How I Turned Break Time Pretzels Into Mansetti’s Shoreview Legendary 16-Inch Cheese Zetti

The Story Behind Our Legendary Zetti Classic at Mansetti’s Shoreview

Hey everyone, it’s Owner Dave, the owner of Mansetti’s, right here in Shoreview. If you’ve been coming in for a while, you already know our Cheese Zetti is one of those menu items that people talk about long after they leave. But I still get asked all the time, “Dave, how in the world did you come up with this thing?” So I figured it was time to sit down and tell the whole story straight from the owner.

Before I ever bought Mansetti’s, I was just an employee here like everyone else. One of my favorite parts of the job back then was our little crew tradition — we’d take leftover pizza dough and twist up pretzels just for ourselves during breaks. They were never on the menu, just fun staff snacks we made to enjoy together. I was the one making them the most, rolling and twisting that dough almost every day.

Even back then, I kept thinking these pretzels were pretty good… but they were missing something special. They needed to be bigger, cheesier, and way more satisfying. The idea started brewing right there in the kitchen while I was still punching the clock: What if we stuffed the dough with creamy mozzarella cheese?

That idea stuck with me for years. So once I bought the restaurant and became the owner, I finally had the freedom to make it happen. I started experimenting right away. At first I tried stuffing the pretzel shape, but it was a total disaster. The cheese would leak everywhere, the twists fell apart, and it just wouldn’t work no matter what I tried.

After several messy attempts, I finally threw my hands up and said, “Forget the pretzel shape.” Instead, I rolled the dough out long and straight, creating one giant 16-inch cheese stick. We fill it with gooey mozzarella, bake it until it’s golden brown, brush it with butter, shower it with our famous garlic sprinkles, and finish it off with our special Italian seasoning on top. The first time I pulled one out of the oven and took a bite, I knew right away — we had a winner.

Now we just needed the perfect name. I was sitting here scratching my head when one of my employees looked up and said, “How about Zettis?” I asked where on earth that came from and she grinned: “Take the ‘S’ in Mansetti’s and turn it into a ‘Z’!” I loved it instantly. The name stuck, and we officially added the Zetti Classic to the menu back in 2004.

Fast-forward to today and I’m excited to introduce our new options:

Cheese Zetti – $9.99

Pepperoni Zetti – $10.99

Same incredible 16-inch perfection with that buttery, garlicky, Italian-seasoned crust — now available with extra pepperoni for those who like a little kick.

Whether you go with the classic Cheese Zetti or step it up with the Pepperoni Zetti, this thing comes out crispy on the outside and ridiculously melty on the inside. It pairs perfectly with a cold drink or alongside one of our pizzas. Honestly, I still sneak one for myself more often than I probably should!

So next time you’re in Shoreview, do yourself a favor and grab a Zetti. Tell the crew “Dave sent me,” and they’ll know exactly what you mean.

See you soon,

Owner Dave

Owner, Mansetti’s Shoreview