italian Eatery & Bar, it's an upscale yet casual spot serving great Italian and Italian-American food, located in Coppell's downtown at 110 W. Sandy Lake Rd. #150, a space previously occupied by Kelly's Texican.

San Daniele comes from a veteran restaurant team: husband-and-wife Todd and Holly Kerr, who've been serving Coppell diners for 10 years at their nearby neighborhood-favorite bistro J.Macklin’s Grill.

The couple both love Italian food and felt like Coppell was missing a fine Italian restaurant. They named it for the region in Italy famous for its prosciutto.

"Our journey began with a profound love for food and a desire to fill a void for authentic Italian cuisine in our community," the couple says. "When we found this amazing location, we fell head over heels for it, and immediately knew it was meant to be."

Running the kitchen is executive chef Nicholas Boss, who most recently worked at Dahlia on Ross and before that, Dough Pizzeria, the Neapolitan-style pizza spot in North Dallas.

His pizza expertise can be seen in the dozen or so pizzas on the menu, ranging from Margherita to meatball to pepperoni with jalapeno and pepperoncini. A Texan pizza has brisket and cheddar, while an Italian-themed pie has speck ham, whipped ricotta, mozzarella, fig jam, arugula, shaved parmesan, and balsamic glaze. Prices range from $14 for a Caprese panini to ravioli with short rib for $26.

For the pizzas, they're using a hybrid wood and gas oven, as opposed to the 100 percent wood-burning oven used at Neapolitan-style places.

“The Ferrari red pizza oven, a Marana Forni, is the centerpiece of the restaurant," Boss says. "It’s a wood and gas combo, and the entire stone rotates for a better cook with less pressure on the pizzaiolo. I was skeptical at first but it produces high quality pizza."

It also results in a crisper crust, preferred by many Dallas diners.

“It's not Napoletana nor does it carry any other labels," Boss says. "We cook around 600 degrees and get some nice charred bubbles, but it stands and stays crispy."

Italian dishes include chicken piccata and pasta Bolognese, and they also sprinkle in American dishes such as blackened salmon and New York strip.

The decor boasts distinctive touches including beautiful colored-glass chandeliers, black velveteen banquettes, stunning kelly-green circular booths, butcher-block-style wood-topped tables, and stylish black-and-wicker chairs. There's art throughout, including black-and-white photos and a series of oversized prints depicting famous Italian statuary such as Michaelangelo's David.

One other element that the owners really wanted was a lounge and event space. Called Il Lupo (Italian for "the wolf"), it's on the second floor and is open weekends only to 21-and-up; it can also be rented out for private events.

"We wanted our restaurant to capture the fun, vibrant spirit of Italy," the Kerrs say. "San Daniele is not just about dining, it's a lifestyle."