Restaurant Week Part II: Angelo's Restaurant

One of my most favorite spots to eat in Sarasota is Angelo's Restaurant right off of 41. I have been several times, and every time is an unforgettable experience. The small, Italian restaurant has all the flavor, character, and personality of it's owner and namesake. One does not merely meet Angelo, once experiences him. So it is with his restaurant. Co-owners Angelo and Jessica can be seen serving tables and chatting with customers. Once you have dined with Angelo, you have become family. Seriously, if you have eaten at Angelo's and not received a hug or kiss from him, you're not doing it right.

Tip #1: There are two separate dining rooms. There is a front dining room, and a back room for members of Angelo's Wine Club. If you can manage to get into the wine club room, DO IT! It really is an unparalleled experience. The candlelit ambience is fantastic and the live music is top notch.

For the first course we chose Angelo's Caesar Salad. It was unique in that, rather than being extremely tart as most Caesars are, it had a slightly sweet flavor to it. It was a nice twist on an Italian classic. (Or maybe that's how they really taste in Italy and Americans have been doing it wrong all this time.)

All of my dearest friends know that the only way to do food is to share. Everyone gets something different so that we can all try a little bit of everything. So me and my three dear friends, Brittani, Lauren, and Christen all chose something different for the second course.

Lauren got the Salmon in Orange-Basil sauce. The salmon was tender and flaky on the inside and fried crispy on the outside. The Orange-Basil sauce was beautifully balanced and sweet. Oftentimes orange can be an overpowering flavor, but the basil really put it in check. Christen got the Eggplant Parmigiana, which was just bursting with flavor. Fresh mozzarella, basil, and killer marinara all came together in a beautiful dance over the palate. Some of the gals agreed that they didn't even like eggplant, but this was exceptional. All entrees were served with sautéed seasonal vegetables.

Brittani chose the Pollo Mediterranean, which was chicken in a white wine sauce with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese. The chicken was so tender you could cut it with your fork. The tartness of the artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes was tempered by the white wine sauce.

 I chose not to order from the Savor Sarasota menu, but instead went for Angelo's signature dish: Parmesan Wheel Pasta. This dish is prepared tableside and consists of Angelo dumping your piping hot, just cooked pasta (I chose Fettuccini Alfredo this time) into an enormous, hollowed out wheel of Parmesan. The sides of the Parmesan Wheel have been scraped with a large serving spoon, so your freshly cooked pasta is being tossed and coated INSIDE this giant wheel of cheese. Once the pasta has been thoroughly coated and put on your plate, EVEN MORE CHEESE is scraped off the sides of the wheel and placed on top of your pasta. In just a few words, the only way to describe is is CREAMY AND DREAMY. It is finished off with freshly cracked black pepper. The other Parmesan Wheel options are Sausage and Mushroom Pasta or Carbonara. The Sausage and Mushroom is incredible, and I have yet to try the Carbonara. But it's happening. It is soooo happening.

Finally, the third course: dessert. Britt selected the Homemade Cannoli. Christen was a good friend and ordered the Tiramisu for me (even though she hates espresso). Lauren just said, "Surprise me." The surprise turned out to be Angelo's favorite Fruit Flambé with Chocolate Sauce and Truffle Honey. Cheeky Angelo has a penchant for personally feeding female customers spoonfuls of Truffle Honey or Nutella. Again, it's all part of experiencing Angelo's. I've never been a fan of Cannoli (GASP! I know, there's gotta be something wrong with me) so I'm not a great judge of whether or not it was good Cannoli, but the Tiramisu was a spot of perfection. Delicate, light, fluffy, creamy, yet just a tad naughty with the darker flavor of the espresso. The Flambé was just rich and decadent. 

 Tip #2: If you are planning a trip to Angelo's, do not go alone and plan on being there for at least two hours. This is not a dine-n-dash. This is a journey into Angelo's Italian world where you eat, drink, and be merry. This journey is meant to be shared.

Tip #3: Wear loose fitting clothing. It's just so much more comfortable when your stomach starts to expand.

As much as I love Angelo's and would dine there once a week if I could, I have to inform you that it will cost you a pretty penny. Entrees are about $30ish, and you'll want a glass of wine and dessert. Save Angelo's for a date night or a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. And let them know if it is a special occasion. They love to celebrate. Vita e bella!