L'angolo Ristorante

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jeffallegretti

Joined 10 years ago

A genuine treasure among South Philadelphia BYOBs. I have been going to L'Angolo off and on since it opened (I was a weekly regular for lunch, which, sadly, is no more). Over that time there have been a number of changes in the kitchen, and I think the current chef, a young and talented Gallipolian (Puglia) may just be the best. The trick with getting the most out of the L'Angolo experience is the same one I advise for all true Italian restaurants: look for the simplest dishes and you will find the best. The baked funghi infused with the rich flavors of olive oil and rosemary, the grilled calamari drizzled with olive oil and your own squirt of lemon, the insalate served with olive oil and salt - just as is in Italy - all simple, all exquisite. Likewise with the pasta, stay away from the over-sauced, the over-creamed, the over-piled with ubiquitous lump crab meat. Choose instead the simple papardelle with Ox tail braised until it falls apart, a real "slow food" celebration for the palate. Or the orrecchiette with shredded duck cooked simply in wine and herbs. Or, my favorite, still made but no longer listed on the menu, delicate and flavorful gnocchi in a 'molte semplice' olive oil and rosemary condiment. (to call it a sauce would be to mislead). But superb simple food is only part of the allure of L'Angolo. The energetic, eager, and uncannily anticipatory young wait staff perfectly compliment the food with their own balance of simple artistry. To the reviewers who fault this part of the L'Angolo experience, I say, eat at Babbo or Vetri if formal pampered service is your Idea of Italian dining. For me, the uniqueness of L'Angolo is inseparable from Nino's familiar but always professional doting, and especially his vicarious participation in the festive celebration of il cibo italiano.

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ljallen

Joined 5 years ago

Old School Italian, Cozy, Delicious. Small but comfortable. Fantastic meal. There were 6 of us. We all had 3 courses & coffee. We all raved throughout the 3 courses, and insisted on everyone else tasting how delicious it was. It was about $55 per with tip, byob. Probably better with a small group, it's a little close and bright for romance. Make reservations. Parking can be tough on the small South Philly streets.

Truly superb old school italian food. I highly recommend the aspargus wrapped in prosciutto as an appetizer. Two of us raved about the lobster ravioli.

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Mommy2Ava

Joined 5 years ago

Amazing Food at an Amazing Price. The service, food and price are all part of the wonderful experience at L'Angolo! We plan to return everytime we are in the sports complex area.

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tattoolaedy18

Joined 5 years ago

yummy food, great atmosphere. My Date and I came here on a friday night (made a reservation, was shown RIGHT to table). the place is small, but not cramped, and the decor transports you to an Italian villa, you forget you're in south philly! food was fantastic, service was good (all hot boy waiters!), although it took awhile for our main courses to come out. my date had one of the daily specials, veal and we both loved it ( i normally hate veal). i had a seafood and pasta combo (also for dinner the next night the portions were so generous). we ordered two desserts, tiramasu (totally homemade) and an awesome dark chocolate truffle tort with a raspberry sauce (maybe my favorite part of the night). oh and the fresh mozz and tomato appetizer was like they picked the tomatoes out back and aged the cheese in the basement. DELICIOUS!!! would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a quite date with above average food! bring a bottle: it definitely adds to the experience.

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eidensk1

Joined 6 years ago

Simply Excellent. My boyfriend and I just visited L'Angolo's for our Valentine's dinner last weekend. It was small and quaint but made a BIG impression on us. There weren't many tables in the place, which pretty guaranteed good service. There were at least three gentlemen that served us throughout the night. You can tell that they truly want you to have the best experience possible. Now, about the food.... simply excellent. I ordered a Lamb dish, even though I've never eaten lamb, because the woman next to me recommended it as she was eating it! It was spectacular. The meat fell right off the bones and it was served over marinara with gnochi. Amazing! My boyfriend ordered a seafood spaghetti dish which he enjoyed thoroughly as well. Overall a great experience. Very close quarters in the restaurant, but they definitely make it work. Be sure to have reservations ahead of time. We made reservations and our table was waiting for us when we arrived. Another perk to this place is that it's a BYOB, which usually means a MUCH LESS expensive dinner. My boyfriend and I got an appetizer and 2 of the more expensive dishes they offer and our bill was still only $50! Great value!

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maybeitrains

Joined 6 years ago

A+ italian food, AMAZING prices, highly recommended. got a last minute (and miraculous if you ask me) reservation for a party of 10 on a friday night!! the waitors were cute italian men with wonderful accents! the food was wonderful, and the pricing simply AMAZING. small space but the decorations give a definite old school italy feel...just like being in the old country, as us italians like to say. highlyyyyy recommended!

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italia_nic

Joined 7 years ago

The most authentic Italian food you can get without going to ITALY!. The few people that complained about food and service simply don't know what authentic Italian food tastes like, they must be used to the Olive Garden or Italian Bistro YUCK!!!! Plainly put this is THE BEST restaurant I've ever been to (besides Babbo, Mario Batali's place in Greenwich Village). I've eaten here 7-10 times and NEVER had a bad experience, the food is very AUTHENTIC ITALIAN food, the service is lively and friendly. And, who cares about the noise level, that adds to the charm of the place, have a little fun...besides I'm there to eat anyways. I'm going here tonight for my bf's birthday and I can't wait to eat some of the MOST AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD IN THE USA.

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fani_pikatchu

Joined 7 years ago

Stomachache after dinner!. I had Lobster Ravioli here and I had stomach upset a few hours later! I didn't recover for the next 2 days..

Be careful when choosing a place to eat..

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

The South Philly neighborhood B.Y.O.B. specializes in Italian comfort food.. In Short
This cozy spot's entrance is next to the kitchen, allowing for inspection of chefs whipping sauces. The back dining room, painted a sunny yellow, is slightly cramped but charming. Italian fare is homey like the decor. Grilled Portobello is topped with Fontina and roasted tomatoes. Seafood stew features calamari. Chicken and veal entrees come with homemade mashed potatoes. Don't skimp on dessert: L'angolo's sweets, including mascarpone cheesecake and fluffy tiramisu, are worth a taste.

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span09

Joined 7 years ago

A delightful BYO. Located in a renovated row home, this hidden gem is loaded with charm and warmth. Sit in the back room, which probably seats about 18, and enjoy a quiet conversation, except for the window air conditioning unit that is a bit loud. Noise dampers on the ceiling make conversation easy. The menu is diverse and interesting, and the wait staff, one of whom is the owner himself, is energetic, fun, and professional.