Cossetta Italian Market

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221 Exchange St S
Saint Paul, MN 55102

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(651) 222-3476
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Restaurants

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Italian Restaurants

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Food & Dining

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European Restaurants

Reviews
( 60 )
( 29 )
( 4 )
( 9 )
( 14 )

Best

I stopped by Cossetta last night for dinner after Festa Italiana in St Paul (yes, I needed more food). I had the veal (AMAZING), pasta and 2 HUGE slices of pizza (1 sausage ...

Worst

I saw that the reviews were so-so, so I decided to try anyway. Boy, what a sad experience. The food was really bad. Check out chewy pasta and sauce that seemed like it had been fr...

Wow, wish we would have read the bad reviews first... 3/24/2008

We (my girlfriend and I) love pasta and are new to the area-we went here on a recommend from a friend. I have never been to such a noisy place. The staff was yelling all the time-I felt like I was in my high school cafeteria. Our food was what you would expect from a cafeteria-bland and greasy. When I tried to complain, I got yelled at from another customer for ""butting in line."" The manager was about 20 and couldn't care about me or my problems with the food. We will spend our money elsewhere. Pros: If you like a crowd this is the place Cons: greasy food, noisy, mean staff more
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Worst dining ever! You will want to read this before you go if you care about what your eating!! 3/21/2008

This place is loud, chaotic and rude. The service is terrible and the food is greasy and nasty. They put pork rinds in the sauce-my friend found out there was lard in the red sauce when she asked the cashier why the sauce tasted off. The cashier said there was pork fat in the sauce and this was confirmed by a manager. They also said that if you are uncomfortable with lard, you really shouldn't eat there, as they use it in most everything. While we were in line getting our food, the server screamed at us to hurry up and order, and then tried to get the other customers to chant, ""Hurry up! Hurry up!"" with him. It was embarassing and I felt really stressed out-and this is supposed to be a nice meal. As for it being cheap, I don't know how two meals and two drinks costing thirty dollars can be cheap. When I attempted to ask the cashier if was correct, she got very rude and said, ""Well of course it is-I don't make mistakes."" All in all it was a huge mistake to go there, and we will never go again. Gross. Pros: There are none. Cons: Greasy icky food, rude staff, lard in all food, expensive more
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Confused 3/11/2008

I was really considering this restaurant, but after trying to find their website, and eventually finding it, I was left a little confused. I'm not sure what all they offer. Is it a sit down restaurant? Do you order from a counter? How much are things? All there website talked about was catering a social gathering, and their $20 delivery charge. Sorry Cossetta's...not for me. more
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We Miss Cossetta's !!! 12/22/2007

We used to live near Rochester, Mn. and would always stop in at Cossetta's for pizza while visiting St. Paul. My family decided that it was thee best pizza we had ever had... sausage pizza!! We now live in Hollywood, Ca. We have yet to find a good pizza place near us and we just crave Cossetta's pizza!!! We were wondering if they could possibly start a sattelite store out here!!?? Pretty please????? more
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My favorite pizza place in MN 12/12/2007

Cossetta's is a good place to eat when going to an event at the Excel. I have been there at least 10 times and have always had great food and service. While there may be a long line (sometimes out the door), the food is worth the wait. Casual and fun atmosphere. Just beware the pizza slices are huge! more
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this smells like Grandma's! 12/11/2007

On a weekend visit to St. Paul, we happened upon Cosetta's. As we walked in, my husband exclaimed ""this place smells like my Grandma's!"" She was from Italy and a very good cook. We ordered the rigatoni and salad. Heaven!! Later that evening, we came back for pizza. Yummy!! The next day before we left town, we bought some marinara sauce, meatballs and a Il Pandoro cake. We decided that it was best that Cosetta's is in St. Paul and we live in Indiana. If it was any closer, we would each weigh about 600 pounds. more
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My favorite! 11/6/2007

I take my out of town guests here because they're mostly college students who want to save a few dollars while exploring the Twin Cities. more
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The BEST pizza on earth ! The most romantic restaurant anywhere ! 9/23/2007

You don't need candlight and soft music to describe the best , most romantic experience ever. more
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rock and roll party 8/23/2007

if you don't think cosetta's is romantic, you all are frickin crazy. its the best most affordable food in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! more
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Great Pizza and Italian style pasta dishes!! 7/24/2007

Cossetta's is a great place to go before a Wild game or concert (or even on a date). It's got a great Italian market atmosphere and the food is VERY flavorful and filling. The one con would be the time it can take during peak times to get through the line and get your food, but it is worth the wait. Pros: Good pizza and tiramisu! Cons: Long wait during peak times/events. more
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Most authentic Italian in town! 5/17/2007

I have had the experience of eating at Cossetta's multiple times and I have always thoroughly enjoyed it. Their homemade italian sausage is to die for and I have never had better marinara sauce. With plenty of pasta and green salads to choose from along with the pizza and hot sandwiches, there is something for everyone. If you possibly can save room, their desserts are also quite authentic and tasty. Pros: Best Italian food in town Cons: You have to wait in line to order at the counter more
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A true taste of Italy 3/4/2007

I've been to many italian restaurants including Italy. The food is the closest to the real thing that you'll ever find in the U.S. I can't believe the negative comments. It can be crowded some nights, but check the schedule at the Xcel Energy Center, and you can avoid those crowds. If you didn't have a good experience, you must have come in with the expectation that it wasn't going to be good. more
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the perfect place to satisify you itailian cravings 2/4/2007

OK now those of you who gave a somewhat negative review I can only say you could not have been at Cossetta's. I go in there and always get a smile. and the food is great where the flavor is dancing on my pallet. To be able to feel comfortable yet excited to eat something that brings back memories of your childhood. You have found it there. I have eaten in restaurants in Chicago and still does not measure up to this place. their average rating should be a 10 because I can never find anything wrong there. more
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Needs fresh management 10/2/2006

We haven't been for awhile - mostly because we remember it as kinda noisy and the food slightly dissappointing. Tonight was no exception. Plenty of unruly children, and very apathetic employees - they never made eye contact with us and noone smiled once. The Caesar Salad ($5.29) was damp and uninspiring, the garlic toast must have been made the day before. Veal Parmigana ($9.79) was OK, but I only got one very thin cutlet with a side of pasta all smothered in a tasty marinara sauce. No leftovers. Parking is not a problem. We think that the pizza is the better probably deal here - it seems most of the other customers were eating slices. Frankly, it used to be better many years ago. Better service and attention to food preparation could turn it around - it's got everything else. I'm not sure why anyone would give the place a very high rating - unless they own the restaurant. Pros: Good Pizza and parking Cons: Poor service, sloppy food preparation and noisy. more
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A St Paul Celebrity 9/18/2006

Ah Cossetta. The restaurant is funky and old-style. The ordering is done cafeteria-style, and (most) seating is upstairs. It takes a bit of time to get through the cafeteria-style line, and if you're behind someone who has never been there before, it'll be double that length. Order whatever you like, it'll all be good. The food is outstanding. Outstanding. Once you get upstairs and sit down, you'll forget all about the long lines and enjoy the no-frills simple food. One caveat: I wouldn't even bother going here when there's an event at the Excel - it's overflowing with throngs of people and while the food IS worth it, all the people-pushing isn't. more
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Consistently great 6/6/2006

I've literally eaten here hundreds of times. Everything on the menu is rock solid and quality is very consistent. The fast-pace no-nonsense service is part of the charm. I could eat their pizza 3 meals a day! I don't believe in saying one place is ""the best"" but this is definitely where I find myself most often when I need a slice or three. Not sure why people think Savoys is so great. When I tried Savoy's pizza the soggy, very obviously from a can mushrooms led me to think otherwise. Pros: reliable quality, fresh food, pizza! Cons: confused people, addictive more
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Yeah, Cossetta's! 5/15/2006

Whenever we drive through the cities or want a really good slice of pizza and ambience we go to Cossetta's. We had a little of this, a little of that and of course we were stuffed like manicotti! We tried the artichoke salad-tender/zingy dressing, sausage hero-huge/yummy, mostacciolli-lotsa sauce/smooth. Busting at the seams, we waddled to the market and took home some chocolate chip cannoli. Now that's-a meal! Of course fast and friendly service-despite the long line which is usual and accepted by regulars. Intimidating at first, WELL WORTH the wait! Plenty of room to sit and watch the passers-by on the street below. Italian crooners booming over the loud speakers and plenty of family photos to get all nostalgic over. For the food, price, the atmosphere, Coke in a glass bottle, and really huge handmade-before-your-eyes pizza, it's always a favorite spot for our family! Don't forget to try the gelato! Pros: Food, Price, Atmosphere Cons: some waiting at times more
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Overrated--try Buon Giorno instead 3/22/2006

I just had one of many terrible dinners at Cossetta's. I hadn't been in a few years but succumbed to my daughter, who loves their pizza (which is very good). I paid $9 for an entree that was disgusting and inedible, their ""March special"" tortellini alla prosciutto. I've had better pasta in a college cafeteria. It was steam-tray all the way, with a weird tinny flavor I couldn't quite place and a gelatinous texture. This place has rude service, negative ambience, and bad food (except for the pizza). If you want good Italian deli in St. Paul, try Buon Giorno on Hwy 13 -- MUCH better food, nicer people, and no rude parking attendants. Pros: Near Xcel Ctr Cons: Bad food, Rude service/crowded, Bad parking more
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M, M, M, M, MMMMMMM.... 1/11/2006

A great place to go before an event or anytime for that matter!! The place can get packed. The lines do tend to get long but go fairly quickly. I love the pizza and Lasagna that comes with the yummy garlic roll and Mostaccioli. The only tough spot is the parking. It does have its own lot but on busy nights it's more than likely you'll be waiting in line for that too. Seating can be tricky but I have never waited to sit. There always seems to be something opening up. Highly recommended and worth any wait!! Pros: food, atmosphere, inexpensive Cons: parking, crowded at times more
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Pizza is Overrated - Nice location - Nice setup 1/11/2006

If you think you're going to get the best pizza in town, guess again...that Pizza is at Savoys (of course food reviews are greatly subjective). It's a nice place with average to below average pizza. I'd eat it but I wouldn't make any special effort to get it. Pros: Location Cons: Let Down more
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Menu for Cossetta Italian Market


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