This is one of our favorite restaurants, hands down. You can tell they take great pride in everything they do--it really shows in every detail. We've tried most of the menu, and everything has been consistently delicious, with generous portions every time. One of the things I love most is that the family is there working. It speaks to the level of care and standard they hold for their guests' experience. It just feels genuine, and that makes it even more special. read more

Cosi Cucina was recommended by a guest at the hotel I was staying at when I asked for a good dinner spot. It turned out to be an excellent suggestion. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was attentive, and the food exceeded our expectations. When we mentioned to our waiter that it was our first visit, he surprised us with a complimentary butternut squash dish--a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the evening. My friend and I both ordered the mushroom lasagna, which was every bit as rich and flavorful as we hoped. We also enjoyed a caprese salad and a couple of drinks, all of which rounded out the meal perfectly. By the end of the night, we found ourselves wishing we had more time in Des Moines so we could return and try the pizza selections. Cosi Cucina was a highlight of the trip. We both thought it was one of the best Italian restaurants we have ever dined at. read more

Cosi Cucina Italian Grill - mushroom lasagna - Italian Near Me - Clive, Iowa

This is one of our favorite restaurants, hands down. You can tell they take great pride in everything they do--it really shows in every detail. We've tried most of the menu, and everything has been consistently delicious, with generous portions every time. One of the things I love most is that the family is there working. It speaks to the level of care and standard they hold for their guests' experience. It just feels genuine, and that makes it even more special. read more

Celebrating my Wife's Birthday with Family at Cosi Cucina because it's her new favorite place and I absolutely agree. We started with the Onion Rings with Diana Sauce. They were good, large yellow onion rings with thick breading with Parmesan Cheese and Parsley. They were just not my jam, and different from other places. I wouldn't get again, just not for us. The 12 oz Filet is really two 6 oz Filets which is Ok. Came with Garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. I ordered it medium well and it came out medium which is perfect. It's not fork tender to cut through, but very tender and melts in your mouth. The house red wine Demi Glaze added nice decadence of flavor to the excellent beef tenderloin. Cooked perfectly with a nice pink center and not raw. Just excellence and you can taste the love in the food. The garlic mashed is a thick mash with plenty of garlic flavor and it will overpower the steak flavor if combined. The mash had some skin and chunks, as well as smooth consistency which I don't mind. Very tasty. The green beans were excellent, crisp and soft. Went very well. There were a few stem pieces that I don't care for on my beans, but that's just being picky. This was a fantastic meal and the Demi Glaze was exceptional. My wife choose the Lasagna and loved it. Only comment was it's a small portion for the price point, but the flavor and quality is fantastic. The strawberry salmon salad was just a beautiful plate and I heard the salmon was delicious. The Lobster Farfalle with Dinner Shrimp was also a huge hit. Lots of shrimp and lobster. We also got the old fashioned with Woodford Reserve and it was excellent. Decided to get the Cosi Connoli and it was absolutely beautiful and I loved it. Just so many flavors that it was a delicious symphony of a dessert. I wouldn't get this again. Also got the Crème Brûlée and it's just heaven. Such a beautiful end to a wonderful meal. The cheesecake was also a hit. I am not sure there is much left on the dessert menu to try, but that's ok because there is so many amazing food options to try. Looking forward to the next visit. The service was fantastic by Kaitlyn. The only other issue we encountered was dirty dishes. We got a drink served and half way through noticed the outside and inside had stuff stuck to the whiskey glass and very dirty. I got a spoon with food stuck to it and we also got a dirty plate. We did mention it so they were aware, but didn't make a big deal. I only mention because we found multiple dishes. With the flu going around it made some uneasy with the cleanliness aspect. read more

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We were in town for a celebration of life and came by for a late dinner after the event. It had been a long and emotional day and our experience at Cosi Cucina couldn't have been better. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent. We were so thankful to find this place and have it on our list of restaurants to return to next time we are in town. Thank you again!!! read more

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While Christmas shopping in Des Moines this weekend we stopped by an Italian grocery store and asked the workers if they were in town for the night and wanted the best Italian food where would they go? There was no hesitation when they pointed us to the Cosi Cucina. Sure we had to wait about an hour( I would have waited hours longer), and let me tell you it was worth it! The service was phenomenal, the atmosphere was warm and romantic. The food was amazing , a culinary experience for sure. If you have a hankering for probably the best Italian food in Iowa then you need to stop in. read more

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The food is awesome. The service and people are terrific. The atmosphere is great. I've been eating lunch and dinner at Cosi for over 3 years and always have had a terrific meal. read more

If you have a craving for Italian Flavors Cosi Cucina has one of my fan favorite dishes served up as Lobster Farfelle served in a tasty buttery sauces that is off the chart. My wait staff-- LaKurra--served my dish in an efficient manner while checking back to make sure my meal met my standard. The atmosphere was upbeat, full of happy chatter as diners enjoyed their dish of choice. read more

Cosi Cucina Italian Grill - Lobster Farfelle - Italian Near Me - Clive, Iowa

First time enjoying dinner at CC. Awesome food and huge portions. Noisy and busy atmosphere on a Friday night but service was swift and friendly. Bar staff were delightful to chat with and wine pours were generous. Will return! read more

It's been a few years since I've visited Cosi Cucina Italian Grill...which really doesn't make sense since I literally live two block away. In fact I don't know if I've been inside since Peter Renzo took over the business in 2017... It had been so long that I almost forgot the business' main entrance is in the rear of the building... The parking lot is HUGE with spaces to the West and East of the restaurant as well as more along the South side. We were a party of 12 with a 4:45 PM reservation on a Sunday evening. Our meal was flawless (in my humble opinion) from being seated to when we walked back to our vehicles at the end of the night... Everything was great! Our meal consisted of shared appetizers, our entrees, a shared pizza, and shared desserts...a few fountain and bar drinks and A LOT of $4 glasses of house wine (one of the happy hour specials). We have a great little group! Almost extended family at this point so we tend to share a lot across the table... Appetizers I tried: Onion rings, calamari strips, and the artisan stuffed mushrooms My entree: Ziti Cucina made into the "Pasta Special" with two meatballs and additional Diana sauce Shared pizza: Zesty honey garlic chicken alfredo Shared desserts: Cheesecake and the hot apple cake I could try to describe the food, but you're really better off to use the menu links, read the item descriptions, and then let your imagination do the rest of the work. That being said your imagination will probably fall short of reality. I couldn't have believed the food would taste as good as it did... Definitely not what I remember from my last visit, but the company might have had something to do with that too. The atmosphere is classic. Subtle lighting. Lots of wood. A balance that makes you think casual and upscale all at the same time. A perfect spot to grab lunch or dinner and an excellent choice for a date night. Seating is a combination of booths and tables and chairs. Our service (Ethan) was top shelf from the minute we sat down, to when our bills were finalized, and the "see you again soon"s were said as we headed to the door. I'm not a big dessert guy. Usually I could take it or leave it... But if I could make one suggestion for Cosi Cucina and have it stick with you... Save some room in your budget and appetite to try at least one of the desserts. If I left here again without trying something off the dessert menu I think I'd be kicking myself shortly after leaving... The items on the dessert menu are well constructed, aesthetically pleasing, and truly decadent! If you haven't been to Cosi Cucina yet you really need to check this place off your list. Or... If, like me, you haven't been to Cosi Cucina in a while... It's time to remedy that mistake and get back there... Life is too short. https://www.cosicucina.com/menu/ https://www.cosicucina.com/dessert-menu/ read more

Cosi Cucina Italian Grill - Ziti Cucina plus two meatballs and Diana. Aka Pasta Special. - Italian Near Me - Clive, Iowa

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Quiet early weekday lunch. My manager wanted to bring us out for a holiday meal. We had a group of 6 of us. We have one individual who had a walker. Parking in the back of the building was perfect. Nice big lot. Our party of 6 had a reservation. They started to move us to the back of the restaurant. There is 1 step from the main entrance area to the rest of the dining area in the back. There is not a ramp, so they were quick to clear a spot for us to be able to get us seated. The restaurant was quiet at 11am so the adjustment was easy, and the waitress was right there to help us get started on drinks. She gave us time to review the menu. There is even a separate menu for appetizers which she brought but we didn't utilize. Everything moving forward was smooth as silk. Loved our waitress. There was warm bread brought out and everyone already had little finger bowls of oil for dipping. I did my normal trick to ask what the waitress ate last because the entire menu here at Cosi Cucina looks amazing. Everything sounds delicious and I just wanted to try them all. Citi Cucina- This is the restaurants signature top selling dish. A spicy blend of Graziano's Italian sausage and sundried tomatoes in a zesty tomatoes cream sauce tossed with penne pasta. The outside rim of the dish has red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese sprinkled around it for the esthetic pretty look. The heat of the meat was perfect. The sauce wasn't too thick and everything tasted perfect. I can concur that this is a great dish. I can understand why its a top selling dish. Even though the price seemed a little high for a lunch menu the portion sized matched. I can tell you it was enough food for 4 meals for me. The descriptions on the rest of the menu have to be close, because they did not fib on my Citi Cucina. The atmosphere today fit the holiday season. It has the dimmed lighting with the windows open and the midday sun shining in. The fireplace near out table was very pretty and putting off a little heat, and just above that was a TV. It was pleasant that the TV was not just a random show, but a mood setter. It was a view of a room that looked like was a view of a mountain with snow falling. It even had its own fireplace. It really just brought the holiday feel all the way around. Although we did not partake in the desert, it was offered. We were all stuffed. As we finished up and headed towards the door, there were multiple people who called out to "see you soon", "have a great day" "happy holidays". I am ready to go home and grab my hubby and bring him back, after we finish my leftovers of course. I'm stealing an idea from a fellow yelper and including links. Go check out this place. it's been around as long as it has for a reason. https://www.cosicucina.com/menu/ https://www.cosicucina.com/dessert-menu/ read more

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Cosi really impressed us. The pasta dishes were excellent--we ordered the Rosa Grazi and the Lobster Farfalle, both were flavorful and beautifully prepared. But the standout was the Ziti Cucina. It was absolutely delicious and definitely a must-try. The service was wonderful--attentive, kind, and made us feel right at home. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with local art on the walls and no TVs, which made for a quiet, relaxed evening. It's a great place for date night or any time you want a cozy, quality meal. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Cosi Cucina Italian Grill absolutely blew me away. This was hands down the best Italian food I've had in my life -- and that's saying a lot. From the moment I walked in, the experience was a 10 out of 10. First, the customer service is exceptional. The servers were attentive, friendly, and genuinely passionate about the menu. You can tell this isn't just a job to them -- they truly care about what they're serving. The decor is warm and inviting, creating the perfect atmosphere whether you're out for a casual meal or a special night out. Now let's talk about the food..... incredible doesn't even begin to cover it. Everything tasted unbelievably fresh. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients and put real love into every dish. My absolute favorites: * The meatballs -- perfectly seasoned, tender, and bursting with flavor. * Philly Cheesesteak Pasta -- rich, savory, and completely unique. Comfort food at its finest. * Caesar Salad -- crisp, fresh, and perfectly dressed. * ZITI CUCINA -- hearty, satisfying, and full of bold Italian flavor. * ROSA GRAZI -- creamy, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. * FETTUCCINE BACON PARMESAN -- indulgent, creamy, and unforgettable. I was only in town for three days... and I made sure I ate here on three separate occasions. That alone should tell you everything you need to know. When a place is that good, you don't "try something new" you go back. If you're anywhere near Cosi Cucina Italian Grill, do yourself a favor and go. Actually go more than once. You won't regret it. read more

This is an Italian restaurant and we went there for dinner for the first time. It has extensive menu from pizza to seafood pasta and the traditional Italian dishes, salads and appetizers. Service is good and we had a good time . Below are photos and dishes we tried . Like to come back to try other items on the menu . read more

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This place was literally the best. We past by just for the weekend and it was so good we hate there twice and even took some home. If you have time it's a must stop by. read more

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First time here and we were very impressed. I loved the lasagna and my husband said the pesto pasta was fabulous. The apple cake for dessert was warm and a perfect finish to the night. Sunday was happy hour prices on wine also. The bartenders and wait staff were all very helpful and a pleasure. read more

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Service was excellent, but the food was not. My daughter actually ordered the Ziti Cucina pizza but the server took down that she ordered the Ziti Cucina pasta instead, I had the Rigatoni with meatballs. Unfortunately, neither of us enjoyed our dish. In hindsight, we should probably have told the server my daughter wanted the pizza when she brought the pasta to our table, but my daughter didn't want to make a fuss. read more

Cosi Cucina Italian Grill - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Clive, Iowa

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My husband and I's first time here. It was wonderful, the service was great ( thank you Caitlin) you were fab!! We are in town to see family that we haven't seen in quite awhile and to help start celebrating that my grandniece is having a baby soon. I had the chicky marsala and the hubby had chicky parm. Both were juicy and delicious!! Next time we're in town we'll make sure we stop again! read more

My husband and I had Valentine's Day reservations for 5:45 & got there a bit early, they got us seated right away in a cute little table that didn't feel crowded or uncomfortable. A real rose & real candle (!!!) (lol but I feel like so many restaurants use the plastic faux candles that come off as kinda tacky to me) at each table. Nice touch. I didn't catch the servers name but she was very friendly & QUICK. We ordered everything right away as we had a show at 7:30 and knew what we wanted. I ordered the Cosi cheesy chicken soup & he ordered the Caesar salad. Both were delicious & the soup had so much flavor -- incredible. The chicken in the soup was shredded & fresh & didn't taste (or look) like chicken usually does in soup & the croutons were crunchy. For our mains -- I got the fusilli Alfredo with meatballs. The noodles were a fun shape and cooked well & the Alfredo was sweet yet savory. The meatballs were HUGE and full of flavor. He got the lasagna and it was very flavorful, easy to cut with a butter knife yet held its structure & had lots of Graziano sausage. Right after we got our main courses the owner (I think) came over & brought us a little bowl of their signature special, the ziti Cucina, on the house! because it was our first time. It was SO good and had me questioning my choice of my main course. Not TOO spicy, for those who don't like spice. Just full of flavor. Our server offered desert, which we declined (this time ) They boxed up our leftovers for us and we were out of there to be on time for our 7:30 show, with plans to visit again in the near future. The owner thanked us & was happy we loved it when we were on the way out. I have no idea why we hadn't visited here in the past but are looking forward to coming back. So good, highly recommend! read more

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Amazing food and excellent portions!! Well worth value with those two things in mind but on top of that the wait staff is fast and friendly! The manager on duty heard it was me and my fiancés first time visiting on her birthday and they gave us a free little plate of there best selling signature dish.. those things people don't forget will definitely be back and I HIGHLY recommend. read more

Cosi Cucina Italian Grill - Cosi cannoli - Italian Near Me - Clive, Iowa

It was my first time visiting Cosi Cucina while visiting family. Our food was very good. I loved their fusilli alfredo with meatballs. I liked how the red sauce from the meatballs mixed in a little with the alfredo sauce. Very delicious!!! Im not big on just red sauce alone, this was a nice mixture. Cute little romantic restaurant. read more

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We absolutely love this place! The service is always top notch. Our favorite spot for date night. Owner is always super friendly as well as the staff. Their potato ravioli is to die for! All the flavors go so perfectly together. The meatballs with the fusilli pasta are delicious as well! I love dipping their rolls in the oil with parm salt & red pepper flakes. We enjoyed some Shirley temples & not pictured is their amazing crème brûlée. I would highly recommend this place! They are known for their homemade Diana sauce. Check them out! read more

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Tried a lot of different pasta dishes here and all were pretty solid. Solid all around experience, nice ambiance, nice attentive staff. It feels very cozy and homey inside. Honestly this place is closer to 4.5 stars than 4.0. For the price point it just didn't blow me away but is still a solid option for dinner and would happily come back. read more

Cosi Cucina Italian Grill - Italian Near Me - Clive, Iowa

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COSI is so good oh my the cheesecake the ravioli everything (his pasta was better) but it's amazing! I love you cosi! read more

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We had an amazing experience at Cosi Cucina yesterday. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and welcoming. My husband got the Ziti Cucina with the meatballs and Diana sauce added. I had the pepperoni canzone. Both were flavorful, well-prepared, and plentiful. For dessert, my husband enjoyed the apple cake and I had the cheesecake. It was, without a doubt, the best cheesecake I have ever had in my life. If we ever make it back to Des Moines, we will definitely be back. read more

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Ate here once years ago on a date long before kids! Was good! Forgot this existed as so many good places to eat around 515.

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total Check: $40/person 04/24/2024 Stopped back with a friend for a drink and dinner - and enjoyed another great experience! It honestly doesn't look like much from the street (see picture with sign), but once you get around the back of the building to the entrance door (see picture) - it starts to feel more modern and inviting. We started with an Italian Margarita (see picture) and a Diana's Martini (see picture) that we enjoyed with the complimentary Table Bread & Oil (see picture). All of them were very good and although I knew I shouldn't...I couldn't resist ordering an extra portion of Table Bread - it was so warm, moist and delicious! My friend ordered the Lasagna (see picture) and while I was tempted with the Butternut Squash Risotto, I ended up once again going for the Ziti Cucina with 2 meatballs - the "Pasta Special" (see picture). Luckily my friend, like my wife, likes to share tastes of our food - so we both sampled each other's and would highly recommend both dishes. While $29 is definitely at the high end of what I prefer to spend for pasta - the taste of the Ziti Cucina was definitely as good as the presentation, and there was plenty to take home for another meal later. read more

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Some of the best food and service I have had. Staff is supper appreciative and the ambiance is very inviting!

Service was great and really nice! Fancy, mood lighting ambiance! Toasted rigatoni was AMAZING! Everything else was good! The Caesar salad wasn't my favorite (too much sauce). Overall everyone enjoyed their food and experience! read more

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Amazing, classic italian food. Both of our side salads and main dishes were great. Excellent service too. read more

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Mom and Pop very crowded but the owners and staff were very very friendly. Food was ok. I would go back just because the restaurant staff were very polite. Made you feel like family no matter what race, creed or religion you are. :). read more

We ordered carryout of three pizzas and they are all undercooked. The dough in the middle of all three pizzas is soft and stretchy. it's floppy like a flower tortilla. The business appeared to be very busy with Urbandale HS homecoming crowd and apparently neglected cooking the pizzas to the required extent . On a good note, the bread triangles that they included for free were fully cooked and tasty. The large Gorgonzola salad was good too. These three pizzas were are edible after we put them in the oven at home for a while. Not cool. Not Okay. I know they can do better than this. read more

Cosi Cucina Italian Grill - Three undercooked pizzas - Italian Near Me - Clive, Iowa

Amazing Italian food and great service. This is the go to restaurant for a great meal. Top 10 in Iowa.

It's been a while since I updated my review, and this is a restaurant that is on our 'regular' rotation. It's consistently excellent - both from the service and food perspectives. My go-to is the Pasta Special - Ziti Cucina with the added meatballs. I have also had Vodka Grazi, Lasagne, Fresh Tomato Linguine, and Gorgonzola Farfalle - all of which are excellent. My wife had Steak POP's on our most recent visit - a massive pile of steak and veggies piled on top of pasta. She also loves the Asian Salmon, Candied Almond Salad, and Butternut Squash Risotto. Drinks and wine are always good and there is a good wine selection. We don't usually have room for dessert, but last night we both decided to take 1/2 our meals home to enjoy today, so we got the Hot Apple Cake - DELICIOUS!! We were also gifted a couple of marble brownies on our way out the door - also wonderful! It's our favorite Italian in DSM, and there is a lot of great competition in our area. Highly recommended. read more

Last night we had the pleasure to join our friends at Cosi for dinner and catch-up time. Our server Holly treated us to the best Italian dinner we have had since our time in Italy at a cooking school where we learned some aspects of preparing a great meal; fully executed at this setting. We enjoyed fresh Caprese salad, Caesar salad, and ZITI CUCINA! The dish, which utilized Graziano's Italian sausage, tasted excellent, the portions were beyond generous and the overall atmosphere was perfect. We were even treated to an extra special bow-tie pasta dish that was equivalent to eating cheesecake as a pasta! The wine selection was ideal for our salads and meals. Holly took THE BEST care of us. We will certainly be back when we return to Clive and the Des Moines area, they have set the standard for our reviews. read more

Traveling from AZ to northern WI, we tried Cosi Cucina near Des Moines,IA. Wonderful spaghetti and meatballs. Truly great homestyle red sauce and great meatballs. Had to try some of their signature fennel infused sausage in red sauce. Both dishes hit a home run with wife and I. Waitress very good and attended to our needs. A second visit will be a must next trip through. read more

Relaxing, intimate restaurant. Helpful and knowledgeable staff, very friendly and attentive. Wife had the wood fired calzone and I had the house special ziti with meatballs. Both of which I would recommend and order again. Cation though, the portions are sizable and filling. Good coffee and house made desserts as well. read more

Spaghetti and meatballs were disappointing. Noodles were gummy, meatballs were tough and had odd aftertaste. Bread rolls were bland and a bit tough. Is this what passes for good Italian food in this town? Didn't come with salad either. And yet there was a big line when we left. Go figure. read more

Let's start with the signature dish, the Ziti Cucina!!! Holy moly, what a dish from heaven! Sauce is to die for and the portion was enormous. Staff was friendly and attentive. An excellent experience! read more

Our server was lovely, our food was not. The "signature" pasta was dry and absolutely bland and my drink was not well made.