St. Paul's pasta and pizza rooms run from Payne Avenue red sauce houses that have never changed the menu to Cathedral Hill patios pouring wine over osso buco. This list stays east of the river on purpose: Lowertown, the East Side, West Seventh, all St. Paul, all named straight.
№ 01
Louis Ristorante & Bar
St. Paul $$
211 W 7th St, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512227378
Photo via 
Carbonara and risotto anchor the menu at this rooftop room above Cossetta Alimentari on West Seventh, where the tiramisu closes out both lunch and dinner service. The draw is the view as much as the plate, but the pasta holds its own against the room's reputation for special occasions. Table and bar seating both work, day or night.
What to orderpasta carbonara, risotto, tiramisu
№ 02
Mama's Pizza
St. Paul $
961 Rice St, Saint Paul, MN 55117 · +16514892005
Photo via
The red sauce here has held steady on St. Paul's East Side for over four decades, and the everything pizza remains the order regulars name first. The baked mostaccioli, loaded and cheese-heavy, is the pasta pick for anyone treating this as a red sauce stop rather than just a pizza counter. Casual, family-run in feel, no pretense.
What to orderPizza with everything, Mostaccioli, Flavor Explosion Pizza
№ 03
Little Oven
St. Paul $$
1786 Minnehaha Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55119 · +16517354944
Photo via
Lasagna is the reason to sit down here, cheese-loaded to the point that some diners ask for less on top. The garbage pizza, piled with toppings, is the other long-standing order. This is a straightforward St. Paul room for lasagna or a shared pizza with friends, not a place chasing trends. Service pace can lag at busy stretches.
What to ordergarbage pizza, lasagna, margherita pizza
№ 04
Red Rabbit St. Paul
St. Paul $$
788 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105 · +16514445995
Photo via
The Bianca pizza and crispy potatoes get named alongside the pastas here, and the salami pizza has its own following, but this St. Paul room treats its pasta list as part of a broader Italian menu rather than the whole show. The bar side runs a friendly, conversational room. Consistency on the pasta plates has drawn some pushback lately.
What to orderBianca pizza, salami pizza, crispy potatoes
635 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16517764848
Photo via
Lasagna and chicken parmigiana carry the menu at this Payne Avenue institution, joined by a spaghetti carbonara that regulars order without checking the board. The one-page menu keeps things focused rather than sprawling. This is a St. Paul room built for a nostalgic sit-down dinner, not a scene, and it has held that identity for decades on the East Side.
What to orderlasagna, chicken parmigiana, spaghetti carbonara
786 Randolph Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16513302245
Photo via
Carbonara, risotto, and tiramisu form the core of the menu at this Grand Avenue area room, best experienced on the patio on a Saturday evening with a group. Vegetarian diners have found real options here beyond a token pasta dish. The pacing suits a leisurely dinner rather than a quick bite, and prices land in the middle range for St. Paul Italian.
What to orderpasta carbonara, risotto, tiramisu
№ 07
La Grolla
St. Paul $$
452 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512211061
Photo via
Risotto and osso buco lead a St. Paul menu built for date nights, with tiramisu closing the meal the way it should. The patio ranks among the city's better outdoor seats, and the interior holds its own with a close, warm-toned dining room. Service can slow during peak hours, but the kitchen's output on the risotto and braised dishes holds up.
What to orderrisotto, osso buco, tiramisu
№ 08
Carbones Pizza
St. Paul $$
1698 Randolph Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 · +16516980721
Photo via
A margherita pizza and Italian sausage pizza anchor this West Seventh room, priced for a quick lunch or a pre-show meal near St. Kate's under ten dollars. The salad with Italian dressing gets called out as its own reason to stop in. The dining room surprises first-timers who expect a pure carryout counter. Execution on the pizzas has drawn some complaints.
What to orderMargarita pizza, Italian sausage pizza, salad with Italian dressing
№ 09
Eastside Pizzeria
St. Paul $
1050 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16517767499
Photo via
Pepperoni and mushroom top a thin crust pizza that regulars order by the fourteen-inch pie, with a garlic and pepper version drawing its own following on the East Side. The room runs on a straightforward, neighborhood-friendly service style. Cleanliness complaints have surfaced alongside the praise, worth knowing before a visit to this St. Paul pizzeria.
What to orderPepperoni pizza, Mushroom pizza, Garlic and pepper pizza
Frequently asked
What is the best pasta restaurant in St. Paul right now?
Based on the Insider Score, Louis Ristorante & Bar and La Grolla rate highest for pasta specifically, with carbonara and risotto as the dishes reviewers name most. Yarusso Bros and Mucci's Italian follow close behind for red sauce and carbonara respectively. No restaurant on this list paid for placement; the ranking comes from the Insider Score alone.
Where can I find good Italian pasta near me in St. Paul?
This guide only covers restaurants that are actually located in St. Paul, from West Seventh to the East Side to Grand Avenue, so every entry above is a real option depending on which part of the city is closest to you. Check each restaurant's neighborhood against your location to find the nearest match.
Is Yarusso Bros still open in St. Paul?
Yes, Yarusso Bros Italian Restaurant operates on Payne Avenue in St. Paul and continues to serve its longtime menu of lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and spaghetti carbonara. It carries a solid Insider Score in this guide, reflecting its standing as a long-running neighborhood institution.
Are any of these St. Paul pasta restaurants actually in Minneapolis?
No. Every restaurant in this guide is confirmed to be located in St. Paul, not Minneapolis. St. Paul and Minneapolis are separate cities with separate downtowns, and this guide keeps that distinction accurate throughout, from West Seventh and the East Side to Grand Avenue.
ƒ
The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
