When You're at Cosetta, You're Family

"Cosetta, a newish Cal-Italian restaurant from chef Zach Pollack of Alimento fame, beckons from a sparsely occupied business park off Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica. Don't let its humdrum location fool you: This is a neighborhood restaurant through and through, with droves of locals already embracing its relaxed string-light-lit patio and crowd-pleasing menu. The dish lineup merges the easy seasonality of Alimento with the nostalgic Italian-American riffs that made Pollack's Cosa Buona a bona fide hit in Echo Park."

"One of Cosetta's more compelling aspects is how allergen-sensitivity inclusive it strives to be - crispy Milanese can be made gluten-free (go for the eggplant rendition doused with marinara); dishes like crunchy smoked mozzarella sticks, Buffalo chicken wings, and garlic-bread-crumb-covered Caesar salad already are. The standout might be those mozzarella sticks, which come in a Jenga stack with marinara sauce that cuts through the richness of the smoked cheese."

Cosetta occupies a sparsely populated business park in Santa Monica and presents a relaxed, string-light-lit patio atmosphere that appeals to locals and visitors. The menu blends Alimento-style seasonality with nostalgic Italian-American riffs, offering items like blistered pizzas, battered radicchio, and a solid raw bar featuring albacore and yellowtail. The restaurant emphasizes allergen inclusivity, with options such as gluten-free Milanese and naturally allergen-friendly starters like smoked mozzarella sticks. Interior accents include millennial pink, sage green chairs, and blondewood tables. The restaurant validates parking in its generously sized lot.

Read at Eater LA