Cosetta

Located on the edge of Santa Monica’s Ocean Park neighborhood, Cosetta serves Italian cuisine through a California lens, highlighting farm-fresh produce, consciously sourced meats, and Zach Pollack’s signature puffy-crust pizzas.

Opened in April 2025 by chef Zach Pollack, the restaurant balances upscale cooking with a relaxed, neighborhood-friendly atmosphere. “Cosetta translates to ‘little thing’ in Italian,” Pollack says. “Our motto is, ‘it’s the little things,’ meaning we strive to focus on the small gestures, as well as the big ones, that make a meal memorable.”

The dining room features a slanted ceiling accented with arches and columns, earthy tones, olive trees, and exposed brick. The semi-covered patio offers an inviting option for lunch, but the main dining room and bar capture the restaurant’s sleek ambiance best. One of the restaurant’s most practical perks—a rarity in the neighborhood—is its on-site parking. Pollack embraced the freestanding former Coffee Bean space as soon as he saw its outdoor potential and large lot.

The menu moves through raw bar items, small plates, salads, pizzas, and crispy Milanese cutlets. Standout dishes include Sicilian ponzu scallops, bloomin’ radicchio, house-baked bread with burrata, and the La Spagnolo Ricco pizza with uni butter and a tin of Spanish clams served sidecar style.

Cosetta’s beverage program mirrors the food’s quiet technique. Guests can explore savory cocktails, unique wines, and zero-proof options. Highlights include the Sasa, a savory combination of gin, caramelized artichokes, cynar, Pecorino, and Rinomato Americano, and the playful Margherita, made with house-made tomato cordial and basil or toasted Calabrian chile salt.

Whether you are stopping by for a glass of Lambrusco at the bar or sitting down for a full meal, Cosetta delivers warm service, consistent cooking, and the rare comfort of validated parking.