Loved this place!! GET THE CHICKEN PARM! (Carrot pasta was a very close 2nd must have) Great vibes, staff, food and Cello Cello cocktail! read more

Risata Cucina - Italian Near Me - Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Excellent food and service. The calamari is fantastic! I'm so glad to have another neighborhood gem in Robbinsdale.

Came back for dinner service! Can confirm that ALL the food we ordered was delicious although smaller portions- I wouldn't necessarily call them family style as stated by our server though Everything was cooked perfectly and seasoned very well Wine was delicious and reasonably priced Don't skip the tiramisu it' has a unique flavor then most Great service too Also ordered takeout the same week and food was still delicious! Excited to try more menu items and drinks on the patio soon read more

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Risata is such a hidden gem in Robbinsdale. The food, service, and ambiance were all excellent and really come together to create a memorable dining experience. Even though it's a smaller, more intimate space, that actually adds to its charm -- it feels cozy, personal, and thoughtfully curated rather than cramped. The ambiance has a unique, warm character that makes it feel special the moment you walk in. Service is attentive without being overbearing, and everything feels welcoming and well-paced. The Meatballs are a MUST to start off and you really can't go wrong with any of the main dishes. read more

Risata Cucina - This Carrot Agnolotti was delicious!! It wasn't the most filling, so if you are more hungry I would go with another option! - Italian Near Me - Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Service was great, food was great. Chicken Parmesan, incredible. Swordfish was good too! Apps: beef tartare and meatballs were great. Bread service was nice and warm. Tiramisu MUST HAVE. Very experienced, quick, attentive and knowledgeable servers (shout out Cole and Juju)! read more

I met up with my girls recently for a long overdue dinner. They have a huge shared parking lot in the back, otherwise street parking is available. Reservations recommended, this restaurant is still new and popular. They have 2 dining rooms and open kitchen concept and bar in the bigger room. We ordered a bottle of prosecco for sharing and ordered a couple of everything. Everything was delicious, the 2 different types of pastas sauces were unique and delicious. Even the dessert was amazing. Definitely recommend. read more

Risata Cucina - Entrance from the back parking lot - Italian Near Me - Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Thrilled to have Risata right here in Robbinsdale. This new neighborhood gem is serving up insanely delicious Italian plates that won't break the bank! My husband and I visited for a cozy Friday night date night, and it was lovely. The sparkling water they offer on arrival is such a classy touch it instantly transports me back to Italy. We kicked things off with the Caesar salad (probably too much for two people, but nonetheless delicious) and meatballs, both ideal starters. For mains, the Chicken Parmesan and Bolognese. The Bolognese especially with its brown butter finish), making it total shareable heaven with leftovers to dream about. Wrapped up with their lemony tiramisu which was a perfect bright finish to a warm spring Friday. The service was generally good, though consistency among staff could use some fine-tuning moving forward. We noticed a visibly different experience compared to the table next to us, their interaction with the waitress felt more attentive than ours, which we could even overhear. This didn't detract from our enjoyable dinner, but it's worth noting as they continue to improve. As far as parking goes there's a lot of street parking in downtown Robbinsdale but also a small lot nearby. You shouldn't have an issue. I hope they make use of the patio for some alfresco dining this summer! read more

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Risata Cucina is a must! Julian provided fantastic service, and the private parking lot in the back makes it so easy to visit. Atmosphere is very warm! The Standouts: Meatballs & Vodka Pasta: Absolute must-haves. Mafaldine Bolognese: Rich and flavorful. Chianti: Paired perfectly with the pasta dishes. The Chicken Parm was delicious; just note it's a thicker cutlet rather than a thin one. Caesar was pretty standard but delish! Finished with a great scoop of ice cream. Highly recommend! read more

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Risata might be my new go-to Italian spot! It's charming with a cozy vibe, easy parking in the back, fun service staff, and very reasonable prices. Meatball app is definitely a must-order! That was my favorite item I had and was recommended to me by our server. The Caesar salad was solid (nothing mind-blowing flavor-wise), but the portion was huge and great for sharing. For my entrée, I ordered chicken parm, but heads up it doesn't come with pasta, which caught me off guard. That said, the dish itself was excellent with a perfectly crispy & thick chicken filet generously topped with cheese, and super filling. Salted Carmel gelato was to die for! Very creamy and more ice cream like than I expected, but the flavor was there. I also tried bites of my friend's vodka pasta and the bolognese...both were delicious scratch pastas with rich, flavorful sauces! I think they need to fine a few tune some details now that they're open. I wish the menu had more English translation because a lot of it was confusing and lead to a lot of questions with our server. Also, I thought they would have a bread service with the olive oil sitting on the table, but nothing was brought out. We asked for some and provided with free bread, but it was nothing special & no parm and/or balsamic vinegar served with it. Small detail I also noticed their creepy basement door was open into a dirty/old looking stairwell and I wish I hadn't seen it. I'm curious what their patio and happy hour will be like! read more

Risata Cucina - Inside - Italian Near Me - Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Risata Cucina moved into the space vacated by long-time restaurant Nona Rosa. Although they are both Italian Restaurants, they do vary in terms of approach and menu. Tonight was opening night, which can be chaotic. However, I thought they everyone seemed experienced and professional and the food was on point too. It was an impressive first day opening for this new restaurant. The remodeling of the restaurant was not a major overhaul, but it is a different vibe. Instead of old-time restaurant, it gives off a much more modern vibe, including a welcome lack of Pseudo-Italian decorations and more warm wood tables and chairs and tasteful decor. Another change is that the main dining room is what used to be the overflow/party room. They have added tasteful lighting to make it more modern and bright. The front room seemed more for walk-ins, or casual diners. This was a good move. Now, onto the food. My wife had the Carrot Agnolotti ($22), which was stuffed pasta (kind of like ravioli) with a creamy carrot filling, with brown butter, pistachio, dill, and topped with fennel pollen. I am not a fan of carrot, but it did not have a strong carrot taste and even I enjoyed a taste. My wife finished the whole thing (a rarity) and really loved it. I had the Bucatini Pizzaiola ($20), which is a thicker hollow spaghetti-like pasta, with tomato sauce that had a bit of kick to it (in a good way), with pieces of crispy pepperoni, seasoned with oregano, and topped with lemon ricotta cheese, and fennel pollen (which seems like a popular dusting here). I really enjoyed it and the crunchy pieces of pepperoni provided a very fun crunch. There are several other dishes I want to try, so I will update this review as time goes on. We did order dessert. My wife had the Cannoli ($8) and I had the chocolate geladto ($5). The Cannoli had a crispy shell (actually there were four small cannolis to one order), but overall I would rate it a 3 on a scale from 1 to 5 because it just wasn't as good as other cannolis I've had at some other restaurants. The scoop of chocolate gelato ($5) was fine, but the problem was that it tasted like ice cream, not gelato. It lacked a rich, dense taste and had ice crystals that made it taste more like refrozen ice cream, than a more creamy gelato. Overall the food was excellent, the service was very good, and the ambiance was very pleasant. I would recommend a bit more of English translation on the menu. I think I had an easier time understanding menus in Italy than Risata's. It might be me, but I had to ask about tersm such as fermented fresno, Mafaldine, and Pork Shoulder all'Amatriciana Guanciale. I know some restaurants do this to promote conversation with the waitstaff, but I find it cumbersome to have to ask about a half dozen questions, when the menu could be more transparent. Why say pomodoro as a ingredient when you can just say tomato? Also, although there was olive oil on the table, no bread was served, nor was it even on the menu. This is something that would be nice to have, especially to sop up the tasty sauces. read more

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We went last night. Early around 5:30PM. We were seated promptly, our server was very attentive, the whole evening. Good recommendations throughout. We had the grilled mortadella & mozzarella spiedini. I love mortadella, so grilling it was new but really tasty, went well with the martini. My husband and I got the rigatoni alla vodka and mafaldine bolognese. Each was a generous portion and tasted so good. I could taste the fennel in the rigatoni (which I like). The bolognese was rich and I couldn't stop eating. Overall it was a pleasant experience. Everyone working that night knew their role and made sure that you were taken care of. Even down to the cleaner for the table, not toxic smelling. Weird to say but everything was well thought out. read more

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They were accommodating for gluten-free. Even provided gluten-free bread with my dinner. Lots of flavor and friendly staff! We sat inside but the outdoor patio looks perfect for warmer weather. read more

Risata Cucina - Gluten-Free pasta - Italian Near Me - Robbinsdale, Minnesota

The vodka pasta was amaazzzinnggg!!! It was perfectly cooked and had great flavor. Definitely my highlight here tonight. We started with the meatballs as an appetizer, and they did not disappoint - they were really well seasoned. Also started with a Caesar salad, which was top tier! I loved the amount of Parmesan in it. On top of the great food, the atmosphere really inviting - a real warm, tight-knit, family vibe that made the whole experience even better. Already planning my next visit back!! read more

Risata Cucina - Rigatoni alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Fantastic, affordable neighborhood gem, which is exactly what we need in the northwest suburbs. We tried both of the on tap cocktails, the negroni and aperol spritz. They were both good though we thought they could have been a bit stronger. For starters we shared the fried zucchini and grilled mortadella. Both were very good. For entrees, we had both the best gnocchi and best chicken parm we've ever had. The gnocchi had a little lemony zing to it and was so light. The chicken parm was a huge portion for the price with a little spice to it and was super crispy and moist. We tried the carrot agnoloti as well which we didnt enjoy as much and I think it was just personal preference as we found it to be a little sweet. Smashed potatoes were crispy and the accompanying mayo was so good with a little spicy kick. Jamie our server was absolutely fabulous, super kind and personable. Sam at the host stand was so welcoming to start with as well. Plenty of parking on the street in the front and in the lot in the back. We look forward to our next visit. read more

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Great food, comfortable ambiance, friendly service, reasonable prices (I.e. very good value). read more

Risata Cucina - Cannoli for dessert. - Italian Near Me - Robbinsdale, Minnesota

FAVE SPOT IN TOWN! Husband is from Italy/North NJ and says this "feels just like home. Maybe better." We plan on being here all the time now. The pasta is made fresh everyday, and cooked to perfect al dente. Dessert menu is insane (and also perfection.) Best calamari in town. Everything was great, no misses. read more

Went out of my way to try a new restaurant for a date night and it was delicious! We had the RIGATONI ALLA VODKA and the FUSILLI WITH BEEF CHEEK RAGÙ from the menu and it was fantastic. The cocktails were also good. The service was great our waitress was very pleasant. All in all, if I find myself in Robbinsdale, I would come here again! read more

The food was great and so reasonably priced! We started with the beef tartare and the calamari - both flavorful. I give the edge to the beef tartare because it was unique (cacio e pepe style). We then each got a pasta dish - Fussili with Beef Cheek Ragú and the Rigatoni allá Vodka. Again, both great! The Fussili was the best dish of the night, bursting with flavor! Lastly, we tried the cannolis and affogato. Great close to a delicious dinner! Service was also super friendly. I'm so happy this is in our neighborhood! We can't wait to return! read more

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We had a group of 6 that very much enjoyed a family style meal at Risata Cucina! They were surprisingly busy on a Monday night yet service was friendly, helpful and prompt. The menu has some excellent choices and our party enjoyed the mushroom arancini and meatballs, as well as a Cesar salad for apps. The meatballs were excellent, arancini had great flavour yet lacked the crispness I expect on the outside, and the salad was served beautifully yet did not pack much Cesar flavour to us - perhaps it simply needed more dressing. We opted to share the pastas order and this was a great choice. The Carrot Agnolotti stole the show for us - a wonderful carrot puree with slight sweetness and lemony finish wastop notch. We also tried the beef cheek ragu which was a very close second. Amazing tenderness, flavor and excellent pasta texture. Other dishes included the fusilli, and a scampi dish - but we all loved the pillow soft gnocchi! Bread service came late in the meal so a touch disappointing. Overall, we felt the meal was wonderful and would return in the future as they work out some of the new restaurant kinks. We'd also love to have less noise in the dining room as conversation was a bit difficult. Still, great to have the variety in the menu! read more

Tried Risata for the first time with someone who had dined there the previously. I'd been to Nonna Rosas 100 times and love that they are in the same cute place with ample parking! The best thing we ate was the meatball appetizer. It's a not to be missed menu item! We tried both the rigatoni in vodka sauce (kinda bland...would skip) and the carrot agnolotti (delicately delicious). The on-tap cocktails (which I am usually not a fan of) were outstanding. Be forewarned...they move you through very fast. We were out in less than 75 minutes and the staff were clearly clamoring anxiously for our table. But I appreciate the effort in trying to get as many people to try it as possible. We will be back! read more

My girlfriend & I loved our visit to Risata Cucina & we can't wait to go back! Everything's great: friendly & prompt service, simple but delicious menu, and a charming & lively atmosphere. Highly highly recommend giving them a try! read more

Very good. Plates were reasonably priced. Service was good on a busy Friday night, which is impressive since they just opened. I started off with an Old fashion which was absolutely perfect. The cocktails were actually best part of the dinner. We had the Calamari which was great, the Salmon bruschetta, little heavy on the citrus, but fresh. Wife had the Ribeye, but ordered medium well, so her dish doesn't count since she has no idea how to order a steak. Served with big button mushrooms and gravy which was on point. I had the Rigatoni Vodka pasta. It was good, but really needed fresh basil to liven it up. Daughter had the fussili pasta with beef cheek. Good sauce, beef was tender. Daughter got the tiramisu, needed more coffee flavor. Wife got the pancetta which was nice and light and very good. All the dishes were really quite good, not great, but given the price point you really can't beat it. Good spot for a date night or quick bite to eat. Would recommend. read more

I'll report back after a second visit. The arancini was perfect. The Cesar salad was light and crisp. However the entrees were just okay. The chicken parm was too thick, should have been sliced into cutlets, also the bone in chicken breast was unexpected. But good flavor. The steak was tough, so recommend skipping that one. The pasta was delicious - will be back to try some other pasta dishes. read more

The service and food were excellent! Pasta is made fresh every day, creative cocktail list and generous portions. Will definitely be back!

My husband agreed that this was the best Italian food we've had since getting back from Italy. The drinks were strong and perfectly bitter (please try the espresso foam on the negroni - it's well worth it). The restaurant was clean, the menu was well-balanced, and the staff was attentive. It's a new place so you can feel the enthusiasm for feedback. I also love that nothing was overly expensive and the food embodied the Italian spirit of simple and delicious, with nuanced flair. We will be back. read more