Cossetta Italian Market

04/01/09

Best Authentic Italian in the whole Twin Cities

by Fizendell at Citysearch

My mouth waters just THINKING about eating at Cossetta's! I have the veal entree every time. I could survive on Mostaccolli! What's IN that sauce? Family secret! Don't forget the cannolis!

• Pros: All the food is fantastic - and the Italian grocery is cool!
• Cons: Parking can be a trick - and when it's busy - it's BUSY!

11/08/09

Amazing food, great people!

by ipeewhenilaugh at Citysearch

I've been going here since I was a child. This place has been here for forever. It has great food. If you're looking for simple, delicious Italian...this is the place to get it. The only con is the wait. But it is worth it!

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Sometimes a long wait

11/08/09

Amazing food, great people!

by ipeewhenilaugh at Citysearch

I've been going here since I was a child. This place has been here for forever. It has great food. If you're looking for simple, delicious Italian...this is the place to get it. The only con is the wait. But it is worth it!

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Sometimes a long wait

08/01/09

AMAZING FOOD!!!!!

by jasmine2608 at Citysearch

cosettas is a tradition for friends and family for any event at the xcel center...i started it many years ago and have tons of ppl that continue that tradition-the food is so great and for the price, you get a hearty helping and i guess as i'm reading these reviews, i'm confused by the negative ones because i guess if a place is good, then of course there will be a line-i think thats a testament to its positives not negatives-i guess i just wanted to voice that i greatly enjoy the food. and the people who seem to have problems with the style or upstairs dining area or the lines, then perhaps a quieter less popular less crowded place would be in order? but don't knock the place because of those things. its what makes it stand out and/or how many people do love the food...

• Pros: great caf style and incredible pasta and pizza
• Cons: waiting because everyone else knows how good it is too..

06/13/09

Great place for Pizza! And try the VEAL!

by JWest at Citysearch

This is... simply put... the best Italian in MN.

The veal is AMAZING and always cooked to order. The sausage and meatballs are spicy and home-made. And the pizza.... THE PIZZA!!!! You have GOT to get yourself a slice of the sausage pizza! If I could only have one food, ever again it would be Cossetta's sausage pizza!

Are the lines long? Yup! Is it more spendy than taco-bell? Yup! Is it the best Italian in MN? YUP!!!

• Pros: Best Italian in MN.
• Cons: Tough to park, long lines (if you are OCD)

05/01/09

ANTI-GLBT, Horrible service, dirty, food is OK at best...

by BotwinBoy at Citysearch

Too bad I couldn't give it 0 stars, that is what they deserve.

From the beginning: The parking attendant looked and smelled stoned; the employees were smoing right where we had to park and used foul language; the line was extremely long, and we were ridiculed for ordering our salads with our entree...who knew they had 4 different line for salads, hot "food," pizza and desserts. The cashier challenged my partner as to how many meatballs she had, rang up the wrong number (at like $3 each) and then made us wait while she yelled for a manager to correct the error, explaining it was OUR FAULT!!! How rude. Then, we realized there is nowhere to sit downstairs, and with limited mobility, it really sux. We got him up the stairs and sat at a dirty table, and when I realized no one comes to clean, I went to ask someone to do it, and he pointed to a rag next to the water "station" - gross. It was one of the worst "dining" experiences we have ever had, and we dine out a lot. The kicker? We have a good friend who was good at his job that GOT FIRED BECAUSE HE IS GAY! (Incidentally, he told us about the cleaning procedures when they close every night and they have RODENT TRAPS where they store food and "clean dishes." I will never, ever spend another cent in that nasty place ever again! PS DON'T BE FOOLED BY 1 PAGE OF GOOD REVIEWS...check out the huge amount of 1-2 star ratings on the next pages, this place is NO GOOD!

• Pros: downtown
• Cons: Service, ambience, cleanliness, not handicap accessible...

01/29/09

I like it for some reason

by hage0269 at Citysearch

Mediocre food across the board. Service is usually pretty bad. For some reason I like this place more than I should. I think it's to neat atmosphere as well as the cafeteria style. Can be confusing here. Line starts at the salad, skip if you want to the hot courses. Pizza is on the other side of the cash registers. The pizza is VERY good and offered by the slice.

01/03/09

Best in Twin Cities... but not New York

by PizzaDano at Citysearch

A few times a month, I work about 2 blocks from Cassetta's. Because of that, I've gotten a chance to sample many items.

Pizza - In my opinion, the pizza is the reason to come here. Big, thin-slice with just the right amount of cheese and sauce. I was so excited to see it the first time there that I made the mistake of ordering 2 slices. I was stuffed. One slice is probably plenty for most adults. The pizza is the closest thing in the Twin Cities that I've found to a "real" New York slice.... but it's just not the same. Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint what is missing, but there isn't the right seasoning. It's just slightly more bland than it should be. But it's pretty darn close. Pizza - a solid 4 stars

Other food - I've had the sausage sandwich that they're famous for, as well as several other sausage and pasta dishes. They're ok. Tasty, but nothing special. Other food - 3 stars.

Atmosphere - I really like the little Italian market that's attached. I never buy anything there, but I think it adds a ton of character to the place. It reminds me a bit of some of the shops in Federal Hill (the "little Italy" of Providence, RI) and other's like it. I like the old photos and the signed pictures from Italian celebrities. I like the little tables, counters and bar stools, red pepper/parmesian shakers, etc. Most of the time, they have just the right music playing - classic pop Italian favorites (Dean Martin "That's Amore", etc.) For me, all of this makes the food taste better. If you took the same food and served it in the mall or at some cookie-cutter franchise, it would taste bland. Seriously, part of the pleasure on the palate is from what enters your eyes and ears here. Atmosphere - 5 Stars.

All in all, Cosetta's gets 4 stars from me. For me, I go to get a hot slice of pizza, a stroll through the little market, and a bit of nastalgia.

• Pros: Closest thing to New York pizza in MN; Great nostalgic ambience
• Cons: Not quite as good as NY; The rest of the menu is average

12/14/08

Best Pizza in the Midwest!

by craig712 at Citysearch

While all of their food is very good, the Pizza stands out the most! Each time I visit the Twin Cities I try my hardest to stop in for a slice and side of pasta salad! I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Italian cuisine or just lives their pizza!

• Pros: Parking
• Cons: Beer is expensive (although you dont NEED beer with your food here.)

12/08/08

To all these so called CRITICS you know NOTHING!!!

by paramedicintrainin at Citysearch

I would like to say to everyone whose reviews I read that gave 2 stars or less then you have no idea what Cossettas Restaurant truely is! Yeah you have to wait in line, DEAL WITH IT! I know alot of places you have to wait in line to get your food. This is truely authentic Italian my family goes NO WHERE ELSE! Reminder this is a family owned business! There are not many places in Minnesota that are family owned anymore. When you have a history as deep as Cossetta's has done not only in the Restaurant industry but also for the Twin Cities in the community then you have no idea what your talking about. People need to do their research! If you dont mind standing in line for a few minutes longer than you normally would to have for beyond delicious food, TRUST ME ITS WORTH THE WAIT! Its a little spendier than most people would expect to spend but its filling and you can take leftovers home to enjoy later. There is minimal seating on the main floor so it isnt really handicap accesible, and be prepared on nights where there are events going on at the XCEL CENTER, it will be crowded. That just means to me that Cossetta's must be doing alot better of a job than alot of people who have no idea what they are talking about are making comments on. This is the heart of downtown St. Paul, it moves with the bussel of the city, its busy and crowded, but in the end its definitly worth the trip!

• Pros: Great Mosticcoli and GREAT PIZZA!
• Cons: THERE ARE NONE!