What an interesting vibe! There is a doll playing the piano, movie references, old school Italian…read moreambience. There are not many seats so plan accordingly. The menu is fairly basic, but the selections did taste great. We liked the garlic bread the best, we were able to eat the whole thing with just the two of us as they are so addicting! We also enjoyed the chicken Alfredo and like the meat sauce. It is downtown parking so street parking can be limited. Service was a little slow, it did take a bit for the garlic bread to arrive. But they were apologetic for this.

Stopped in to try this Italian place. It is a little hard to find but, well worth the effort…read more Inside and nice and set up like an old style Italian restaurant with small lights on table and even a piano player too. Great low key ambiance. Believe it or not, I had the meat loaf off the menu. The menu literally said "yes meat loaf, it's that good". It was good, almost like eating veal with beef gravy. The gravy and the meat had a good flavor, worth a try. The table next to me a lady had the chicken Alfredo and she went on and on about how good it was. Yes tables are close to each other. I also tried the tiramisu, menu stated it was home made. It was not bad, just the whipped cream was a little heavy and it needed a little more espresso on the lady fingers. The waitress was amazing. She was polite, professional and had a 1920's style dress on, not sure how she waited tables and was the hostess in the dress and kept up. But she did and did an amazing job. The chef's did come out and check on folks and even did food running. The staff overall was exceptional. I will have to go back and try some of the pasta as well.

First time at Buona Sera, great service here, water was filled comedically fast. Food pricing was…read moreok, expect to pay a modest 20-30 for pasta, 40-60 for red meat, 30-60 for seafood, and 60-90 for multi course surf and turf specials. All meat entrees come with both salad and pasta, making it a decent deal. Now on with the food itself, the pasta is amazing, the marinara sauce is some of the best I've had, the salmon is incredible, the lobster is ok, and the steak is some of the best I've had. I've had steak everywhere, from Florida to Alaska, and I have never had a steak like this, it was strangely tender, melt in your mouth, the fat was also a more meaty texture, probably due to the dry aging, overall one of the better steaks I've ever had. The atmosphere is quite casual for the quality of food, my group wore just T shirts. The actual building is nice, but quite old, could use a new ac, but the patio space is magical, with service just as quick. Before I conclude my review, I should note that there was some sign of mild mold in 2 of our waters, likely due to the ice machine, this is a common issue, and as far as I know, had no negative health effects. Overall the food was decently priced and quite good, not mind blowing, but delicious none the less. Small locally owned restaurant with fantastic service. Give it a try!

Hidden gem Italian place in Champlin! Such a nice dinner ambiance and decor. It feels like a little…read morehideaway as it seems nestled amongst a residential area. We loved everything we tried! The mozzarella sticks were the best. Not overly heavy or greasy. Most everything is housemade ( not the pasta though) They even had a housemade limoncello but with tangerine! And the toffee cake and ice cream was warm and delicious. Chef Raffaele visited our table. I think he has amazing place and should be on everyone's need to visit list! They are only open for dinner. Private parking lot

This Italian restaurant is awesome ! it's so consistent and always so delicious ! I really love the…read morebread with the Parmesan cheese and oil and pepper ! Any of the pastas are delicious-- I really love the linguine Alfredo with the squid ink noodles! So yummy! Also, the drinks are fantastic-- I love the basil lemon drop! Very good and have had it multiple times, it's always very good ! Have never had a bad experience ! So so good! Will return ! 10/10!!!

We've been to Biaggi's many times over the years, and it continues to be one of our go-to spots…read more This visit was extra special because we were celebrating our son's high school graduation with a group of 16 adults and 6 grandchildren. What a nice time. Despite the size of our group, the evening was handled very well. We had two very attentive servers who did a fabulous job keeping up with drinks, food, and all the little things that come with a large family gathering. They were friendly, organized, and never made us feel rushed. My usual order is the Black Fettuccine with Lobster, which I highly recommend, but this time I changed it up and ordered the Combo Lasagna and Chicken Parmesan. It was excellent. As always, the bread with olive oil, parmesan, and fresh cracked pepper was awesome. You have to discipline yourself to stop eating so much warm bread that you don't fill up before your meal comes. For appetizers, we shared three Bruschetta orders, the Bacon-Wrapped Dates, and the Calamari Fritti. Everything was very good and perfect for a larger group to share. The overall experience is what keeps us coming back. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable, they have a great patio during the summer months, the food is always consistent, and the service is typically very good. It's just a reliable place for a nice night out or a special family gathering. I wouldn't rate a chain restaurant with 5-stars, but Biaggi's never lets us down. Solid 4-star experience every time we visit.

Got dinner here with my dad. We hadn't been to Mansetti's in years but we will definitely be back!…read moreMy dad was craving pasta and there aren't a ton of options in the area. Our server was great and food was quick. I got the chicken cordon blue and my dad got meat and cheese manicotti. Both fantastic and they come with really large pieces of garlic toast! My only critique on the chicken cordon blue is that I wish it was diced ham and not shaved but still delicious. Seems they have a buffet so we would like to be back for that some time too! They also have diet Mountain Dew which my dad prefers and can be hard to find so that's a plus.

This place used to be great! Now, not so much. Pizza is meh, Spaghetti sauce is meh, cheese bread…read moreis Tops though! There are many places that are better. The service is always great, ambiance is quiet, relaxing.

Visiting from out of town for work and heard this spot was good. I would not recommend this spot at…read moreall. The pros: portion sizes are huge, chicken tasted good The cons: waiter did not stop by the table once, my water was empty within the first 10 min of sitting there and i had to take my cup physically up to the counter to get water from them because i was so thirsty. I didnt see him once after that, he just stood up at the counter talking to the other server. The pasta was oily, they put so much cheese on everything that the oils from the cheese come out and my pasta literally had a layer of oil all around the plate. The mozzerella garlic bread barely had any garlic bread taste, tasted mostly like mozzerella. The mozzerella was also so oily that the garlic bread was just soggy 5 min after the waiter put the plate down. The price is steep, by myself i got an app and an entree only and it came out to 48$ before tip. Overall, for a spot with the reviews it has it completely let me down along with the locals who recommended it to me.

It should be noted that I've never actually set foot inside Bella Ciao Pasta Bar and Ristorante. I…read moreonly experienced it today through the lens of a takeout container. For lunch, I ordered the Chicken Marsala. You get to choose a side; options ranging from Alfredo Fettuccine to Green Beans to Mashed Potatoes to Spaghetti Marinara. I went for the Spaghetti. The meal also came with two breadsticks. Overall, the dish was decent but not remarkable. The highlight was the mushrooms in the Marsala wine sauce. They were flavorful and well prepared. The chicken itself was just okay. Without the sauce, it lacked seasoning, and the texture varied throughout the breast, with some parts tender and others noticeably tough or chewy. The spaghetti was good, though comparable to standard spaghetti you might find anywhere. The breadsticks, however, were disappointing; they were extremely hard and not enjoyable to eat. I also wish the Chicken Marsala and the spaghetti were packaged separately. Because of the amount of sauce, everything blended together in the container. I don't mind my food touching, but separating the items would make for a better presentation and texture. I do think other menu items may have more to offer. One mediocre experience isn't enough for me to write off the restaurant entirely, so I would consider trying something else in the future. However, I wouldn't recommend this particular dish based on today's order. Overall rating: 3/5.

Really cozy in store environment with cool lights on the ceiling. The cooper cheesesteak is…read morephenomenal! The Hot bobbie might actually be #1 in my opinion. The Capastrami is a close 2nd because it actually tastes like a Ruben. Great place if you want a break from jimmy John's or Jersey mikes.

So this place is a cool find in Anoka. I don't know how long this has been and let alone a chain…read moresandwich shop, but hurray for me. Ordered delivery from this Capriotti's because I very much had a hankering for a sandwich. Perusing the menu showed it could be difficult to make a selection. I would eat any of their sandwiches except the tuna. I could not make up my mind, so I ordered the Capastrami and the Bobbi. First, I will upon receiving these two sandwiches - they are large! I mean, really large. I ordered a small Bobbi, a medium Capastrami, and a regular order of fries (there were a ton of fries too). A small was almost too much for me, and the medium was certainly a shareable, or an eat half now, and eat the other half later in the week situation. The Sandwiches themselves were good. The Bobbi with the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce was excellent. More importantly, they offered a side of gravy. That really put it over the top for me. Who doesn't like gravy, right? I dipped everything, including the mountain of fries, into the gravy (everybody in the pool!). Definitely ordering this one again if available. The Capastrami would have been amazing if I had been able to eat some of that from my delivery. Even the following day, it was terrific. For a chain deli, it is much better than the usual suspects we have for chain sandwich shops, and this one will be first on the list when I want a sandwich.

Still a great place to dine, whether it's a date night or a meal with the entire family!…read more Great food, plenty of vegetarian options, awesome pasta, and a fantastic wine list. And yes, they have a full bar. Be sure to leave room for dessert--it's definitely worth it! Friendly service, and you can conveniently make reservations through OpenTable. Highly recommend!

Ciao Bella had been on my restaurant list for a while, and it absolutely lived up to the…read moreanticipation! The restaurant is beautiful inside with a classic Italian feel. The décor is elegant and inviting, and halfway through dinner the lights dimmed into what we jokingly called the "sexy dinner lights," making the atmosphere even more warm and cozy. One thing I really liked is that every entrée comes in multiple sizes, so you can order the portion that fits your appetite. I wish more restaurants offered that option! We started with the Parmesan Crusted Shrimp, and it was a great appetizer. The shrimp had a light, crispy Parmesan crust and came with two delicious dipping sauces. I ordered the Lasagna, and it was exactly what I was hoping for--rich, hearty, cheesy, and full of flavor. One entrée at the table was the Chicken Fettuccine, and we all laughed because none of us expected the pasta to be bright green! It turned out to be spinach fettuccine and ended up being a favorite. Another person ordered the Seafood Linguini De Mare. It wasn't their personal favorite, but that was simply a matter of taste rather than the quality of the dish. I had a Red Ruby Spritz mocktail, which was refreshing and beautifully presented. The others enjoyed their drinks as well. The portions were generous. Even though we were completely stuffed, we still couldn't pass up dessert! The Crème Brûlée was outstanding with a perfectly crisp caramelized sugar topping and silky custard. The Budino was incredibly rich, decadent, and one of the highlights of the night. The Salted Caramel Gelato was also enjoyed. Service was friendly, attentive, and never rushed. The restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere that made us want to linger. One funny tip: the bathrooms were spotless, but the toilets are surprisingly low! I almost sat down much faster than I expected. so be careful. Overall, Ciao Bella was a wonderful dining experience with delicious food, generous portions, beautiful décor, and a relaxing atmosphere. I'll definitely be back!

This is hands down my favorite restaurant in White Bear Lake. The vibe is a little retro, with the…read morepink panther floating around, and the old red glass lighting. But it still provides the best homemade italian food in the area. A local staple for decades, they make everything fresh in house, from Italian fries, to dunkers, pasta and more. There is always something to please everyone, and at very affordable prices. The staff is also amazing, super attentive and if you are a regular, they make sure to learn your name and make you feel like part of the family. I love the addition of their grab and go area, so that you can take some of the pastas and pizza's home with you for days you can't get there. But either way, it is a true gem of a spot, and you should not miss out!

What an awesome and kitschy place for some delicious Italian food. Why am I just finding out about…read morethis place! It's been a staple in the area since 1976. Sooo impressed with their 1 full page of gluten free options. I chose the gfree tortellini carbonara on the waitress's suggestion and it did not disappoint. I also ordered a side salad. It was creamy and oh so good and came with the most fantastic and soft 2 gfree dinner rolls. Yummm. Positives - no wait on a Friday night, lots of kitschy pink panthers to check out, gelato bar, the frozen/refrigerated section. Cannot wait to go back!

Papa's is BACK! I live out of state so I don't get to come here often. The last time I was here was…read moreabout a year ago, and I could tell something changed from the quality I was used to. I'm in town for a couple of days so when I came in tonight, I was happy to learn that they have gone back to the quality ingredients they used to use. The cheese on the pizza is amazing again. If you've been craving the old Papa's pizzas with the freshly shredded cheese....its back.

We were visiting the area in a rental cabin and stopped in for pizza. Fine establishment for a…read moresmall town, and nice service, but the pizza was just fine at best.