Visiting from out of town for work and heard this spot was good. I would not recommend this spot at…read moreall. The pros: portion sizes are huge, chicken tasted good The cons: waiter did not stop by the table once, my water was empty within the first 10 min of sitting there and i had to take my cup physically up to the counter to get water from them because i was so thirsty. I didnt see him once after that, he just stood up at the counter talking to the other server. The pasta was oily, they put so much cheese on everything that the oils from the cheese come out and my pasta literally had a layer of oil all around the plate. The mozzerella garlic bread barely had any garlic bread taste, tasted mostly like mozzerella. The mozzerella was also so oily that the garlic bread was just soggy 5 min after the waiter put the plate down. The price is steep, by myself i got an app and an entree only and it came out to 48$ before tip. Overall, for a spot with the reviews it has it completely let me down along with the locals who recommended it to me.

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.

2nd visits to Mucci's and is was once again outstanding! This time I brought 8 family members to…read morecelebrate my sons college graduation. We had an 8:15 reservation. We had several bottles of fantastic wine, several appetizers and entrees. Every single person in our group loved everything. The service was once again phenomenal. Thank you Mucci's!

Lovely little place with delicious food and drinks at good prices!…read moreCame here on a Saturday evening with a group of three. We called around 5:30 to see if they'd seat us at 7:15 and they were able to reserve a table for us. I got the daily special which was like a chicken Parmesan but with steak. It wasn't my favorite thing because I was not expecting the steak to be thinly cut and more on the dry side. That could be my bad - I heard steak and was imagining something totally different. But it wasn't still pretty good! The noodle texture was to die for. It was $30. Drinks were delicious too and ranged from $12-$15. The only thing that I didn't love, is that they charge for every little thing. we got the focaccia and asked for olive oil and balsamic. Why was that an extra $2... $1 for olive oil and $1 for balsamic. If we hadn't ordered it, it would have been an $8 large sized muffin of focaccia - which turned into $10. Definitely not worth it. I asked for some extra Parmesan and they charged $2 for pecorino... honestly it just threw off the experience a little. And it came in the tiniest little cup. I understand maybe 50 cents but $2? Especially when we're having five drinks and three entrees between three people, realizing we were paying extra for those items on the check just was not enjoyable. I'd recommend this place to others as a great place for pasta and drinks, but pasta and drinks only. Maybe avoid asking for any thing on the side and I'd skip apps.

This Twin Cities staple did not disappoint! Cossetta's is a huge, multi-story Italian food eatery…read morewith pretty much every Italian dish you can think of. We tried some meatballs and arancini at Frank's Tavern, both of which were tasty and comforting. Our server, Jay, was very kind and helpful. Their pastry shop is SO cute and the pastries are heavenly. We would go again just for dessert!!

Zero stars waited 45+ mins & food wasnt all that. I might try it again but doubt it …read more... they serve ice agents STAY AWAY!

SPECIAL OCCASION/SPECIAL PLACE I've been going to DeGidio's…read morew/my family my whole life, ever since I was little. So when I was looking for a special place to take my boyfriend for his birthday, I knew this was the perfect place (he'd never been there before). AMBIANCE They have remodeled since I'd been there last, and it looks absolutely beautiful; even the restrooms are decorated nicely. DRINKS It's not always easy to find well-made old fashioneds, but we decided to start off with a couple and try their's out; they did not disappoint, they were fabulous! FOOD He ordered lasagna and I ordered the shrimp pasta, which were both so incredibly good. Their red sauce is absolutely phenomenal and addicting! DESSERTS We ordered a couple desserts to end our night, and again, super good, you can't go wrong w/your choice! SERVICE Our waiter was fantastic and very attentive. We had a very wonderful experience and it was truly great to be back at one of the classic staples of St Paul. Highly recommend!

We came here for my wife's birthday--our first time--and it was a solid choice. We'd heard a lot of…read moregreat things, so we were excited to finally try it. We made reservations and were seated right away, which was a great start. The host was friendly, and our server was attentive without being overbearing--checking in regularly on drinks and making sure everything tasted right. We kicked things off with the buffalo wings. They had great flavor without too much heat, which I personally enjoyed. For the main course, I went with the burger, and my wife ordered the rigatoni alla vodka. My burger was filling, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor. The bun was just a touch on the firm side (I'll admit, I'm a bit of a burger snob), but overall it was very good. The fries, though, were excellent--definitely a highlight. My wife really enjoyed her dish as well--the sauce was creamy and flavorful, and the chicken was juicy. She mentioned it could've used a little fresh Parmesan and a bit more heat, since she likes some spice, but overall she was happy with it. Since it was her birthday they gave us a free desert and the server mentions the bread pudding which was very tasty. Overall, a great experience with good food, solid service, and a nice atmosphere. We'd definitely come back.

Incredible experience at Estelle. We sat at the chef's counter, which was such a fun way to…read moreexperience the meal. Watching the kitchen in action added so much to the night. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Everything felt really intentional and well timed. The food was outstanding. The rigatoni was a standout with an incredible sausage that was honestly to die for. We also had the soles de pollo, a chicken ravioli with fresh vegetables in the sauce, and the flavors were amazing. For tapas, we ordered the patatas bravas and rissoles, both were delicious. Such a thoughtful touch when they brought out churro bites at the end as a thank you. Amazing food, top tier service, and a really fun but romantic atmosphere. Definitely a spot worth going out of your way for

Estelle is a cozy spot, with candlelights and flower on each table. It is a perfect spot for a date…read morenight or celebrating a special occasion, and is also just a lovely dinner spot with really good food! It is in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood so there is ample street parking nearby if you turn on any of the side streets. The restaurant does get busy at dinner, so I recommend making a reservation ahead of time. They have many unique options for cocktails and mocktails. I opted for the Slaychel which is a non-alcoholic beverage that I think of as an elevated mimosa. It is fruity, slightly tart, and delicious! The service was great! Our water was frequently refilled and never got empty, and our server asked about any allergies and dietary restrictions before we ordered. They were able to modify menu items to fit the different dietary restrictions! Two people in our party (including myself) are vegetarians and one member is gluten-free and also doesn't consume much dairy or eggs. They were able to serve the patatas bravas with the egg on the side and the grilled asparagus with the egg and cheese on the side so we were able to all share the starters. The patatas bravas were wonderful! The potatoes are perfectly crispy but still fluffy. The tomato sauce was slightly smokey and had a very slight kick (think Minnesota spice) and it balanced out well with the creamy tomato. If you're only going to try one appetizer, this is the one to try! The asparagus was also nice. The salsa verde had a slight kick (a bit more than the tomato sauce from the patatas bravas, but not super spicy. Still Minnesota level of spice). The shallots also added a nice crispy texture to the dish! The egg really stood out in this dish, with its runny yolk and batter coating. There were a lot of nice elements and textures. As for pastas, I split the Spaghetti and Radiatore with a friend. The Radiatore was nutty and tangy, and the serving size was generous. I enjoyed it, but I would order the Spaghetti over it any day! I don't even know how to describe the Spaghetti and do it justice. It was creamy, cheesy, delicious. Our server said it was a staff favorite, and I understand why. If you're looking for a vegetarian option, go with this one!! Even if you aren't a vegetarian, give it a try. It's so classic, and it's done so well. For dessert: they give free churros when you're dining in! They are served warm with a chocolate drizzle. We also ordered the Honey Cake which we enjoyed a lot! The cake itself was light, like a mousse. There was some crunch from the hazelnut praline and honeycomb toffee pieces. It was nutty and sweet but not overly sweet. It was a perfect way to finish off the meal! Estelle was delicious and the service was great! I can't wait to come back!

We've been dying the try this place for months and it did not disappoint! I really like that it's a…read morerelatively small menu as it seems they are able to really perfect each dish and make frequent modifications due to the season. They also have a couple specials that change every week so you can always try something new. Today we lucked out with delicious crab cakes! We also ordered the focaccia, ziti, risotto, chicken parm rigatoni and olive oil ice cream. Needless to say, we were very full when we left and had plenty of leftovers! It's a small space so definitely try to make a reservation to ensure a seat. I get the impression it's busy most nights!

Visited 2/28/26. Back at Olio and not a moment too soon! I was surprised but we did manage to fit a…read moregroup of 6 of us, which was awesome. Definitely a bit more rushed feeling with the 90 minute deadline as per usual (still completely get this but wish it could be a bit more flexible for a larger group), but still adored everything we ate and that's why olio still gets top marks. Things to get: -Focaccia- I always love the focaccia and think it plus the red sauce are worth ordering. -Burnt carrots- The burnt carrots were an unexpected surprise that I would definitely recommend. Fun flavors -Pretty much any pasta: casarecce, paccheri, spaghetti Nero. All so unique and delicious in their own ways. Up to you: -Brussels sprouts-still good, just preferred the carrots -Desserts: I preferred the ice cream to the cake. The cake was a bit too dense for my liking but others in my party liked it.

My dinner at La Grolla was pretty good! I went with coworkers while my boss was in town. I like the…read moreambiance, it's cozy and would be great for a date night. We tried a few different appetizers. The burrata was quite good and I liked the crab cakes, they are pretty unique so don't expect a classic Baltimore style. Bruschettas were just ok. For my entree I got the penne vodka and really liked it. My boss got the cacio e Pepe and was visibly disappointed. It just wasn't cheesy, and for this kind of pasta (not really sauced) that left it disappointingly bland. She was also quite disappointed with her cosmo-- she couldn't put her finger on it but maybe just too boozy or a cheap triple sec. I got the Italian Paloma which was alright. Generally I wasn't that into their cocktail menu unfortunately. Probably wine is the way to go here. Service was kind and prompt. They bring around a dessert tray for you to look at before ordering which was kind of a blast from the past. I would come back here, but there are better Italian restaurants in Minneapolis.

Arrived during a snow storm, so the place was relatively quiet and we were seated for our…read morereservation early. You can park in the lot adjacent but don't scan the QR code in the lot, scan it in the restaurant and then it is free. Server was a pro, and the old fashioned I had was good. Old school old fashioned but with rye. I had the lasagna which was good. We bruschetta as an appetizer and they were very good. Wife and kid had the same thing and they thought it was just okay. We were there for mom-in-law's BD so had crème brûlée for desert and that was yum. Strong first experience, I'd go back.

This is a great neighborhood spot for GOOD Pasta! All of their pasta is homemade in house & I go…read morefor the Carbonara every timeeee. This is nice spot with tablecloths and fresh flowers on every table, and the service is always great!!

We had a reservation for a large table to celebrate a milestone birthday here a few weeks ago. What…read morea darling hidden local gem! The service is impeccable. The dining room is small and intimate, with a wood-burning fireplace quietly crackling. It feels a little old-school and special with the classic white linen tablecloths, traditional silver and china, and the best part is no loud music blaring! Come here for an intimate date night or a cozy dinner to connect with a friend. I think you could not go wrong with any of their homemade pasta dishes. Our table especially loved the ravioli with tender braised pork lamb. The house made bread and butter and the beautiful lemon soup I started with was perfect - trust me on the soup! I wish I had taken a picture. The seafood was delicious as well. I enjoyed the olive oil cake but it would have been nothing without the fruit sauce. The angel food cake was better, and the coffee was top notch.

Came back under the new owners and was blown away by how insanely good their pasta is. Truly some…read moreof the best pasta I've had, and for sure in the twin cities. I got the fusilli and LOVED it. We also tried their arancini and it was to die for. Taste wise very comparable to a traditionally arancini, but even better because they served it with a creamy cheese sauce. I absolutely will be coming back and I can't wait to do so (once I fight for and get a reservation lol). Also our service was fantastic, our server was so so sweet.

It has been a few years since I have been to ie Italian Eatery. My first time here was back in…read moreOctober 2021 with a group of new friends whom I have become pretty close with and my most recent visit this past Sunday was with them and it was nice to be back together! We ordered a variety of dishes to share and it was a great meal and capped off with a nice Tiramisu dessert. The servers were pretty friendly and attentive - they stopped by many times during our meal to check on us. While there is a parking lot for the restaurant, it is not super big and the parking spaces are pretty small/tight.

Had an earlier dinner, service was good and started filling up as it got closer to 6pm. Our server…read morewas friendly, checked on us but gave us space to enjoy our meal and conversation. The raspberry lemondrop doesn't pack a punch alcohol wise but I enjoyed it. Portions are large and definitely easily sharable. There was good lighting at each table to be able to see your dinner companions but dimmer throughout to give a sense of privacy, not sure if that's what they were going for but it was nice. Ample parking since it's in a strip mall. My only critique is that the containers for leftovers are the compostable clamshell containers; great for the environment but for butter and fat heavy foods. The containers absorbed the oils and leaked onto each other and the bag relatively quickly so keep that in mind if you're taking your pasta home without a bag or your car seats may be stained.

Employees were very nice and attentive. The carbonara was just ok, nothing super yummy. Ambiance…read morewas nice.