Wonderful restaurant and service was impeccable. Loved the comfy atmosphere. Ravioli meals were…read moreloved by all.

It should be noted that I've never actually set foot inside Bella Ciao Pasta Bar and Ristorante. I…read moreonly experienced it today through the lens of a takeout container. For lunch, I ordered the Chicken Marsala. You get to choose a side; options ranging from Alfredo Fettuccine to Green Beans to Mashed Potatoes to Spaghetti Marinara. I went for the Spaghetti. The meal also came with two breadsticks. Overall, the dish was decent but not remarkable. The highlight was the mushrooms in the Marsala wine sauce. They were flavorful and well prepared. The chicken itself was just okay. Without the sauce, it lacked seasoning, and the texture varied throughout the breast, with some parts tender and others noticeably tough or chewy. The spaghetti was good, though comparable to standard spaghetti you might find anywhere. The breadsticks, however, were disappointing; they were extremely hard and not enjoyable to eat. I also wish the Chicken Marsala and the spaghetti were packaged separately. Because of the amount of sauce, everything blended together in the container. I don't mind my food touching, but separating the items would make for a better presentation and texture. I do think other menu items may have more to offer. One mediocre experience isn't enough for me to write off the restaurant entirely, so I would consider trying something else in the future. However, I wouldn't recommend this particular dish based on today's order. Overall rating: 3/5.

Great experience! We sat out on the patio for an early Saturday evening dinner, and the entire…read moreexperience was fantastic. Our server was very nice to us and our kiddo, and gave good suggestions. We had the cold cuts app, kale salad, a pizza, tiramisu, and a few cocktails to share. All the food we had was great, well balanced flavors with interesting twists, like the fried chicken on pizza and the meaty kale salad. The limoncello spritz was so refreshing and good, but the espresso martini was just alright - I might pass on that next time. The tiramisu was to die for - my favorite in the cities so far! Will definitely be back for that, and to try some pastas, which looked and smelled amazing as they passed our table. The only thing that was a little weird was that we asked for whipped cream on the side for our kiddo, and they brought and charged us for "butter" which seemed to be some sort of mascarpone or heavy cream/ butter dish topped with salt and olive oil. It was good and the baby liked it, just wasn't what we expected - something to be aware of! The vibe was date-y and upscale, we felt alright having our baby with us, but definitely felt a bit out of place the few times she was loud. Perhaps on a weekday, it might be easier to bring kids, but even on a Saturday evening we still felt pretty welcome.

My husband recently went vegetarian which has made finding new go-to restaurants... interesting…read more Mucci's was on his saved list, and he had already scoped out several dishes he was excited to try so we quick made a reservation and thankfully there were plenty of late evening slots open! We came on a Friday evening and genuinely weren't sure if it was open because the lighting inside is so low it looks completely dark from the outside. (Spoiler: it is open. Just extremely moody.) We started with the focaccia and burrata, which was ah-mazing! Perfect combination, super flavorful--I just wish there had been more bread, and a little balsamic vinegar would've made it next level but all in all so delicious! I ordered the lasagna, which was... okay. Not earth-shattering or jaw-dropping--the meat was a bit dry in my opinion. and I didn't end up eating much of it. HOWEVER. My husband's rigatoni? SO GOOD. Perfectly al dente noodles, incredibly flavorful sauce, and thankfully not an overpowering mushroom flavor (which I was nervous about). I'm still mad at myself for not ordering it but all this really means is we'll just have to come back--and next time, I'm definitely stealing his order!

My mostaciolli dinner was yummy, I experienced great service, and enjoyed the liveliness and…read moreambiance of the seating area! However, the almond biscotti (loaded with what appeared were blanched almonds) that I purchased from the bakery were tasteless. Disappointed. Must have skipped the almond extract in that batch? The anise biscotti were tasty, though.

First time at Cossetta's! Long time on my 'want to visit' list! Arrived just after 5 pm and parked…read moreat the lot next to the building. Had no issue finding a spot (but there was a noticeable line on the street around 7 pm!). Perused through the food court and decided on pizza, sausage, and mushroom ravioli (cold). The pizza slices were good! The crust was in between a NY slice and a MN slice Excellent sauce and balanced toppings! The sausage with hunter sauce was okay. The sausage was delicious and flavorful yet dense. Disappointed that the sauce was pretty thin (and oily) for my liking. The penne was just okay. Nothing special or memorable but it was cooked well. The mushroom ravioli with asparagus was also pretty good! That being said ... I was unaware that the market had focaccia slices that could also be heated and enjoyed! So, after finishing the pizza, sausage, and ravioli, we ordered 2 focaccia slices (one potato and one prosciutto with fig) and THOSE WERE ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! WOW!! And the patisserie wow, I'm pretty speechless! Words will not do these baked goodies justice but I will try! The gelato is incredibly smooth and flavorful (tried the tiramisu gelato). The gato de lengua cookies were airy and crunchy. The opera cake was OUTSTANDING and, after having one bite, put it down and declared 'I'm saving that for my last bite!' The chocolate cannoli was the best cannoli I have ever had, even including my time in Italy. The chocolate was both inside and outside, and the filling was incredible! Creamy and delicious! Every employee was smiling and friendly, helpful when asking where to find the elevators and restrooms. Ambiance is lively and lovely and a great spot for get togethers, family dinners, etc where individuals may have differing preferences and/or dietary restrictions. Definitely will be back for more focaccia and patisserie and also check out Louis upstairs!

it was my birthday and we chose an Italian place near my son"s college home in St. Paul. When we…read morearrived they were closed with no notice or explanatio. We shifted and found this place and called to verify they were open and could serve us. They said they could probably accommodate us. We did have to wait a bit and keep our eyes on a table to grab in the bar, but it wasn't a long wait. It was a Tuesday evening. We had cheese bread, house salad, Tortelloni and Lamache. We had a tarumisu dessert. Everything was fresh and delicious. The service was great and prices were reasonable for the food quality. We will most definitely be back .

The best authentic Alfredo you'll ever have in your entire life. My favorite type of noodles are…read morethe Mafaldine noodles and they have this here for most of their pasta dishes. It is a slender version of the lasagna noodle, and I absolutely love this type of noodle. Their pasta is made al dente and it's absolutely just perfect. I am super picky when I order chicken at Restaurants because I feel like most places it taste almost like it came from frozen and you will not get that feeling or taste at this place. All of their entrées comes with side bread. I did get a Caesar salad and it was very good. The Caesar salad dressing is super delicious.. Their parking lot is very small, especially for dinner time. It is packed and you could find yourself waiting 15 minutes before someone leaves. There are street parking, but those spots are usually all taken. The neighborhood is only for residential permit parking. You may find yourself walking 2 to 3 blocks to get to this restaurant if they're parking lot is full.

This is my second time at Estelle, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it both times!…read more I arrived at 6:30PM on a Monday and was able to sit at the bar with no wait/no reservation. Though I highly recommend making a reservation for the chef's counter to enjoy your dinner with a show. The bar area had great music, service, and served the full menu plus a bar menu with pintxos (Spanish inspired small bites) Food: Sangria: delicious! Well balanced Shrimp: The fresh herbs really complimented the rich sauce. One downside was that the baguette was drowning in olive oil, and I felt it took away from the sauce. Radiatore Pasta: rich, herbaceous pasta beautifully coated in the glossy sauce, toasted almonds added a nice textural element, pasta well cooked, generous, shareable portion, got a pop of lemon zest (wished there was more) Honey cake: moist, sweet, honey flavor comes through great. Hazelnut praline is crunchy, salty, nutty, great pair with the sweet, crisp, melt in your mouth honeycomb. Very sweet, but not one note. Super rich and luscious Churro: felt heavy/greasy, though the bitter chocolate sauce covered it/complimented it well. Can't complain too much as it is complementary!

Went to this fantastic restaurant for date night. We were early so checked out the bar. Kelly our…read morebartender was awesome. She had great suggestions. I had a cider and my date had the cornholio martini. She also gave us a shot of their house made lemon cello which was amazing. The host came and found us at the bar and showed us to our table. The ambiance reminded me of a late night New York cafe/bistro with a wooden accent wall and an open kitchen. The service was very attentive and informative. The patatas bravas were incredible. So much so that we got an order to go and I went the next day and got another order to go for dinner. They were THAT good. I got the rigatoni and my date got casarecce. Both were excellent. The kitchen was kind enough to also give us two churros for dessert which were warm and delicious. Absolutely definitely will go again. A great choice for date night or dinner with friends.

Grabbed a seat at the bar at Olio in Bayport and had one of those meals that reminds you why bar…read moredining can be just as good as a full table setup. I started with a glazed dish of what looked like tender bites of pork over sweet potatoes, topped with crispy quinoa and fresh mint - the sweet and savory combo with that herby crunch on top was addictive, and we scraped the bowl clean. For the main, the crispy skin fish was the star of the night. The skin was shattered-glass crispy, the flesh underneath flaky and perfectly cooked, and it sat on a bright, punchy salad with radicchio and shaved fennel that cut through the richness perfectly. The cocktails were just as thoughtful. I had a beautifully balanced sour-style drink with a soft foam top and a dusting of spice, and it was easy to see why the bar program here gets so much love -- the shelves behind the bar are stocked deep, and it shows in the drinks. The whole vibe at the bar is relaxed but polished, with the bartenders keeping an easy pace and clearly knowing the menu inside and out. Olio is proof that Bayport has some serious culinary talent tucked into it. Already thinking about what I'll order next time.

If someone had a teleporter and suddenly dropped you off inside this small, cozy Italian restaurant…read morewith a really positive vibe--and didn't tell you where you were, or in which part of the 19th century--based on the houses, buildings, and a river flowing just a few steps away, I'd say I'm in some very obscure little town in 19th-century Italy. But no, I'm in a town that I really like and visit often--one that's very welcoming and always makes you feel at home: Bayport, MN. As an Italian, a chef, and someone who has great respect for winemaking, I can say that after a long time, I've finally found a restaurant that calls itself Italian and cooks Italian food--because it has the passion to be Italian. I've experienced a lot of frustration after many Italian restaurants with Italian roots closed down. Imitators have emerged, claiming to be Italian, but they aren't. You can tell when they prepare the passata--the authentic tomato sauce. I tried the Rigatoni with Sausage; everything was very well prepared, but the tomato sauce really stood out. The casarece and the potato croquettes were also delicious. Another thing that shows this place has an Italian spirit is that one of the desserts, the Affogato, is very well prepared. To find out what it is, I'd say go and discover it for yourself.... The only thing I'd suggest, just to help them improve, is the espresso. Either there was a problem with the machine or with the coffee. I don't know what brand of coffee they use, but I'd recommend Lavazza. The machine doesn't produce the "crema"--that typical, delicious foam of Italian coffee. The temperature was fine, but the coffee's flavor was very light and lacked that "soul" of an espresso. An espresso has three distinct layers at most: the crema on top, the body in the middle, and at the bottom, the heart--a very dark and delicious concentrated coffee. Until next time!

Food was amazing. Honestly best Italian food I've had in Minnesota and that says a lot! Service…read morecould be better, we waited 30 mn for the waitress to take our order and another 30 mn to wait for waitresss to take our bill. We came in without a reservation and sat at the bar though. Grateful they had space for us.

Had a reservation for 6:45, was seated at 7:10. Then, it took 20 min for my partner to receive a…read moretap beer after I got my cocktail. Busy on a Tuesday night, but lack of staff perhaps? Also, food tasted bland after a longer wait and I got the gnocchi and bolognese, which looked and tasted like chef boyardee beefaroni. Maybe it's just a casual Italian spot these days, but it used to be great. Unfortunate. EDIT: The server only charged us for one appetizer and two drinks (ordered 2 entrees and dessert). Didn't receive an explanation but I appreciate the awareness.

Lovely dinner on a whim at Luci. This neighborhood gem is filled with long time locals. It has a…read morecausal elegance that is hard to find anywhere else. The servers here were phenomenal- attentive without being overbearing. You're given a wide selection of beverages and meal options, including a tasting menu of specials that can be ordered a la carte. There is a fine print wine parting option, with 3-4 pours for a *very* reasonable price. Everything we had was delicious. The fettuccine con funghi picture was refreshing yet hearty, filled with mushroom umami. The flourless chocolate cake for dessert was rich, fudge, and served on a warm plate which made it ever so perfectly melty.

Here for the first time last weekend with girlfriends. I don't know why I've never paid attention…read morethat this place was here. Really loud inside until it got late into the night and other tables left. Nothing special about this dinner and I hate to say it, but it's expensive for what you get. Small salad, pasta dish, and a cocktail with tip $70. Nope. They kept saying homemade noodles and that's great but they tasted like any other noodle. No reason to come back here.

This is a good local Italian restaurant. We came here with friends and everyone had a good time…read more Our server did a great job of being interactive and helpful in picking food options and wine. We had the scallop crudo and prosciutto by the ounce and both were good. I preferred the crudo. The prosciutto was still good but I have had better. My main course was Trottole and I added chicken and I thought the dish was excellent! I had wine with my meal and it was recommended by the server and had their old fashioned for dessert and thought both were great. There is both inside and outside seating here which is a nice touch and it's attached to dream creamery if you want ice cream after dinner.

Our first visit since the change in ownership. I know, we are a little late to this party. Did the…read morefood and menu get better! Unfortunately, the service did not, but I'll get to that. Before the change of ownership I thought ie was okay at best. But they have kept some of the classics and nailed some new items. We started with the Melons and Speck and I loved this as a starter. Not too heavy but I love the flavor combinations. The sweet, fresh melons with salty speck and pickled shallots topped with the honey vinegar is all so delicious. It is savory with a little bit of refreshing. Went to a Pasta Fresca dish and I am still dreaming about it. The Agnolotti is sooo good! Little stuffed pasta pillows deliciously filled with a carrot filling that is rich and creamy. The filling is almost savory, which completely changes what you think when you hear carrot filling. Get this dish! Ended with dessert and ordered the Tiramisu. A little disappointed with this dish. A little bland with too much bitterness from the espresso and wished it were a little sweeter. I don't like a super sweet Tiramisu but it is dessert so it should be a bit in the sweet side. No changes to the interior of the space. Still the warm and inviting space it has always been. Love it! I wish the service would have been better. Long wait for the drinks. At one point we stopped eating because we had been waiting so long for our drinks. Also, asked for a bread basket and that was forgotten. Hope it was just an off night for the server. We will definitely be back!

I placed an order for delivery and DoorDash is the service this restaurant uses. After more than an…read morehour, I called the restaurant wondering the status of my order. The manager, Natalie, found that my order has been picked up by DoorDash, but never arrived. She had the order re-made and am employee offered to bring it to my door personally even though they don't offer delivery. It arrived quickly, hot and fresh, and was wonderful.

Loved my pasta dish. Servers were fantastic. The sliced bread was good but the breadsticks were…read moreblah. The ambiance is just fair. The interior design needs a makeover. Happy hour is a very good deal.