Angeli Caffe
Los Angeles, CA 90046-7667
Phone: (323) 936-9086
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Poinsettia Place
- Specialties:
- Family-Friendly Dining, Italian Food
- Hours:
- Tue-Thu 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm, Fri 11am-3pm, 5pm-11:30pm, Sat 5pm-11:30pm, Sun 5pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Angeli Caffe – by Jane Tunks
The Scene
In its early years, this stylish space--with soaring ceilings and lily-white walls--was a place to be seen. A couple decades later, its clientele has spawned offspring--and Angeli is now a family-friendly eatery. The tykes are given pizza dough with which to fashion their own creations, while their parents relish dining somewhere other than Chuck E. Cheese.
The Food
Chef Evan Kleiman explores the ins and outs of the rustic Italian menu, proving that with the best ingredients, even the simplest dishes can inspire a gastronomic high. Spaghetti bathes in an unrepentant butter sauce, heightened with a complex Parmigiano-Reggiano. Panzanella (Tuscan bread salad) is drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and tossed with sweet tomatoes. Familiar dishes please Crayola-toting regulars, including vegetable lasagna layered with tomato-basil sauce, bechamel, ricotta and Parmesan. A dozen thin-crust pizzas--from the popular margherita to more inventive sausage, fontina and sage--round out the menu.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Save MoneyEvery Thursday night is family-style night. For $35 per person (plus tip and alcohol), a family-style dinner is served to anyone who wants to join. Menu can be anything, from Italian to Turkish to Canadian; the chef plans by the week.
Know Before You GoChef-owner Evan Kleiman hosts the popular radio show "Good Food" on KCRW-FM and also leads the L.A. chapter of Slow Food.
User Reviews for Angeli Caffe
04/26/2008 Posted by duke99
We often go to Angeli on a Friday night with our two kids, after a long week for everyone, and we always have a great time. The waiters always greet us like old friends, and we immediately can relax. The bread, as people have mentioned, is warm and delicious. But the appetizers and main courses are wonderful. The restaurant is about simple food, using fresh ingredients, simply prepared. It works well for the meat lovers, as well as the vegetarians in our family. We have never experienced the kind of service that some reviewers speak of, and we have dined there dozens of times. Angeli is our "go to" restaurant when we want a good meal that will satisfy everyone in the family. It is also great that they take the KCRW fringe benefits card.
Pros: Service, food, atmosphere
Cons: parking can be difficult, but valet is available
01/18/2008 Posted by martinikitty13
Angeli Café is a lovely little Italian restaurant with simple, fresh, homey Italian food, friendly, cozy service, affordable prices – all in a rather modern, yet somehow warm space. Space is a bit tight so I would recommend this for smaller groups since you will literally be sitting elbow to elbow! Parking can also be difficult (street parking on Melrose near La Brea isn’t always easy), but they do have valet ($5.50). My friend was a bit late so I enjoyed a glass of cava – very refreshing with a hint of fruit, dry finish. They also left a nice, warm loaf of “pizza bread” – a mound of bready delight which I dipped in their very good virgin olive oil. I finally had to cut myself off because I didn’t want to be full before my meal even began! I then focused on watching the other diners, a large portion of which appeared to be regulars. That is always promising when you find that a restaurant has a loyal following. When my friend arrived, we struggled with the menu which had too many tempting choices. (The menu is available on their website, but they also have several specials off-menu.) The waitress was very helpful and answered our multitude of questions. This is what we ended up having: - potato croquettes (little fried puffed croquettes of mashed potatoes, salame and smoked mozzarella). Very tasty. - Mushroom risotto. Risotto was perfectly cooked, mushrooms were tender, sweet and flavorful and the parmesan was nutty and smoky. Yum! - The special – lobster and shrimp in spicy red sauce over a bed of linquine. Very nice kick in the spicy sauce, sweet tender lobster and shrimp. Mmmmm. I was pretty full afterwards so we shared an affogato (vanilla gelato in a shot of espresso) – always a nice simple finish to a meal. I would definitely return – there were just too many other dishes I wanted to try, like the gnocchi, roast chicken, lasagna …. Carbs are just too good to give up!
Pros: Delicious, affordable food and friendly service
Cons: parking
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