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L'Angolo has been one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, BYO or otherwise, for quite some time. It's not just because the menu is solid, it's not just Nino getting me uncomfortably drunk on limoncello, it's not just the ravioli di aragosta in cream sauce (which has made me roll my eyes back into my skull on more than one occasion).
It's that they're very down to earth, genuinely nice people who happen to run a fabulous little Italian place. The space is cramped but cute, the waitstaff is friendly but not overly talkative, and the kitchen can turn out plates quickly and consistently.
Try: the calamari, the gnocchi, the aforementioned lobster ravioli, the chocolate torte (with a glass of red wine, please.) If they have the gamberi con prosciutto, get that too, but I haven't seen it in awhile.
Parking may be an issue if you're driving, but you'll probably be a block or two away at most.
Went for my third time in as many years. I'd have gone more often if I didn't want to wear out the best reasonably-priced Italian BYO in a city full of them.
A friend recently went on my recommendation and said that it reminded him of some restaurants in southern Italy he had visited. I countered that my only complaint was the just-a-tad-shy-of-cheesy decor, and he responded without a beat that the decor was part of the appeal.
I won't go into what we ordered other than to say that the artichoke appetizer special has been consistently fantastic for years (ask for it if it's not available) and I especially enjoy the orecchiette with shredded duck. Just get here and fast.
So this was another Monica S. suggestion and we are glad we went here. It was pretty late when we got here so it was not as crowded but we did have a reservation. Since it was late..parking was not a problem..BTW what is with the double parking??? it seems cool but I had never seen it before! Never mind... :)
The specials was the artichoke appetizer and somehow it was still available...maybe we got lucky! We shared it and it was just superb...mmm...my tatse buds could taste every single bit of it and it was cooked to prefection!!! wow....
For main course, we had the spaghetti with mussels and clams and penne melanzane (eggplant)....once again amazing!!!
Even the desserts - tiramisu and chocolate something was great. A truly great dinner!!!!
L'Angolo is small, cramped, loud, delicious, affordable, and totally charming. As a frugal foodie/alcoholic who's lived on the Italian Market for four years and counting, I would have to say that L'Angolo is my personal favorite BYO. Maybe it's the all-male all-Italian (at least looking) wait staff or maybe it's the cacophony of various competing conversations, but there is something about the space that makes me feel like I'm in Europe... or at least at a big family dinner.
The decor is ok... nothing too special. More than anything else, it's warm and cozy. Dinners there tend to take some time, not that the service is bad, but the space begs one to linger... chat... open another bottle of wine. I've never felt rushed there or been served a poorly cooked meal. L'Angolo is ideal for a fun casual date, a meal w/ a few friends, or even a dinner for a small group. If you came in w/ 7 or more people, you would probably take over the place.
Dress is everywhere from casual to dressy. I've gone in jeans as well as a nice dress. Definitely do make reservations, I have often had to eat there late-night (aka 9pm) because I didn't call ahead for reservations. Parking is ok, I'm usually able to find a space on Broad.
I can't believe I never reviewed L'Angolo (translates roughly as "The Corner"...fitting as it is on a corner). The place is tiny, you walk through the kitchen to get to the ultra cramped tables, surrounded by mismatched, Italian artwork and photos. Still the food is better than most Italian in the city and the prices are insane. You'll leave for under $30 a person in most situations!
The pasta is generally very good, the meats can be hit or miss. It's pretty authentic and, for the price, a relative steal. Grab a solid bottle of Chianti or Dolcetto and rock this joint.
PS. Like in any South Philly area, parking can be a nightmare.
Small as everyone here has noted but we had a good time. The food is all good. Great bread, appetizers and entrees. My grilfriend's gnocci melted in your mouth. My roommate ordered the lamb and was very impressed. It's probably my fault for ordering it, but I got the spaghetti bolognese and it was good, though not 5 star great. I guess I'm a bit picky! But a solid 4 to 4 1/2 stars for this great BYOB.
This tiny corner trattoria sports some of the most authentic fare from the very bottom of the Italian peninsula, Puglia,. Wait staff of predominantly male servers are knowledgeable and usually on top of their game with excellent and unobtrusive service. The artichoke heart with its long stem is a must. Its not on the menu but has never been unavailable when I've asked. The back room is cozy and seats about 30. The two deuces in the front kitchen are fun as you can see all the action and the chef knows when you've been waiting too long, and she does notice. Avoid the one nearest the front door in very cold weather, the icy blasts whenever the door is opened are not pleasant. Excellent value for exceptional food.
I tend to not go out for Italian food, because in my mind, I just think of Italian food being pasta. "I can make pasta at home!" I stubbornly claim, and I CAN. However, I CAN'T prepare fish, vegetables, and salads with the skill of the chefs at L'Angolo. YES, I'll even admit that their pasta is of a higher caliber than any box of Barilla spaghetti that I buy on sale at the Acme.
I took a good friend out to dinner at L'Angolo this past Thursday. I live only about four blocks away from this restaurant and had no idea where it was. I had the address of the place (courtesy of Yelp, naturally) and I almost wound up walking right past it. Located right on the corner of 14th & Porter in South Philadelphia, L'Angolo's door opens to the scrumptious smells of authentic Italian food. The front of the restaurant can be a tad misleading, because when you first walk in you don't immediately realize that there is a whole back dining area that boasts a quaint and cozy atmosphere, perfect for catching up with a good friend or family over dinner. It would also be the absolute perfect place to take somebody out on a date. Yes, L'Angolo is very small, but you never feel cramped. The waitstaff is incredibly friendly and constantly made sure that my friend and I had everything that we needed. It is a BYOB and they will happily chill your drinks in their fridge. The freshly-baked Italian bread was the best that I have ever had, and it is served with kalamata olives in olive oil. I ordered the lobster ravioli and it melted in my mouth.
South Philly is jam-packed with Italian eateries, but I will continue to recommend this little place very highly to anyone who loves their carbs and fresh food.
Your going to get great authentic food, waiters with serious thick Italian accents and lemon sorbet from Milano. You'll also make out with a $45 bill for two people at this BYOB.
The minute you enter you are in the kitchen. The smell of breaded calamari, olive-oil marinated vegetables and thinly-pounded veal fill your nose.
The waiter will probably have a good chain around his neck, speak to you in kinda' good English with random Italian words thrown in.
Don't miss their homemade tiramisu and try to get a seat in the back.
L'Angolo is this amazing south philly gem! The food is extremely authentic and delicious. All of the food is cooked right in the front when you walk in, so you can see exactly what is going on. Its a BYOB- love that. The service is excellent, and the whole staff seems very friendly. The specials are definitely worth getting. We had the artichoke appetizer that blew my mind! I am dying to go back!!!!! Don't forget to eat dessert as well! You will be missing out. The lemon sorbet is to die for. The prices are perfect for what you get. No complaints here and 5 stars all the way!
One of the best in its price category. No exceptions. My folks took me to this Italian joint the last week...Wow! double wow! Everyone of us was dreaming of the next time we would return. the Pasta Bolognese was well crafted, The veal dishes where amazing, the mussel linguine was sublime , the braised beef and tomato spaghetti blew my mom's mind(her mind is easily blown)...the only dish that was suspect was the roasted cauliflower and onion pasta dish...pOps said it had too much salt...oh well. guess where I am going next time I am back in Philly?
I love the atmosphere at L'Angolo's. The staff is incredibly nice and the food is great. I need to get back there, it has been a bit since my last visit.
I read all the reviews, consulted with my fellow foodies.. and all were praising this tiny restaurant for its "authentic Italian food." I beg to differ. It is small, cramped, and the seating was too close for my comfort. I did enjoy walking through the open kitchen upon arrival... but the meal.. I have had better in South Philly. The bread is warm, and very fresh. My bread plate had a huge chip on it... with so many servers running around, you would think that one of them would notice it, and trash it before it was placed on a table. The caesar salad resembled every other salad I've had in this city, minus the excess of dressing, which was a nice surprise. But still, it was an average salad. The mussels in red sauce tasted a bit on the fishy side, and cold. The red sauce was rather bland, and flat. On to the entree's... I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese - which other bloggers & friends raved about. It was on the salty side, and needed more gravy. I had to ask for an extra side of red sauce - which made a world of difference; in both twirling the pasta, and adding to the flavor. I did not find the service to be great, nor did I get any "warmth" from the many servers that were running around. It all seemed very rushed, and chaotic. Needless to say.. we had 5:30pm reservations (the only time that was available...).. so I expected to have more of a "relaxed" dining experience, as opposed to a "fast" dining experience. My dining companions were not impressed with their meals either. Both commented that their entree's were lacking sauce, and spice. At the end of the meal, one of the wait staff asked us in passing if we wanted coffee. Not dessert.. but coffee. We asked what the desserts were, and the waiter appeared to be annoyed with this question as if we we were over extending our stay in the short hour that we were there... no coffee, nor dessert was ordered. I left, uninspired, and disappointed. This was not the great meal that I anticipated. I will continue to go to the many other great Italian restaurants that South Philly, and the rest of the city has to offer. By the way, this is the place that I chose to go for my birthday... good thing it was the night before, and not the day of. One last note.. never got the lemoncello shot at the end of the meal that they are supposedly famous for.
It's open for debate, but a lot of REAL South Philly people will tell you that L'Angolo is the best Italian restaurant around. And even beyond the incredible food, the restaurant has more than enough charm to go around. A perfect BYO setting, and you even get a free shot of limoncello at the end of the meal. Superior real-Italian waters, great location, what more can you ask for?
Three Course Recession Menu
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
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Philadelphia, PA
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Category: Italian
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Washington Square West
Category: Italian
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
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