If you’ve never heard of Cossetta’s, in the heart of St. Paul, then you are truly missing out on a very rare experience.  Few restaurants are still family-owned, but Cossetta’s is fourth generation owned, so you know that the food will be like Mom’s homemade Italian.

In the 1800’s, Michael Cossetta traveled from Calabria, Italy to settle in St. Paul.  He brought with him the knowledge of Italian meats and recipes and in 1911, opened up his store.

Although Cossetta’s is not in its original location, the quality of food has remained the same. As you enter the building, the smell of fresh-baked pasta and the aroma of garlic waft through the air.    The atmosphere is chaos in a little piece of Italian heaven.  Most of the time there is a line out the door.  But not to worry, the wait is no more than a few minutes and well worth it.

If you can get past the cafeteria-like scene, you are in for a treat.  Once at the head of the line, you have many options: soup, salad, pasta salad, sandwich, entrée, or pizza.  My suggestion is to get what they are famous for: the Cossetta Sandwich, sausage pizza, or a pasta entree.

The Cossetta Sandwich, in one word, is amazing!  It is made from beautifully seasoned, homemade sausage, slathered in the family’s secret sauce and stuffed between two thick slices of Vienna bread.
The pizza is equally as impressive.  Don’t let the look of it fool you.  Trust me, it may look like you want two pieces, but unless you’re a professional athlete with a huge appetite, one piece is enough.  It’s a New York style pizza that is hand tossed (if you’re lucky enough, you can actually see them tossing the crust). It is smothered in their zesty sauce and fresh cheese.  Choose any topping you like and it will be perfect. They’re most famous for their sausage pizza, which is topped with their homemade Italian Sausage.

As for the entrees, stick to the pasta.  While their chicken dishes are tender and juicy, the sauces fall flat.  However, the pasta is another story.  The manicotti are wonderful little pillows filled to the brim with light fluffy ricotta cheese.  Along with your entree, you get mostaccioli con ricotta, which is pasta covered in incredibly rich ricotta and smothered with their tangy spaghetti sauce.  You also get a piece of buttery garlic bread, leaving little to be desired.

Then, if you have enough room for dessert, the cannoli is the best around.  The mascarpone is thick, but not heavy, and will make your tongue dance.  Not into mascarpone?  Then definitely get the chocolate hazelnut gelato, which tastes just like a Ferrero Rocher.

Still not had enough Cossetta’s?  Not a problem.  Just visit the picturesque Italian marketplace attached to the restaurant.  You can get frozen Cossetta’s entrees or buy something from the meat counter.

Overall, Cossetta’s is a wonderful experience. Stick to the pasta and the famous sausage, and you can’t go wrong. The food is a little pricier than you expect, between $8.00 and $10.00, but the quality and quantity more than make up for it.    It’s a slice of Italian life in downtown St. Paul.