Twin Cities Restaurant Blog

Winner's Circle Lounge at Running Aces Harness Park ~ Columbus, MN

Cuisine: American, Italian, Seafood, Steaks, Chops, Ribs
Restaurant Features: Card Room, Horse Racing, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Columbus, MN (near Lino Lakes & Forest Lake)
Address: 15201 Zurich Street NE Columbus MN 55025-7908 (651) 925-4600 877-RUN-ACES (I-35 and Hwy 97)

Winner's Circle Hours: Lunch Mon-Sat 11a-3p

Dinner Mon-Wed 5p-9p Thur 4-9p Fri 4-10p  Sat 5-10p

Sunday Brunch 9:30-1pm  Sunday Dinner 5-9p

Links: Running Aces Harness Park Website    Google Map

 

Atmosphere: Located within Running Aces Harness Park, the Winner's Circle Dining & Lounge is a large, open space with giant floor-to-ceiling windows that allow a good view of the horse track outside.

 

The Buffets are set up in another large room just off to the left of the main room.  This back room also serves as seating space for large groups.

Menu:  The new Fall Lunch Menu includes Walleye Fingers, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, Onion Rings, Cobb Salad, Thai Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad, Aces House Salad, BBQ Blue Burger, Southwest Burger, Reuben, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, Club, Cajun Walleye, French Dip, Hot Italian Wrap and Chicken Wrap.  All sandwiches and burgers come with fries.

Fall Dinner Menu is served Sun-Wed.  Appetizers include Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Buffalo Chicken Wings, Walleye Fingers, Fried Calamari, Beef Tender Tips, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, and Sampler Platter.

Salad choices include Cobb Salad, Thai Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad, and Aces House Salad (with caramelized pecans, goat cheese and raspberries).

Sandwiches at Winner's Circle are the BBQ Blue Burger, Southwest Burger, Reuben, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, Club, Cajun Walleye, French Dip, Hot Italian Wrap and Chicken Wrap.  All sandwiches and burgers come with fries.

Italian Entrees include Chicken Parmesan, Cajun Chicken Alfredo, Shrimp Pomodoro, Rotelle Vegetable Pasta with olives and artichokes. 

House Specialties are Ber Battered Colossal Shrimp, Herbed Pork Tenderloin, Stuffed Chicken Breast, Almond Crusted Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Grilled Pork Chop, King Crab and Smokehouse Ribs.

Steaks offered are the Filet, New York Strip, Flat Iron Steak and Surf & Turf (Filet & choice of either King Crab or Lobster Tail)

Price guide: Lunch Menu $8-11 Appetizers $8-10  Entrees $15-19  Steaks $18-26
Weekly Specials:

Thursday Night Seafood Buffet $21.95 includes oysters in the half-shell, peel-and-eat shrimp, King Crab Legs, Fried Shrimp, Made-to-order Shrimp Scampi, Prime Rib, Weekly Chef Specials and Dessert Table.

Friday Night Italian Feast Buffet $19.95 includes Italian Antipasto Bar, Gourmet cooked-to-order Pasta Bar, Carved Beef Tenderloin, 7 Specialty Entrees, and Italian Dessert Station.

Saturday Lobster Extravaganza $25.95 includes Lobster Bisque, Twin Lobster Tail, Vegetables, Potato and Dessert.

Sunday Brunch Buffet $16.95 Adults $8.95 Kids includes Champagne, Prime Rib, Made-to-order Omelets and Waffles, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Salad Bar, 7 Breakfast and Lunch Entrees, and Dessert Table.

What I ate:   My visit was during Sunday Brunch.  My first plate included prime rib, Salmon Pasta, Green Beans, Potates O'Brien, Bacon, and Cheesy Scrambled Eggs.  Everything I tried was decent, typical buffet quality, but nothing outstanding.  My cut of prime rib was cooked more than I prefer and therefore not as tender as I like it.  I ate a couple of bites of each item before deciding I needed to try something else.

 

My second plate was a much bigger hit after a visit to the made-to-order Omelet and Waffle Stand.  They had a variety of toppings for the waffles which were hot and golden brown.  I ordered my omelet with everything (tomato, onion, peppers,mushrooms, ham, bacon and cheddar) and it was so good! My favorite way to eat eggs.

 

Yes, I did get another small plate (for the sake of this review of course!).  The salad was basic but good and I also tried the spare ribs in gravy.  The meat was so good! It was very tender and flavorful.  I would have loved to try more of that but I was very full at this point.

 

I got a small dessert plate (also for the sake of this review!) I love cheesecake so I had to try a bite of the Winner's Circle cheesecake.  What a disappointment! The taste and texture both seemed off and I didn't make it past a 2nd bite.  I also tried the blueberry cobbler and the creme-filled chocolate cake.  I was too full to get excited about any of it.

 

Here is the dessert plate of one of my companions

Service: My party of 8 adults and 3 small kids had a reservation and were able to be seated at our table immediately.  They had set up a special table for us in the large banquet space.    Our server was friendly and accommodating with drinks and other small requests.

Overall Impression: The food served on the Sunday Brunch was decent, I recommend the omelets and waffles!  Our service was really good.  I would like to go back for dinner to order off the menu

That's Amore' Deli ~ Vadnais Heights, MN

Cuisine: Delicatessan, Ice Cream, Italian
Restaurant Features: Counter-Service, On-Site Parking
Location: Vadnais Heights, MN
Address: 3435 Centerville Rd. Vadnais Heights, MN 55127 ( 651)484-6656
Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-6pm    Sat 11am-5pm        Sun & Mon Closed
Links: Google Map

Atmosphere: Located near the intersection of Centerville Rd. & Edgerton, That's Amore is snuggled into an antique strip mall that also holds a hardware store and possibly a service station.  It is a very small restaurant but they make you feel right at home.  The kitchen area and ice cream counter take up a good portion of the space, but there are three portable tables set up in little private nooks for customers to sit at.  Two of those nooks are located in the front window areas, each of which have cute little curtains hung over the windows.

Menu: Appetizers include Mini Pizzas, Luigi Fries, Homemade Chili, or Soup of the Day.

Salads offered at That's Amore' are the Caesar, Garden, House, Italian, and Spinach Italiano.

The sandwiches include Hot Dago, Meatball, Chicken Italiano, Hot Italian Beef, Hot or Cold Subs (choice of ham, turkey, salami, and roast beef), Turkey Sandwich, Luigi's Favorite (ham & turkey with pepperjack grilled), Grilled Ham & Cheese, Tuna Melt, Grilled Cheese, Spiedini (Italian Sausage), and Coney Island or Chicago-Dtyle Hot Dogs.  Wraps include Chicken Caesar, Chicken Ranch, and Club.  Broiled Cod Sandwich is offered on Fridays only.  Hamburger or Italian Burger also available.  All Sandwiches and Wraps are served with potato chips or substitute potato salad for $.50 extra.

The two pastas offered at That's Amore' are Baked Mostaccioli and Fettuccine Alfredo.

Sixteen Flavors of Old-Fashioned Ice Cream for dessert!

Price guide: Appetizers $4-6    Salad $5-8    Sandwiches $6-7    Pasta $7-8
What I ordered: I tried the meatball sub, which came with a small bag of Lays potato chips, pepperoncini peppers and cherry tomatoes.  I thought the sandwich was pretty good. The meatballs were cut in half to make it a little easier to eat, as this was a good sized sandwich!  The very fresh bread (baked that same day at a local bakery) was thick and soft on the inside, toasted just slightly on the outside.  Snuggled between the meatballs and the bread were thick slices of cold pepperjack cheese, which I would have preferred melted.  It was good nonetheless and I really liked that it came with a side of sauce for dipping, etc.

My companion ordered the Italian Beef Sandwich, which had tender, juicy and flavorful spiced roast beef piled onto thick, fresh bread that had been toasted just enough to make it golden brown.  This sandwich also came with cold pepperjack and a side of warm au jus.  Also served were potato chips, pickle spear and veggies.

I was also given this complimentary donut which I assume to have been baked at the same bakery where they get their fresh bread every day.  The cake donut was airy and fluffy, very moist inside with just the right amount of sugar coating it on the outside.  A sweet little extra after eating the meatball sub :)

Service: The people who run That's Amore' are very courteous, friendly and seemed appreciative of our business.  We ordered our food at a counter, but they brought it out to us and seemed to go out of their way to make sure we were taken care of.  I loved the gesture of offering my companion and I free fresh donuts for dessert.  Stopping at That's Amore' can also be quite convenient if you need to buy lottery tickets, milk, eggs or fresh bread, as these things are all available.
Overall Impression: Great little deli that has both hot and cold sandwiches at reasonable prices.  Great service.  Disappointed that it isn't open later than 6pm (or on Sundays or Mondays)

Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria ~ St. Paul, MN

Cuisine: Italian, Pizza,
Restaurant Features: Cafe-Style, On-Site Parking

Location:  St Paul, MN (Downtown)
Address: 211 Seventh St W St Paul, MN 55102  (651) 222-3476

Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Links: Google Map

Atmosphere: Cossetta's is a cafe-style restaurant, with two main serving areas that work their way toward the middle: The Pizza/Dessert counter on the far right and the Sandwiches/Salads/Hot Entree counter to the far left near the Italian Market. Order what you would like at designated counter (some items such as the lasagna, mostacolli and pizza are premade, but other items such as salads, sandwiches, veal parmesgiana, etc are made to order), then pay for everything at one of the two cashiers in the middle. Beverages are purchased at the cashier.

Cossetta's is a two-story restaurant, with a majority of the seating on the upper level.  Since the middle of the restaurant is open the full two stories to accommodate the stairway, many of the tables in the upper level wrap around a railing overlooking the action below.  There is also a dining room upstairs in the back that has several tables extremely close together.  When it gets crowded it can be hard to maneuver in and out.

Not pictured is the Cossetta Market, which sells imported food products from Italy, as well as fresh deli items (salads, sausage, sauce,etc).

Menu: Cossettas has a selection of made-to-order garden salads, such as the famous Cossetta Salad, Italian Garden Salad, or Italian Gorgonzola. There are also a handful of pasta salads like the Antipasto Salad or the Tortellini with Prosciutto and Gorgonzola.

Cossettas also has several sandwiches.  The Hero (choice of meat) and the Italian Hero are served cold with choice of fixings, while the following are all served hot: Cossetta Sandwich, Hot Peppers and Sausage, Veal Parmegiana, and Italian Meatball.

Entrees include Mostacolli with Ricotta, Chicken Marsala, Sausage and Peppers, Lasagna, Veal Parmesan, and Chicken Cacciatore.  Every month there is also a Featured Special; February's special is Manicotti Panna Marzano.

Pizza can be bought by the slice or you can order a whole pizza.  There are always hot, fresh slices of Cheese, Pepperoni, and Sausage, as well as a Daily Special.  One 16" is divided into six slices.

Desserts include Spumoni, Gelato, Cannoli and Tiramisu.

*All beverages are canned or bottled.

Price guide: Salads $ 4-8  Sandwiches $ 7-8 Entrees $5-11 Pizza by Slice $3.50-4
What I ordered: I shared this gigantic piece of pizza with my companion.  The slice was so big it hardly fit on the standard cardboard plate it came on!  The pizza at Cossetta's is New York Style, with a chewy, hand-tossed crust and just the right amount of sauce.  The mozzarella that they use is fresh and plentiful, and there were also plenty of slices of pepperoni which made it kind of greasy.  Cossetta's pizza is my favorite local pizza thus far.

 

My companion and I also each got the veal parmegiana entree, which comes with mostacolli and garlic toast.  I ordered mine with the sauce on the side to maintain the crispiness of the veal for as long as possible.  The veal is sliced about 1/4", making it tender yet crispy on the outside.  The portion size was on the small side but worth every penny.  The mostacolli was tossed lightly with ricotta and comes loaded with red sauce ( I added the sauce myself from the side they gave me and saved the rest for my veal).  The mostacolli was firm and delicious with the sauce.  The garlic toast was huge! It had a fair amount of garlic butter and was slightly salty but packed with flavor.  It was also just the right amount of crispy on the outside and still soft on the inside- I especially loved it dipped in sauce.

Service: My visit was late on a Saturday afternoon, just 3 hours or so before a Wild Hockey game.  We were fortunate enough to get to Cossetta's before it started to get packed, which meant a prime spot in the Cossetta's Parking Lot (for customers only, no event parking!) and reasonable food lines.  Within a half hour or so after we arrived, it really started to fill up in the restaurant and the lines were getting long.  As far as the actual service itself, the cafe-style servers were friendly and accommodating. I have eaten at Cossetta's countless times and everything is consistently good.
Overall Impression: Delicious Italian food served reasonably fast and at affordable prices.  Great place to have a giant slice of NY Style pizza (my favorite in fact ;) Can be very busy on weekend evenings and prior to events at the Xcel Energy Center.  Free parking in own lot.

Roadside Pizza~ St. Paul, MN

Cuisine: Italian, Pizza

Restaurant Features: On-Site Parking
Location: St Paul
Address: 296 Larpenteur Ave E (and I-35E) St Paul, MN 55117 (651) 778-8786

Hours: M-F 6am-10pm, Sat 10:30am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Links: Google Map

Atmosphere: Roadside Pizza is located within a strip mall just off the 35E Freeway exit between Wheelock Pkwy and Larpenteur Ave.  The large windows brighten up the two dining areas, which consist of both laminate tables and booths.  Walls are adorned with a variety of photographs and other local memorabilia.

 

Menu: Breakfast items include Breakfast Sandwich (choice of sausage, bacon or Canadian bacon, with eggs and either melted American or mozzarella, served on bagel or English muffin), Breakfast Pizza, and Baked French Toast.

Appetizers include Italian Fries, Pizza Pinwheels, Nachos, Nachos Supreme, Garlic Toast, Garlic Cheese Toast, and Chicken Wings (BBQ, Teriyaki, Bourban, Jamaican Jerk, Zesty Orange and Hot).

Salads offered at Roadside include the Super (chopped greens, pepperoni, ham, cheese, veggies), Taco, Oriental, Pasta, Orange & Walnut, Caesar,  and Chicken Caesar.

Sandwiches include Hot Dago, Meatball Dip, or Deli Sandwich (Roast Beef, Ham, Turkey, or Piled High).

Specialty Pizzas include Special Deluxe, Veggie Lovers, Taco, Oriental Special, Cheeseburger, Chicken BBQ, Hawaiian Special, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Alfredo, Super, and Meatlovers.  You can also build your own.

Hot Pastas at Roadside include Spaghetti and Meatballs, Mostaciolli and Meatballs, Fettucini Alfredo, Baked Lasagna.  Any pasta may be topped off with sauteed onion, green pepper and fresh mushrooms for $1.50 extra.

Desserts include Cinnamon Fries (baked dough covered with cinnamon sugar and vanilla icing), Apple Dessert Pizza, and Cherry Dessert Pizza.

Price guide: Breakfast $2.50-5  Appetizers $4-10 Salads $8 Sandwiches $7-8 Pizza Slice $2.55 Pizzas $5-20 Pasta $9  Desserts $5-10

Weekly Specials: (Dine in or Take-Out Only)

Saturday- Family Meal Deal (Large Pizza up to 2 toppings,1 side, and 2 liters Soda $19.99

Sunday- Buy One Large pizza, Get One Large Pizza Free

Monday- Free 10" Italian Fry with purchase of Large Pizza

Tuesday- 2 for 1 Pasta Night

Wednesday- Meatball Dip and Beverage $6.95
What I ordered:  I went with one of the Daily Lunch Specials, Lasagna with breadstick and side salad.  The salad was served in a little bowl with fresh lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and shredded cheddar.

The lasagna had several layers of noodles, sausage, cheese and sauce.  It was good, but I've decided I prefer the Pizza at Roadside. 

My companion ordered the Mostaccioli Lunch Special (also served with side salad and bread stick).  The sauce was thick and zesty.

Here is a slice of Pepperoni Pizza from Roadside.   The crust is thin, hand-tossed and covered with a zesty sauce then piled with pepperoni then mozzarella and baked until cheese is golden and bubbly. Not as much grease as one would expect from all the pepperoni.

Service: Everyone at Roadside Pizza has always been very friendly when I stop in for a quick lunch or to grab pizza slices to-go.  Food is prepared quickly and with a smile.  Delivery is available.
Overall Impression: Roadside is more than a take-out pizza counter; the menu and restaurant offer a good place to stop for either a quick slice of pizza or to sit down and have pasta or pizza with friends and family.

DeGidios~ St. Paul, MN

Cuisine: Italian
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking

Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 425 West 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102 - (651) 291-7105
Links: Degidio's Website Google Map

Atmosphere: Located less than a mile from downtown St Paul, DeGidio's is a large family-owned restaurant that has been operating in its original location since 1933.  The restaurant is very big, with at least two dining rooms and a large bar area with additional tables and booths.  The ambiance of the restaurant was one that seemed very relaxed, with several parties enjoying the weekend night.  Decor wasn't anything special.

View of the Bar area

Menu: Appetizers include Pizza Calabrese, Crostini Plate (olive tapenade), Pizza Olivino, Baked Goat Cheese, Bruschetta Dip Pomodoro, Garlic Cheese Bread, and Chicken Wings.  

Salads offered at DeGidio's include Greek Chicken, Chicken Strawberry, Caesar, Godmother Salad, Godmother Lucera, and Sirloin Caesar.  The Dinner Salad, Strawberry Salad and the Caesar are all offered as sides as well.

Italian specialties offered are the Spaghetti, Mostaccioli, Old-Fashioned Hot Dago, Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Linguini Salsiccia, Spaghetti Neapolitana, Beef Ravioli, Cheese Ravioli, Olive Tapenade, Mostaccioli Salerno, Italian Sausage Dip, Italian Meatball Dip, and Spicy Penne Arrabiata.

American Favorites include North American Walleye, Shrimp Platter, Sirloin Steak, Chicken Platter, Hamburger Platter, Steak Sandwich, and Italian Chicken Breast Sandwich.

DeGidio's dessert specialties are Spumoni Ice Cream, Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake, Lemons & Cream Shortcake, Tiramisu, and Triple Chocolate Pinstripe Cake.

Price guide: Appetizers $7-10 Salads $4-11 Italian Specialties $8-11 American Entrees $8-14 Desserts $4-5
What We ordered: My companions and I started with the Pizza Calabrese, which was made of a thin crispy flatbread, and topped with a thin amount of olive oil, melted mozzarella and provolone, sauteed bell peppers and Italian sausage.  I thought this was delicious! The sausage was spicy and slightly on the salty side, but had good flavor.  I loved the crispiness of the crust in combination with the cheese.  I would have liked a side of sauce to dip the pizza in, but it was good enough without it.

We also received this  basket of garlic toast when they brought out our meals.  The bread was thickly sliced, buttery, and flavored with a decent amount of garlic.  I liked that the bread was just slightly crispy yet still somewhat soft in the middle. 

I had been debating whether to order the cheese or meat ravioli for my meal, and took the server's suggestion to get the Cheese Ravioli with a Meatball.  The raviolis were stuffed with ricotta cheese and then topped with DeGidio's Homemade Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella.  I liked the standard-ricotta ravioli, but nothing fancy stood out about it.  Same with the sauce...I thought it was good and liked that it had small chunks of tomato and onion in it, but it didn't set itself apart from many other red sauces that I have had before (including varieties found at the grocery store). 

One of my companions ordered the Meatball Dip.  This dish consisted of three homemade meatballs served atop a plate of mostaccioli and then smothered with sauteed bell peppers and mozzarella.  The meatballs were very good, but the peppers could have been sauteed a little longer to make them a little softer.

Another companion tried the Hot Dago after seeing it served to others before we ordered.  The patty was made of Italian Sausage and then served between two thick slices of bread and then topped with sauce and cheese.

Service: We arrived at the height of the Friday-Night dinner rush without a reservation.  We were told we would have to wait about ten minutes, so we went into the bar area and ordered drinks.   Less than five minutes after we arrived, the host came to tell us our  table was ready.  Our server was friendly and prompt when taking our order and refilling drinks.  We ordered the appetizer at the same time as our meals and they were spaced just perfectly so that we were just finishing the appetizer when the meals were served.  Our server was happy to give us more bread to take home with our leftovers.
Overall Impression: I thought the food was pretty good, but nothing about it stood out as anything truly special or unique in my eyes.  Being that DeGidio's has been around for 75 years now, there are obviously many people who would disagree with my opinion.  I also thought the menu was kind of limited but I was pleased with the service and thought the prices were very reasonable.

IL Vesco Vino Bar Napoleto- St Paul, MN

*** Il Vesco Vino has relocated!!! This review was done at OLD restaurant location on Selby Ave.***

Cuisine: Authentic Italian
Restaurant Features: Patio Dining

Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 242 W. 7th Street  Saint Paul, MN 55102 (651) 222 - 7000
Links: Il Vesco Vino Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: Located in a refurnished Victorian Mansion in the middle of a residential neighborhood, Il Vesco Vino is a romantic little Italian restaurant and bar.  There are three stories to the restaurant, with many private dining areas throughout the rooms of this former mansion.

 

This is just one of many seating areas....

 

There is also a beautiful patio adjacent to the building, complete with gardens, a bar, and a wood-fire brick oven.

Menu: Appetizers include Arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with peas, mint & fresh lemon), Eggplant Parmigian, and Fried Calamari.

Antipasti that are served cold include Spicy Garlic & Rosemary Olives, Caprese, Romaine, Garden Greens, Panzanella, Roasted Beets with Arugula, Tuna Crudo, Carpaccio (thinly sliced beef), and Salumi & Cheese.  Antipasti that are served hot include Tomato and Sage Soup, Fried Polenta with Peas, Grilled Sausage with Roasted Peppers, House-made Meatballs, and Mediterranean Steamed Mussels.

Pasta Dishes include Puttanesca (spaghetti with olives and anchovy), Ziti, Lemon Risotto, Gnocchi with Porcini Mushrooms, Tortelloni with Shrimp, Ravioli with Lamb, Bucatini all' Amatriciana, Spicy Linguine with Shrimp.

Entrees (Secondi) include Pork Piccata, Fire-Roasted Chicken, Grilled Salmon with Artichoke, Grilled Lamb Steak, Halibut, Seared Scallops, and New York Strip Steak.

Desserts include Tiramisu, Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake, Creme Brulee, Chocolate Stuffed Pistachio donuts, Limoncello Frozen Custard, Warm Chocolate Cake, and Vanilla Gelato.

Price guide:  Appetizers $9-13  Antipasti $ 5-18  Pasta $13-19 Entrees $18-28  Desserts $7-8
What We Ordered: My companions and I stopped at Il Vesco Vino on a Saturday afternoon between a wedding we had just attended and the reception which was scheduled to start a few hours later.  None of us had eaten all day and we needed just a little something to tide us over until we were able to eat dinner at the reception.

Along with several really good cocktails, we received a basket of fresh bread.  It was thick, had a nice crust and was served with olive oil on the side for dipping.

 

We also ordered the Calamari which came seasoned with lemon and sea salt.  Our order consisted of both battered and fried rings and tiny little squid with tentacles still attached.  Both were very good, the texture of the rings was tender and the little squids had a crispier texture.  Two of my companions had never had calamari before and were slightly reluctant to try it, but both thought it was really good.

Service:  There were only just a few other tables being occupied on the patio where my companions and I sat, and the service was excellent.  All of our needs and requests were fulfilled in a timely manner.
Overall Impression:  A cool, romantic place for an authentic Italian meal.  Many wine and specialty drink offerings along with great special during Happy hour make it a great place to visit after work or for a romantic dinner. 

Mama's Pizza- St Paul, MN

Cuisine: Italian, Pizza, American
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 961 Rice St St. Paul, MN 55117 (651) 489-2005
Links: Mama's Website Google Map

Atmosphere: The restaurant is in a small space and is always packed with people enjoying the best pizza in the North End neighborhood of St Paul.  The custom mural painted on one of the walls is bright and cheerful and helps make the room seem bigger.

Menu:  Appetizers and side orders include Mini Pizzas, Mini Italian Fries, Cheese Bread, French Fries, and Onion Rings.  Salads include dinner salad and antipasto.

Sandwiches include Hot Diego, Meatball, Italian Sausage, Chicken Patty, Fish, Cube Steak, BLT, and Hamburger.

Italian Dinners (comes with fresh Vienna Bread) include Spaghetti, Mostaccioli, Ravioli, Lasagna, Veal, and Stuffed Shells.

American Dinners (comes with salad and choice of fries, spaghetti, mostaccioli or ravioli)  include Shrimp, Grilled Pork Chops, Fried Chicken, Tenderloin Steak, Hamburger Steak, Cube Steak, and Deep-Fried Fish.

Pizzas come either large or small, ingredients include Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Banana Peppers, Green pepper, Onion, Green Olive, Black Olive, Bacon, Mushroom, Shrimp, Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, Cheese.  Italian Fries are also an option....pizza crust covered with cheese, with sauce served on the side.

Price guide: Appetizers $3-6  Sandwiches $3-9 Italian Dinners $6-10 American Dinners $8-11
What I ordered: To start off, a couple of my companions and I each ordered a slice of cheese bread, which was thick and crunchy on the bottom.  There was a decent amount of cheese baked atop a light spread of melted butter, but I could not detect any garlic on the bread.  It was served with a side of marinara.

Our visit was during lunch, so one of my companions and I decided to share the Special Hot Diego Sandwich. This version of the Hot Diego comes with sauteed onions, green peppers, mushrooms on top of a ground beef/Italian sausage patty and is smothered in sauce with mozzarella cheese baked on top.  I thought the sandwich was good, but not as good as other Dago sandwiches that I have tried recently.  The meat patty was very thick and a little on the tough side.  The texture seemed to be dense, my guess is that there are little or no bread crumbs used to make the patties.  The sauce was very good, as were the veggies, however the veggies were chopped into fine little pieces so their flavor was more subtle.

 

Two of my companions ordered a pepperoni and green olive pizza and thought it was very good.  The crust was very thin, crispy, and loaded with sauce.  There was also a nice amount of cheese on the pizza, but it didn't cover all the way to the edge of the crust.

 

Another companion ordered a California Cheeseburger with a side of onion rings.  The cheeseburger was a standard burger, but at just $3, you couldn't find a burger this size anywhere but a fast food place! The onion rings were about 1/4-1/2inch thick and had a crispy breading on them, also a generous portion for only $3. (NOT included in price of burger).

 

One of the best things about Mama's is that at the end of the meal, everyone is given a complimentary baby ice cream cone (tastes just like the ice cream at DQ).

Service: It was packed during the lunch hour, but my party of five got there early enough to find a table big enough to accommodate us.  Our server was very friendly and the food was served in a reasonable amount of time.  The cook/owner was full of smiles; very welcoming.
Overall Impression:  Friendly service and good Italian food at prices that can't be beat! Complimentary mini-ice-cream-cones is a sweet bonus :)

Ciao Bella ~ Bloomington, MN

Cuisine: Italian
Restaurant Features: Bar, Patio Dining, On-Site Parking

Location: Bloomington, MN
Address: 3501 Minnesota Drive Bloomington, Minnesota 55435 (952)841-1000
Links: Ciao Bella Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: Ciao Bella is a large restaurant, with a couple of separate dining areas throughout the space.  The main dining room is an open area with a mix of tables and booths, white table cloths and dim lighting. I thought the ceiling was pretty cool- it was formed into bands of arches (Better view in the bar photo below).Adjacent to the large dining room there is a smaller seating area near the outdoor patio with several windows that give it great natural lighting.

Here is a view of the bar area, which has tables in addition to the stools at the bar.

Patio area

Menu: Appetizers (aka "small plates") include Calamari Fritti, Parmesan Crusted Shrimp, Seared Ahi Tuna, Tuna Spring Rolls, Mini-Burgers, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, rilled Shrimp, Ginger Scallops, Crab Cakes, Baked Chicken Spring Roll, Steamed Edamame, Zucchini, and Grilled Asparagus.  There are also three types of Bruschetta.  Pizzas and Specialty Flatbreads such as the Grilled Chicken and Artichoke, Tomato and Avocado, Wild Mushroom and Margherita are also popular choices.

There are several salads offered (half or full-size) including Caesar, DolceVita, Brasiliana, Organic Baby Greens, Caprese, Heirloom Grain Chopped Salad, Bacon and Blue Cheese, Ciao Baby, Sesame Chicken, and the Wild Muchroom Salad.

Pastas include Ravioli with Ricotta, Shrimp Linguini, Fettucine with Chicken, Fussili Lunghi, Risotto, Lasagna, Spaghetti, Fettucine with Asparagus, Tagliolini with Shrimp and Tortiglioni Rossa.

Sandwiches served at lunch only include Grilled Chicken Panini, Grilled Filet Mignon Sandwich, and Rotisserie Chicken Panini.
Entrees featured on Dinner Menu are the Wood Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Chicken Parmigiana, Veal Scallopine al Limone, Grilled Turkey Burger, Ahi Tuna Burger, Filet Mignon Steak, New York Strip, and Seasonal Fish.

Price guide: Small Plates $5-14  Salads $8-12 Pastas $14-18  Flatbreads $10 Pizza $8-12 Entrees $12-42
What We ordered: Shortly after we sat down we were served this warm, dense Italian bread.

I started with the Tomato Basil Soup, which was delicious.  It had big, chunky stewed tomatoes that gave it great texture, and the flavor was slightly sweet and tangy.  It was topped with a couple of big chunks of the bread and grated parmesan.

 

I was more in the mood for a sandwich than for a pasta dish, and after hearing the server talk-up the Turkey Avocado Panini, I went with her suggestion.  The ingredients were fresh, but the turkey and avocado just didn't have enough flavor to get my attention (I love flavor and spice!) and I found it a little on the boring side, even with a tad of Dijon Mustard.  I had also assumed that all paninis were made on ciabatta bread (which I love because they are soft and crispy), but this sandwich was made with a denser bread and was hard on the outside.  The sandwich was good, it just wasn't what I was after.

 

One of my companions ordered a half Bacon and Blue Cheese Salad with a half order of the Chicken Fettuccine. The salad had romaine, tomatoes, onions and chunks of crispy bacon and came with the dressing pre-tossed.  The Chicken Fettucine dish was made with spinach noodle and then topped with steamed spinach, toasted almonds, chicken and tossed in the house white wine cream sauce.  This was a half portion, but seemed considerably smaller than the half portion of Fettucine with Asparagus.

 

My other companion ordered a half salad with a half Fettuccine Asparagus. 

The fettucine was topped with large pieces of asparagus, pine nuts, pancetta, parmesan and served in a light cream sauce.  My companion enjoyed the dish and he bite that I tried had more flavor than most Alfredo sauces, so I was pleased.

Service: Our server was really nice, and very accommodating to the baby I had in my party.  When asked for suggestions she offered her favorites off the menu.  It was a busy lunch hour and I think the food was served in a reasonable amount of time.
Overall Impression: Very nice restaurant, a popular place for the business crowd.  Good food and a decent-sized menu.  Prices seem a little high, but comparable to other restaurants in the area. 

Yarusso Bros. Italian - St. Paul, MN

Cuisine: Italian,
Restaurant Features: Bar, Lunch Buffet, Sunday Brunch, On-Site Parking

Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 635 Payne Avenue  St Paul, MN 55130 (651)776-4848
Links: Yarusos Website Google Map

Atmosphere: Located just a couple of miles from Downtown St Paul, Yarussos is the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in St Paul, in operation since April 1933! The restaurant has two dining areas, the larger of which has both wooden tables and booths, with dark walls lined with decades of photographs.  The smaller dining area is paired with the bar, with a handful of booth/table combos.

Menu: Appetizers include fried ravioli, Italian Chicken Fingers, Garlic Toast, Garlic Cheese Toast, Sausage with Peppers and Onions, and Mozzarella Sticks.
Sandwiches include Dago (sauce and cheese a la carte), Dago Supreme (smothered in sauce, cheese, peppers and onions), Italian Hamburger, Chicken Parmesan, Meatball Hoagie, Meatball Supreme, Sausage Hoagie, and Sausage Supreme.
Yarussos Pastas are Spaghetti, Mostaccioli, Rigatoni, Fettuccini, Meat or Cheese Ravioli, Baked Mostaccioli, Baked Mostaccioli Alfredo, Meat lasagna, and Manicotti.
Entrees include Fried Chicken, Meatball Dinner, Italian Hamurger Steak, Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan Alfredo, Eggplant Parmesan, Deep-Fried Catfish or Shrimp.
Desserts include Homemade Tiramisu, Chocolate Meatballs, Italian Spumoni and Double Chocolate Cake.

**Ten Daily Lunch Specials
**Pizza, Pasta, Soup & Salad Bar Mon-Fri 11-1:30 $8.50
**There is also a Italian Sunday Buffet every week 10am-2pm
**Family Take-Out and Catering also available

Price guide: Appetizers $3-7 Sandwiches $5-8 Pastas $8-11 Entrees $8-10 Desserts $3-5
What we ordered: We were given this complimentary loaf of bread.  It looked good, but I did not try any of it.

I ordered the Dago Supreme.  WOW.  This is by-far my favorite dish at Yarussos.  Standing about 5 inches tall and loaded with sauteed peppers, onions and fresh mushrooms, the Dago patty is layered between thick slices of Italian bread and smothered in sauce with melted mozzarella on top.  The portion was big enough for me to have two meals!

Two of my companions each ordered the Large Beef Ravioli, which came with at least 20 large beef-filled raviolis and two giant meatballs.  The sauce has a unique flavor, mild yet tangy, and completely meatless.

One of my companions ordered the Large Mostaccoli with a meatball. 

When the food was served, one of my companions ordered Garlic Toast, which was soft and buttery on top yet crispy on the outside.

Service: We had a party of five and ended up seating ourselves in a booth in the bar area.  Service was decent, but it seemed to take awhile for our food and drink refills. 
Overall Impression: Nothing extravagant or gourmet, but Yarussos serves good Italian food that is reasonably priced for the large portions you get.  Dago Supreme is a must-try and don't forget to save room for the spumoni ice cream!

Bella Italian Grill- Blaine, MN

Cuisine: Italian, Pizzas, Fish & Seafood
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Patio Dining, On-Site Parking

Location: Blaine, MN
Address: 10950 Club West Parkway - Suite 270, Blaine, MN 55449
Links: Bella Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: Everything about Bella is sophisticated and lovely! There is a large courtyard complete with full bar and large fire pit. Highly recommended for happy hour, lunch, or an evening with friends.

Inside Bella's dining room, you can see the details that make this restaurant a step above others.  It is richly and sophisticatedly decorated, with many tables throughout.  My favorite are the couple of giant, semi-private round booths set in the middle of the restaurant.  These booths are perfect for an intimate party of up to six people, as they block out much of the sounds of other guests.

The bar is a giant area situated on one side of the restaurant.  Seats about 30-40 people comfortably.

Menu: Happy Hour Appetizers include Grilled Pork Loin Skewers, Mozzarella in Carrozza, Napoleon Flatbread, Blackened Chicken Flatbread , and Shoestring Fries (all for $3/ea from 3-6pm, 7 days a week)
Regular appetizers include Mozzarella Caprese, Shrimp Cocktail, Sausage and Peppers, Steamed Mussels, Bruschetta, Southwest Rolls, Eggplant Parmigiana, Garlic Cheese Bread, Calamari and Hot Peppers, Breaded Mozzarella, and Spicy Chicken Wings. 
Flatbreads include Spinch & Artichoke, Blackened Chicken, Napoleon, and Spicy Shrimp.  There is also a selection of Bella's Special Pizzas.
Salads include Caesar, Wedge, Bella, Spinach, Della Casa and Midwestern.
Bella makes fresh homemade raviolis daily.  Choices include Butternut Squash in Brown Butter Sauce, Lobster with Lobster Cream Sauce, and Spinach with Ricotta.  The Spinach or Meat Lasagna are also signature dishes at Bella.  Other pasta dishes include Cappellini Primavera, Bella Fettuccine, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Rigatoni with Meat Sauce, Penne Vodka, Linguini and Shrimp, Stuffed Chicken, Linguini and Clams, Field Pasta (with mushrooms in a cream sauce), Spicy Shrimp Penne, or Linguini Basil Pesto.
Veal and Poultry Entrees include Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Champagne, Simple Chicken, or Chicken or Veal Marsala.
Grilled Entrees include Pork Chop, Pork Tenderloin, Top Sirloin, Ribeye, New York Strip and Filet. 
Fresh Fish dishes include Chilean Sea Bass, Grilled Tilapia, Peppercorn Crusted Ahi Tuna, Seared Atlantic Salmon, Canadian Walleye, and Australia Lobster Tail.
Side dishes are served A La Carte and include Purple Potatoes, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Risotto, Sauteed Spinach, Grilled Asparagus, Vegetable Medley, and Glazed Baby Carrots.

Price guide: Appetizers $8-11 (plus Happy Hour Specials for $3), Flatbreads & Pizzas $ 7-13, Salads $7,  Pasta $14-25  Veal & Poultry $18-22, Grilled Meats $17-30, Fresh Fish $ Market Price
What we ordered: We arrived during Happy Hour and decided to hang out on the patio for the wine and appetizer specials.  This is the Mozzarella in Carrozza (crispy breaded fresh mozzarella cheese,
wild mushroom ragout & roasted capers finished with Bella sauce).  Very good, but eat it while its hot or the cheese will harden quickly!

The Grilled Pork Loin Skewers (with a roasted tomato chipotle sauce
and served with a Thai cucumber salad ).  These were pretty good, but without the sauce they would've been pretty boring.  The salad was god, but was saturated with dressing and slightly on the soggy side.

I ordered the Ravioli Platter, which was considered by our server to be a "must try".  There were three of each of Bella's handmade-daily-raviolis.  The first ravioli I tried was the Butternut Squash.  The pasta was made with spinach and filled with a slightly sweet butternut and brown sugar squash, with a buttery pesto sauce.  Very good!  The second ravioli on the platter was the House ravioli.  This was filled with a cream-cheese-like filling and lightly topped with red sauce.  The third ravioli on the platter was the lobster ravioli with creamy lobster sauce.  So delicious! It had big chunks of tender lobster in the sauce and the ravioli itself was filled with a cheesey-lobster mixture that also had a nice twang to it.  The raviolis were on the small side, but the platter itself was more than enough for one person.

Two of my companions ordered the Veal Marsala served with wild mushrooms and topped with asparagus. I did not try this dish, but it looked and smelled wonderful! It was a big hit

One of my companions ordered the Chicken Marsala, served with potatoes, wild mushrooms and carrots in a delicious Marsala Demi Glace.  Wonderful flavor!

Another companion ordered the Chicken Canneloni.  This looked so good that I had to try a bite!  Lots of seasoned cheese, but also a lot of chicken.  The sauce was rich and packed with flavor.  I would definitely order this for myself in the future :)

Service: Our service was very good.  We first enjoyed Happy Hour on the patio.  There was only one server who was also working as bartender, so she was very busy, but kept up with customers very well.  Inside the dining room, we were served by a wonderful young woman named Maria.  She was a big hit with our group! Besides giving excellent recommendations from the menu, she was also very patient and friendly.  I have been to many, many restaurants, and Maria was one of the best servers who has ever waited on me.  We had made a reservation in advance and were please to be seated in one of the large, private round booths.  One thing that I must mention is that although the food was excellent, it took a good 45 minutes to arrive at our table after we ordered.  We did not mind this, as we were enjoying our experience and the good company.
Overall Impression:  Fabulous atmosphere, great food but very expensive.  Excellent service.  A good place to go for a special occasion.