This past weekend I crammed into the car with The Wife and The Rooster on a beautiful morning to head over to RedRossa Italian Grille for some pizza and beer. The popular wood-fired pizza place from South Dakota opened its first Minnesota location near the Mall of America a few months back and has received plenty of mixed reviews. However with MSPD suggesting that it was one of the better lunch options surrounding an area generally devoid of any decent dining.
We arrived after 11:30 AM to find an enormously vacant restaurant. With seating for several hundred but only two tables full at lunch time I had to admit I was a little surprised that RedRossa has survived as long as it has. When the waiter came by later he noted that they are usually very slow on the weekends but a brisk lunch business keeps them going. To be honest, I seriously doubt having a staff of at least seven working the three occupied tables is a sustainable business model for a restaurant of this size.
We had previously looked over the online menu but assumed their lunch specials would be weekdays only. Much to our surprise, the lunch specials were available and at $8 for a half pizza and salad they seemed like the perfect fit for The Wife.
We eventually placed our orders for Calamari Fritti ($10), Quattro Formaggi with the addition of goat cheese and spicy salami ($9 + $1.00 + $1.25 respectively), kids Mac & Cheese with fruit and a scoop of ice cream ($6), and the 1/2 Margherita and 1/2 Casear ($8). I also noticed that in addition to the usual domestics and Summit they had both Flat Earth and Fulton on tap and I ended up ordering two Sweet Child of Vines ($6/ea) to accompany my lunch.
While the restaurant was completely empty and devoid of life I have to admit that it took an extremely long time for our food to arrive. Unfortunately once the food did begin to arrive it did so all at once. While The Wife jokingly suggested that I didn’t ask that the appetizer come out before the rest of the food, I wondered how our server ended up messing up like that.
The Calamari Fritti, described as “lightly dusted roasted red pepper, pepperoncini, lemon and marinara” was served in a similar style to the calamari at Andiamo in Eagan as it was brimming with lightly breaded peppers including pepperoncinis. The portion was ample and the price competitive, especially in the area around MoA, however the marinara was certainly smaller than the rest of the dish would have commanded. The calamari was tender, light and flavorful. The peppers brightened the dish nicely and the roasted lemon provided a much sweeter flavor than the bitter acid that the usual fresh lemon wedges usually provided do. Overall I really enjoyed the calamari and would certainly order it again. Yum.
The Rooster’s Mac & Cheese wasn’t your typical boxed meal. Instead it was a very large portion (certainly enough for three or four children his age) of armoniche rigatoni loaded with white cheese and garlic. The cheese was creamy and the garlic added just the right amount of flavor to make this kids meal one worthy of adults as well. In addition the side of fruit (there were numerous other side options as well) was quite fresh and varied. The Rooster took some of the Mac and Cheese but stuck mainly to the fruit nearly polishing it all off.
The Wife’s 1/2 Caesar and Margherita was a nice sized portion for lunch. The salad was fresh and included croutons, tomatoes, onions, and freshly sliced cheese however the dressing left much to be desired flavor-wise. The pizza wasn’t what I normally think of when someone says Margherita but it included the usuals with the addition of overcooked basil leaves and under-ripened tomato slices. The Wife was particularly perturbed that while the menu didn’t say that it included oregano, it did. I thought the slices were fine but I certainly prefer just about any other local pizza place’s margherita to RedRossa’s.
My Quattro Formaggi (gorgonzola, fontina, fresh mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, roasted garlic, olive oil, and oregano but no sauce) came with my addition of spicy salami and goat cheese. The pizza was a bit small for $11.25 but carried some decent cheese flavor. The spicy salami wasn’t even close to what you can find at other places charging similar prices for these sorts of pies (Lola and Black Sheep) but overall the pie was fine and one I’d order again.
When it was all said and done our tab came to nearly $55. While this is overpriced the $12 in beer and $6 kids meal is what tipped the scales over the astronomical price I felt we paid at Lola. Comparatively I’d still rather eat at RedRossa both because it’s closer to home and also because the pizzas are more agreeable to The Wife. That said, on our next visit we’ll come for lunch and each get the $8 specials and try to keep the total under $25.
Overall I find RedRossa to be serviceable wood-fired pizza. The crust and cheeses are nice but the additional toppings fall a little flat. Aside from the food I really don’t see their lunch time business carrying them through if the restaurant is really that dead on the weekends and I would expect that you won’t see them open for too much longer unless something changes.
Have you ever eaten at RedRossa in Bloomington or any of their other locations? If so what did you think? How do you think it compares to other similar pizza places around town both in price and toppings? Whatever you have to say about RedRossa go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
See all the pictures from RedRossa Italian Grille on Flickr here.
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March 12th, 2012 at 9:38 am
I’ll start by saying I’m glad it wasn’t a disaster. I get a little worried the context gets lost when I say a place is good FOR WHAT IT IS. Also, I probably should have mentioned before-hand that in my opinion, the pizzas are actually the weak part of their offering. Not terrible, but not on par with the better places around town.
For the uninitiated, I work near the Mall of America. The food in the surrounding square miles sucks. Anything decent tends to be crazy overpriced like Crave and Cadillac Ranch in the MOA. So I’ve sometimes described Red Rossa as “the best lunch option” in the area which isn’t really saying much.
Bill, it does get humming in there. Weekday evenings and lunch. They also do private parties, work events, etc. which I think will help them sustain. Generally, the service is good — I haven’t experienced the timing issues in the half-dozen times I’ve been there.
The photos actually do a good job of capturing what’s good about the place. You can see that they take fairly standard stuff and they put some care into preparation. They will actually cook the dishes, chop the vegetables, etc. vs. heating up pre-prepared junk. Some of it isn’t perfect, but mostly it’s above average.
If you or anyone else goes again soon, I would recommend the burger. The braised beef entree is very good as well. Salads are generally above average with quality ingredients (the Caesar in the photo looks very dull compared to the other salads).
All in all, it’s a reliable option near the Mall, and sometimes will surprise with a dish that’s top notch.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:24 am
My wife works near MOA and we have been to Red Rossa a couple times for lunch. It has been somewhat empty each time we have been as well.
We have , however, always had decent to better than average meals. Good food, friendly service, and reasonable prices, esp considering its across the street from MOA. I would say the food is better than almost anything you will find inside MOA, and quite a bit less expensive.
I have not had the pizza, but have tried a couple pasta dishes (sorry, dont remember the names offhand), and they were good. Our son has had the Mac and Cheese, and enjoyed it as well.
Its also worth noting that is really a beautiful space. We have enjoyed our visits and will be back from time to time. Not likely to drive there for dinner on a special occasion, but certianly good for lunch or dinner/happy hour if you are in the area or at the MOA.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:45 am
For me nothing will screw up a meal is when the app comes out 30 seconds before the main course.
March 12th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
So where does food quality and $$ fit in the equation? This joint was $8 more expensive for lunch vs an evening meal at Lola’s. Just trying to figure out your rationale, Bill.
FWIW Lola is opening for lunch on April 2. That’s the same day as its featured showing on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
March 12th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
It was $8 more expensive because of what we ordered. Calamari with peppers costs a lot more than cauliflower with peppers, nevermind the two beers.
March 13th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Went to Lola last friday evening at 5:40 and the wait was 45 minutes to one hour. ( they said at 5:40 they had just finished seating the people that showed up at 5pm when it opened….watch the final episode of Portlandia to appreciate that) Went to the Pig and Fiddle in Edina instead. I had a burger with fries. I enjoyed the burger, my son ordered the same thing did not. The fries purported to be “Belgian frites”, I was not impressed with that representation, suffice to say I have had Belgian style frites, these were not. However i would still recommend the place for two reasons… aa) the menu is very different, not large but with several things you will not see anywhere else, its a bit of a Belgian/German/Eastern European grouping of gastropub type fare. but the main reason is bb) excellent beer selection … I had a Boom Island Sylvius Pale Ale that was excellent… I think it was $6 for a pint, most of the selections were from $5 to 9 per pint. Overall i would recommend the place for a visit after 9pm to sample one or two beers and maybe try an appetizer or cheese plate. I think the ownership is linked to the Muddy Pig from St Paul, or maybe someone told me that, I am not sure.
Anyone else tried it ?
March 13th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Gee, I can’t figure out why there’s an hour wait to get into a pizza joint that charges twice “what it should!?!” [snark-off] ;-)
March 13th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
C&V, I can’t figure out why there’s an hour wait to get into Olive Garden even though they should pay people to eat there.
March 13th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Heh, me neither… [nice comeback]
March 13th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
C&V, I think the hour wait has alot more to do with it being hip and hyped than the quality or value of the food.
Other chef driven places (Corner Table of Lachaya Bistro for example) in roughly the same geographic area, often have no wait even at peak times. The last time we were at Corner Table we were one of three tables at about 5:30 on a Thursday evening.
March 13th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Paumpich is totally out of Corner Table now. I am reluctant to go back.
March 13th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Chad, it’s been that way for over a year. Hype doesn’t last that long and hip is only for a few. I believe most people go back for the food. Just my thoughts.
March 13th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Lola was packed with families with kids… neighborhood people from what i could see.
we wanted something casual.
the week prior on saturday at 6:30 we went to Pat’s Tap, waited about 20 mins after being told it would be 45 mins. Free skeeball, good beer, a really damned good burger.
Check out that Portlandia episode, its a half an hour bit about waiting in line at a hot foodie brunch place. Tim Robbins is hilarious in it.
March 14th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
On behalf of MSPD and probably Bill, I would like to welcome Chapter&Verse to the “Triple Digit Thumbs Down Club”. Looks like you got to 100 of late. Congrats!
March 14th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
I’d like to welcome lefty into the “I have voted down more comments of C&V’s to bring him up to my level club.”
March 14th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
As much as C&V is not going to want to read this, he and I see eye to eye on a lot of things here.
I don’t know that I have thumbs downed him very much. I figured you (Bill) pretty much got him to 100 yourself every time he says Lola is a good deal.
March 14th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
hah.
March 14th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
It truly is rarefied air down here, it kinda has that locker room bouquet. I’ll wear the “Triple Digit Thumbs Down Club” T-shirt proudly!
Headed to Lola’s now… best deal in town, exceptionally great food, superb wait staff, and very, very reasonably priced! You can’t beat it!!
March 14th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Um. Lola doesn’t open for two more hours.
March 14th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
There’s a happy hour somewhere on the way. ;-)
March 14th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
mulch, thanks for the nod to Pat’s…we’ve been thinking of going. Also, we loved Portlandia originally, but we hesitate to turn it on now because it makes us want to beat our heads on the wall….!
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