While visiting Memphis for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, I was looking for a local spot to grab a few extra carbs for the race. The front desk at the hotel recommended this spot, and I couldn't be happier with their recommendation. Cocozza sits on the far end of a strip mall, but has adequate parking in the front, and additional in the rear of the property. Visiting on a Friday evening, there was a small wait and all seats were full. However, I was able to find a vacant bar seat. Steven made a great gin martini, and fave me the rundown on the menu. I decided to start with a Caesar salad, followed by Bucatini Alla Enzo for the entree. Until today, I hadn't had the pleasure of trying bucatini, but this unique pasta might just be my new favorite. It was just the right portion of pasta with a wonderful garlic sauce accompanied by fresh mushrooms and peas. I grabbed a piece of lemon cheesecake to-go, and gave my seat to a waiting patron. As I visit Memphis often, I am really looking forward to visiting Cocozza again to try other items on the menu. Great service! Great spot! Great food. read more

Cocozza American Italian - Bucatini Alla Enzo! - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I have had Cocozza at the restaurant and to-go and both are excellent. The restaurant gives cozy, neighborhood favorite vibes. The downside was that on the first visit, I didn't know you could sub out the "pencil points" that come with each entree. When you don't modify this, you get the points in a red sauce. Meh. The veal piccata is always my go-to on a menu and this is hands down one of my favorite piccatas I've ever had. With pasta in the garlic sauce in lieu of red-sauced pencil points... chef's kiss. The appetizers are also great and my husband raved about his. I don't remember what he ordered, but it had a salad on top that was delightful. read more

Noisy Music loud Open kitchen can be distracting Outdoor seating for summer but have heaters Full bar Large portions on some items Salads al la carte Waitress was attentive Recommend reservations on weekends ONLY Cards No Cash This can be a problem if old fashion and only use cash read more

A last-minute change of plans led me to Cocozza, a restaurant that wasn't on my radar--but I'm so glad I found it! We started with the Antipasti and Fried Buffalo Mozzarella. I didn't eat much of the Antipasti, but the tomato bruschetta was delicious. The fried mozzarella was great as well. The triangular-shaped cheese was rich and savory and paired well with the side of marinara and roasted red peppers. I also tried the house salad, which was elevated by the creamy Italian dressing. I easily could've eaten an entire plate of it on my own. For my entrée, after much deliberation, I ordered the Cheese Ravioli, which was divine. The large ravioli were stuffed with cheese and immersed in a rich, creamy white sauce. They paired well with the earthy mushrooms and wilted spinach. It was a very filling dish. We ate on the patio, so I didn't get to see much of the interior. I hope to return soon to explore more of the menu. read more

Cocozza American Italian - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Went as a party of 7 including 2 kids on a Friday night at 7:30. What was great: -were able to make a reservation, and table was available and ready at the time promised -friendly, speedy service from our excellent server/the kitchen. Apps/salads came out very quickly, and entrees followed appropriately -kids menu with several kid-friendly options for my kids -loved the house salad (olives, marinated peppers, greens w creamy Italian dressing -the chicken tortellini my husband ordered was excellent -my kids thoroughly enjoyed the cheesy garlic bread and fried zucchini stick appetizers, as well as the calamari -the restaurant is homey, inviting, and very clean (bathrooms had a vintage italian joint feel but were very clean and clearly freshly painted etc) What warranted 4 stars not 5: -the rest of the food was good, but not amazing: ---rigatoni w vodka sauce (too much red pepper) ---chicken Parmesan ---chicken Marsala read more

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The reviews have been very good, so we made our first visit to Cocozza East. On a Friday evening, it was apparent that this restaurant is popular and destined to become a Neighborhood Gem. The food was absolutely delicious! We enjoyed Garlic Bread, Calamari, Eggplant Parmesan, Tortellini, and Tiramisu. Elena, our Server, was attentive, delightful, and very friendly. Additionally, I noticed a good deal of Teamwork: Servers helping each other and Kitchen Team working with Servers to get food to the table as soon has it was plated. Kudos to the Cocozza East Team (Hostesses, Kitchen Staff, Servers, Managers). We have several favorite restaurants in East Memphis and Cocozza East has joined that list!!! read more

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Best experience and food! My server Abbie did an amazing job checking on us and making sure we had the best experience! Definitely recommend this place and her. read more

This is a nice little spot on Mud Island for a casual dinner. We elected to sit outside because the weather was so nice. Our server was really fantastic, as was the calamari. Seriously, theirs is next level! It is ever so lightly battered and fried with lemons and cherry peppers. My husband orders calamari literally everywhere we go, and this is the best I've ever had. He also had a nice dish of chicken piccata, while I enjoyed a bowl of rigatoni with spicy marina. The spice level was a tiny bit high for me, but the sauce was delicious. We would definitely make the trip over there again, I would just opt to sit inside. read more

Cocozza American Italian - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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January 19, 2026: We had dinner here last night. Our first time to try them. My wife and I both had the chicken Parmesan. Man ! Was it good. read more

The food was outstanding. I started with the Caprese salad and the wife had the calamari. Both were excellent. I went for the cheese ravioli and she had the chicken Marsala. Both entree were plenty, and neither of us finished, but again, the food was delicious. While this will be a five star review, the volume in the restaurant is extremely high. We were at a small table for four and we had trouble hearing. Other than that, the service was good and so was the food. We will return. read more

It's a "neighborhood restaurant" experience, exactly what we needed. We got there early enough to find a parking space, otherwise they have valet. It's a small space, so I almost don't want to leave a good review so we can still get in, but, they're amazing and deserve praise. My husband & I showed up around 4:50pm on a Wednesday, no tables available (I think they'd all been reserved), but we're happy with bar seating on a night out together. Our bartender, Sara, was welcoming, explained all the specials, made expert drinks and recommendations and was attentive, even after they started getting truly busy. The manager (I think) was also helpful, engaging and conscientious. We got some of the bar bites specials: the toasted ravioli and sausage & mushroom crostini. We both loved the rich crostini, my husband loved the ravioli, I'm glad we split them. Wonderful eats for $3 each! Also got the calamari and enjoyed the lemon aioli, but it was too much for the two of us, I do wish they had half orders (or I guess we should bring more people). We had a lot of recommendations going in, and settled on splitting the tortellini for our main. It was DELICIOUS. It seems simple at first bite, but it's got depth and I kept reaching for my husband's portion, too. We're excited to try everything there soon. read more

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Atmosphere was ok. Service was OK. I had the chicken parmesan. Wife had the chicken marsala. The parm was OK but I've had better. Wife described her dish as mushy and bland. We ordered the cannabis for desert. The filling had a very gritty texture. Whole experience was underwhelming. read more

Food is fantastic atmosphere is a bit loud but in a very small cozy space. All staff on multiple visits have been very friendly. I highly recommend the chicken and veal Parmesan . read more

Loved everything about this place. The employees were incredibly kind, the mood was festive and the food was outstanding! The cherry on top is the fact that this is a small neighborhood establishment that we've needed for a long long time. As long as they keep doing what they're doing; Cocozza will be here for a good while. Nicely done. read more

Cocozza American Italian - My wife had the chicken piccata and I had the pork Milanese.....we chose a white sauce (amazing!!!) for our pasta - Italian Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Cute dinning spot but the food was Meh and the wine tastes like $2buck chuck. It's in a great neighborhood location so try it out at least once & decide if it's for you. read more

I've ordered takeout from Cocozza twice, so this review is based on takeout only. That said, the vibe inside when I've gone in to pick up my order feels really cozy and inviting. Both times, my order was ready on time and packaged well, which I really appreciated. There were definitely some highlights. The rigatoni with vodka sauce and grilled chicken was very tasty--slightly spicy but not overwhelming--and the portion was generous. The veal marsala was also a standout and thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, a few dishes missed the mark. We ordered two chicken picattas, and both people who had them felt they were way too lemony. The side of pencil points was also disappointing. They come with a spicy marinara, and there's no option to substitute a non-spicy marinara sauce. The marinara was so spicy it was honestly inedible--all four of us agreed. Lastly, the eggplant fries were overly salty. I had the eggplant parmesan on my previous takeout order and found it way too salty as well, so I'm guessing it's the same breading. Overall, there's some really good food here, but consistency and seasoning could use some improvement. read more

Food and service was amazing! I just wish the lighting was not so harsh... so many beautiful accents lights scattered around but the overhead lights were full blast.. the setting would feel a lot more cozy and up to the price point if the lighting was slightly less sterile! The acoustics are not great and it's very loud. read more

From start to finish.....what a wonderful experience. Our waitress Sara was awesome. Very informative. I waited so long for this. I will be back to try more of this amazing food !! Thank you COCOZZA'S read more

They know exactly who they are and gave us an amazing experience. The food is an excellent and delicious representation of American Italian food. They have the classics one would expect. The antipasto platter was the best "salad" I've had all week with a plentiful portion of arugula to compliment the salami, cheese, and vegetables. The eggplant parmesan is huge and delicious. The decor made me feel like I walked into the neighborhood Italian place in New Jersey while my husband felt right back home in Chicago. We will definitely be back. read more

Honestly it seemed like the hostess never had a table for 1 before and chose it sit me at a larger round table when there was 5 other tables for 2. Greeted quickly. I am a Spag & Meatball guy. But for $24 you would think you would get a salad or even a piece of Italian bread to go with the meal. Food was good but a little pricy. Thankfully work is paying for my meal. And if you are serving cans of soda at least include Coke Zero. Not everyone likes Diet Coke. A little disappointing. read more

I loved this place. Would recommend it to everyone. The Chianti wine was fantastic, even though I drank a little too much of it!

Tried Cocozza for the first time tonight and we will definitely be going back. We arrived without reservations, so we ended up sitting on their patio. While this is not normally a good idea in Memphis in July but they had outdoor fans to make it more comfortable. We started out with their special caprese salad, which was amazing. Our server Isaac recommended the Chicken Piccata, which my wife ordered, and I ordered the Chicken Marsala. Both were delicious. Next time we will have to save room for dessert. We will ask for Isaac next time because he has strong food credibility with us. read more

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Food and service were excellent. Disappointed that iced tea and/or Coke/ Pepsi products not available. Surprised restaurant only took credit. Didn't see any signage stating credit only when entering the restaurant. read more

Ordered delivery through door dash. Both of my orders, rigatoni pasta with shrimp were very spicy & salty and I didn't order extra spice. Next time will order no spice. read more

My family and I went here for dinner. Everything was top notch! The service, food, and the ambiance were great! I had the Chicken Marsala, it was the best I've had in Memphis. I highly recommend this place. Only downfall is parking, but they do have valet. read more

We enjoyed New Year's dinner last night, it was delicious. The calamari was excellent and starter house & Caesar salads good. My teenagers liked the lasagna and veal Parmesan. My husband had grilled salmon and my eggplant Parmesan was great. Adults had complimentary candied grapes for the occasion. Only suggestion would be some complimentary bread or bread that isn't $9 per order. read more

What a lovely little spot for Italian! My friend and I had a girls' night here in the fall and opted to dine out on the patio. The service was fantastic, but the food! I get eggplant parmesan 9/10 times I go out for Italian and this is the best I've ever had. Can't wait to go back! read more

8-29-25 We were there for dinner. The parking lot is very limited. Otherwise, you have to valet parking. The customer services is very good. The food was excellent and right off the stove. The only thing was no free bread. I highly recommend because the food was delicious. read more

If looking for a great dinner that is casual, you need to visit Cocozza East Memphis. We had a large party for a family dinner (13) including two children. The food was fabulous and the service from Sarah was wonderful. She was very attentive, even to the kids. I love the pork Milanese, but so many delicious entrees. If you arrive super hungry try the antipasti. Portion sizes are very generous. Easy online reservations but call for larger parties - they are very responsive!!! Thank you so much Cocozza for a delightful evening. ***I noticed they have pre-order take out trays for the holidays. Great idea! We love the Island location as well, but with the kids, the East Memphis location worked best for the family dinner. Try them both! read more

First of all, I want to say the food was awesome with large portions. Eggplant fries and chicken piccata were amazing. However, we had an incident with the owner. He came to the table to ask how everything was and we told him that the food was excellent and I had a suggestion that there should be some bread on the table. He said this is not Pete and Sam's, if you want bread, it's available for purchase. I told him that every Italian restaurant I've ever been in has bread on the table or on request and he huffed and walked away -as much as I enjoyed the food I will not be going back. read more

Tried the downtown location it was great. Ready to try the East Memphis Appetizer are great too

Our meal was great. Calamari was cooked perfectly and garlic bread was delicious. The vodka sauce was really good and I added meatballs to my pasta. Cannoli was one of the best I've tasted. The only thing that could be better is the ambiance. It was really noisy and hard to even hear those across the table. read more

I came here last night for dinner and sat at an outside patio. I was quickly greeted by Alexis and Lacy. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan. My food was quickly brought to me by the manager. The food and service were FANTASTIC! Alexis has the biggest smile on her face; she is just one of those people you want to be around. Lacy was knowledgeable about the menu and helped me decide on what to eat. The manager was friendly and I saw him making rounds to all the tables checking on folks. I eat solo frequently, and this will definitely become my regular spot for that! I will say that the dining room was extremely loud when I went in, which is why I decided to sit on the patio. If you are sensitive to loud spaces, I recommend bringing some LOOPS to help drown out the background noise. Don't let it deter you from going and trying this spot out though! It was one of my best dining experiences in years! Thank you for a wonderful meal! read more

The food was great, but we had a very awkward end to our meal. Just after we had settled our checks and were finishing our drinks, the manager came up to us in a frenzy. He abruptly said, "Ladies, I need your table. Another group has come in." I was mortified thinking we'd lingered longer than I expected, and looked down at the time after he stepped away. We'd been seated just over an hour and a half - hardly overstaying our welcome. The restaurant was also only about 60 percent full. I totally understand that a more experienced hostess maybe would have sat our party of two at a smaller table, and it's very hard to time things out, stuff happens. But the way this was handled lacked even basic hospitality. We received no apology from the manager, no, please join us at the bar while you finish your conversation, nothing. ... He didn't even make eye contact as he hurriedly shuffled us out of the restaurant. read more

I have been to this restaurant twice. The food has been consistently good. First I had the eggplant parm and the 2nd I had the shrimp pasta. While the food is good the service is just okay and the manager is rude. When we asked why they do not offer ice tea, she said it doesn't go with their red sauce. Seriously it is ice tea. She then said if we wanted something to drink we should drink more wine.... Also first Italian restaurant in town or out that does not offer bread unless you want to purchase it. No hurry to go back for lacking service or to be treated rudely. read more

We've had both locations, Harbor Town and East Memphis - both so good. Vibes, atmosphere, food and service were all great. Sarah at the bar in East Memphis was great. Vodka Rigatoni is my favorite but we also really love the calamari and the cannolis for desert were yum!!! Always had a great experience. read more

Excellent food and love the fine dining, but casual atmosphere. Service is great. Well done! One suggestion. Serve bread and oil without patrons asking. Every Italian restaurant does that. read more

Fantastic food and service. Get there between 4 and 6 for happy hour. Chicken piccata and chicken parm were terrific!!! Make a reservation.

Tried this place out for the first time Friday afternoon. Not only was the food Great but the service was excellent. The atmosphere there was nice and I've seen everyone have great teamwork. I had Ms Sanaa as my waitress. She was very attentive and friendly. I will return soon read more

food is delicious. love the eggplant and the bell. garlic bread is Devine. calamari is light and crispy. service was very good. felt very comfortable. wished they had iced tea. read more