Is Mansetti’s the Best Pizza in Shoreview? Owner Dave Reacts to Your Honest 2025 Reviews

Share your 5 Star Experience

A Look Back at Your Reviews 2025 Mansett's Shoreview

I was sitting in the back office the other night, after the ovens were turned off and the last of the crew had headed home, just scrolling through our Google reviews from the past year.

In this business, it’s easy to get caught up in the grind. We worry about food costs, we worry about the dough rising correctly, and we worry about the staffing schedule. But every once in a while, you have to stop and listen to what the people in the booths are actually saying. Reading through your comments from the last twelve months was a humbling experience for me. It reminded me exactly why we open the doors every morning. We aren't just selling pepperoni and mozzarella; we are part of your Friday nights, your post-game celebrations, and your family traditions. I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the feedback we’ve received recently—the good, the glowing, and even the constructive—and share a little bit of my perspective from behind the counter. If you’ve left a review recently, thank you. Here is what you guys have been saying, and what it means to us.

The "Nostalgic" Factor

One review really stuck with me. Benjamin B., a Local Guide, dropped a 5-star review about nine weeks ago and called us a "Nostalgic neighborhood spot." That word—nostalgic—hits home. In a world where every new restaurant seems to be chasing the latest TikTok trend or trying to look like an industrial warehouse, we have stayed true to who we are. We want to be the place that feels familiar the second you walk in. When Wayne G. visited us about five months ago, he mentioned that the "owner was very nice and social." Wayne, I appreciate that. I try to get out on the floor as much as I can because I want this place to feel like a community hub, not just a transaction. We aren't trying to reinvent the wheel here. We are trying to make the wheel taste really, really good. We want to be the place where you bring your kids, and you tell them, "This is the kind of pizza place I grew up going to." Seeing that reflected in your reviews tells me we are staying on the right track.

Let’s Talk About the Pizza (Specifically the Crust)

There is always a debate in the Twin Cities about pizza styles. But looking at the feedback from the last six months, it seems our thin crust has a serious fan club.

DS, who has written over 300 reviews on Google (so they clearly know their food), stopped by recently. They wrote: "Excellent thin crust pizza. I decided to give them a try as finding good pizza in the Twin Cities has been challenging." That is high praise. We work hard on our dough. We want that cracker-thin crunch that holds up to the toppings without flopping over. It’s a balancing act, but when we get it right, it’s magic. And speaking of toppings, Margaret B. left us a review two weeks ago that made the kitchen crew smile. She said, "The pizza sauce is very tasty and loaded with toppings." "Loaded with toppings" is our philosophy. I’ve never understood those places that count out the pepperoni slices like they are gold coins. If you order a pepperoni pizza, you should get pepperoni in every bite. If you order the works, you should need two hands to hold the slice. We don't skimp. Seeing Margaret notice that effort validates the extra cost we put into our ingredients.

The Unsung Heroes: Our Staff

I can make the best sauce in Shoreview, but if the service is bad, you aren't coming back. That is why the reviews that mention my staff by name are my absolute favorites. Nancy D. left a review about a month ago that I shared with the whole team during our pre-shift meeting. She wrote: "Waitress was amazing. Busy Monday night and she had the whole..." She didn't finish the sentence in the preview, but I know what she meant. Mondays can be deceptively crazy. You think it’s going to be slow, and suddenly the whole neighborhood decides nobody feels like cooking. To hear that our server handled the pressure with grace makes me incredibly proud. Then there is Madane O., who visited about seven months ago and gave a specific shout-out: "Always great. Rachel is super nice and made our dining experience a joy.. will be coming back." Rachel is a rockstar. When you guys mention our servers by name, it matters. It helps me know who is going above and beyond. We try to hire people who actually care about your experience, not just people who are there to punch a clock. Reading these reviews confirms that we have got the right team in place.

Feeding the Crowd: Catering and Teams

We love the intimate dinner dates, but we also love the chaos of a big group. Geir S. brought in a "high school cross country team" about three months ago. Having a restaurant full of hungry athletes is an energy like no other. Geir mentioned the "great service and food buffet" for the team. We know that when you are feeding a sports team, you need two things: volume and speed. You can’t have the runners waiting 45 minutes for food. We take a lot of pride in our ability to pivot and accommodate these large groups. If you are a coach in Shoreview, know that we have your back. On the catering side, Sonya W. left a fantastic review ten weeks ago. She ordered catering and noted: "Food was delivered to us hot and they had a great system for keeping it warm until everyone arrived. It was a hit!" This is something we stress over. There is nothing worse than lukewarm lasagna. We have invested in the right equipment to ensure that if you order food for an office party or a family gathering, it tastes just as hot and fresh as if you were sitting in our dining room. Sonya, I am thrilled it was a hit.

Addressing the Feedback: The Lasagna

I read every review, not just the ones that say we are perfect. We aren't perfect. We are human. Dan & Tamala H. left a review about the "Mama's Lasagne." They mentioned that the pasta was "swimming in a bowl of sauce and cheese" and they had to "dig for a while" to find the noodles. I want to address this because I appreciate the honesty. Our lasagna is definitely on the "saucy and cheesy" side of the spectrum. We love that rich, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth style where the sauce is the star. However, I totally get that for some people, they want a firmer, pasta-heavy brick of lasagna. To Dan & Tamala: I hear you. While we stick to our family recipe, feedback like this helps us look at our plating and portions to see if we can find a better balance. We never want you to feel like you didn't get enough pasta. I hope you’ll give us another shot—maybe try the meatballs next time!

The Meatballs and the Buffet

I have to talk about the meatballs because George S. brought them up in his review. He said simply: "Meatballs are the best." I agree, George. We don't buy those frozen, rubbery things from a supplier. We put time into our meatballs. They are comfort food, pure and simple. George also mentioned our buffet: "Their buffet on Thursday and Friday is a lot of good food for price that includes great pizza." Jake S. backed this up, calling it a "Good lunch buffet." Let’s be honest—everything is expensive right now. Going to the grocery store hurts. We are trying really hard to keep our lunch buffet in that $10–$20 range so that working folks, retirees, and students can come in, get a belly full of good food, and not break the bank. We view the buffet as a service to the neighborhood. It’s our way of saying, "Come in, sit down, eat as much as you want, and relax for an hour."

Why "Local Guide" Reviews Matter

I noticed a ton of our reviews come from "Local Guides"—people like Charles M., Pete T., Jerome C., and Shawn P.  When you guys see the "Local Guide" badge, it means these people eat out a lot. They know the landscape. To have Roam E O, a guide with lots of photos, simply say "Yummmmm yummy so good"... well, that’s the kind of complex culinary analysis I can get behind! But seriously, to have consistent 5-star ratings from people who review hundreds of places tells me that our consistency is there. Areyana E. and Nick M. both left 5 stars recently without writing much text, but those stars count just as much. It tells me you came, you ate, you were happy, and you’d do it again.

A Note on Value

Review after review—from Shane S. to Camaleon D P.—tags us in the $10–$20 price range.

I am proud of that. I know we could probably raise prices. I know we could charge $18 for a specialized "artisan" personal pizza. But that’s not Mansetti’s. We want to be the place where you can feed a family of four without having to take out a loan. We want to be the spot where you can grab a quick lunch buffet without guilt. Keeping our prices reasonable while maintaining the quality of ingredients (like that "loaded" pizza Margaret mentioned) is the hardest part of my job, but it is the most important.

The Bottom Line

Reading these reviews from the past year has recharged my batteries. To Richard M., Joshua K., and everyone else who took the time to tap those five stars: Thank you. You are the reason we are still here, tossing dough and simmering sauce in Shoreview. If you are reading this and you haven't been in for a while, come see us. come say hi to Rachel, come challenge the Thursday lunch buffet, or come try the thin crust that DS liked so much. And if you see me on the floor—the guy who looks like he’s worrying about the cheese inventory—stop me and say hello. I’d love to thank you in person.

See you at the restaurant,

Dave

Owner, Mansetti’s Pizza & Pasta - Shoreview