Angelo's Ristorante — Restaurant in Coeur d'Alene

So on vacation we decided to visit Angelo's. A local staple in town. Let me start off by saying that I wanted to give it * but the gf ranked it a ***, so here is the average of our combined experience. The restaurant is a darkish, dim lit, draped pillowed interior that tries to spark the likeness of an Italian village. Small bar as soon as you walk in and a good space for dining couples or parties of four or larger - very spacious and well laid out with table selections and areas. As people finished their meals, we here them thanking and blessing Angelo for a great meal. So, I'm like, yep, picked a good one! Well, at least my gf enjoyed her meal. The service was ok. Our server was a little hit and miss and it was a little discerning. We ordered salads - the couple next to us, did to. They were offered fresh ground pepper, we were not. We ordered pasta dishes and so did one of our neighbors. They were offered fresh ground cheese, we were not. And yes, it was the same server :-( Did not understand it. As everyone left the restaurant who completed their meal, we here them thanking and blessing Angelo for a great meal. So, I'm like, Yep, picked a good one! Well, at least my gf enjoyed her meal. I ordered a pasta meal with clams (Spaghetti Vongole) and took the option of a wheat based noodle which was penne instead of spaghetti. Noodle and I chose the white sauce which was pretty good. The clams though, terribly tough and overcooked. The gf on the other hand said she had a marvelous Penne Al Positano where she swapped the penne for fettuccine. So, on a side note, Angelo's was very accommodating with pasta options. A taste of her pasta dish versus mine was evidence in that I wanted to just take her dish from her and run and leave her with mine. On a bright side, the server made a recommendation for wine and it was a spot on Chianti by Folonari. I would recommend this wine to anyone who enjoys this type of red wine. So to conclude, let me just say the restaurant was like the server. I think it is ranked ok with a hit and miss visit depending on when you go. I hope you all who decide to visit enjoy your meals like my gf did and the others who finished their meals before us. Me, oh well... just chalk it up for...

I loved Angelo's, from arrival to departure. It's perfectly charming, has a great atmosphere and astonishingly good, made-from-scratch food. Absolutely a midtown gem!

First up, a quick description. The restaurant has a small outdoor patio, and then a couple of larger rooms indoors. We walked in to the bar (which has a couple of seats) and we were immediately shown to a nice two-top. The lighting is muted, and some jazz classics were playing quietly over the sound system. It's perfect for a date.

We ordered Bruschetta, and my partner had a small Caesar Salad and Chicken Parm, while I ordered the Bucatini alla Carbonara - Carbonara is ALWAYS my "test" dish when trying a new Italian place, as it tells you everything you need to know about the kitchen :) So deceptively simple, but also tricky as there is nowhere to hide. We also ordered a pretty nice bottle of Chianti (not expensive or fancy, but it drank well above its price point).

The food was great - because the ingredients were clearly high quality and treated with care. The Bruschetta was perfectly done (again, the simplest dishes can be the hardest) and nicely plated; the Caesar Salad just right. When the mains came, my partner and I were both very pleased; her Chicken Parm with Angel Hair pasta was well crafted - and the texture of the chicken was very appealing.

My Carbonara was fantastic. I was a bit nervous when I ordered it because it listed Pancetta, Cream, and Parmesan among the ingredients and of course typically it would be Guanciale, no cream (ever!), and Pecorino Romano... but once I tasted it, I couldn't care less. The flavors were there, and I loved it. The pasta was the perfect al dente, and the portion was just right. From a food perspective, Angelo's gets a 10 out of 10. A shared Chocolate tart was the perfect ending to the meal.

Philomena, our server, was cheerful, attentive, and friendly. The meal unfolded over two leisurely hours, which some diners seemed to find slow. However, we loved the pacing—it allowed us to savor the meal and enjoy the evening fully. If you’re in a rush, this may not be the place for you, but for those who appreciate the art of a lingering meal, Angelo’s...

After researching restaurants in the local Coeur D'Alene area, we came upon this Italian restaurant which caught our eye with Chef Angelo's passion for organic, local farm sourcing and many positive reviews... We seek out unique and high-quality, intimate Italian venues both local and when we travel... Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and seated at a semi-private quiet table. Donna, our server, was a ray of sunshine and a chalice of radiant light! Seriously... with her warm smile and soulful embracing, beautiful demeanor, we immediately knew we arrived exactly where we needed to be... We decided on a simple chianti on the glass pour list, which was a wonderfully generous pour for both of us... and the wine was perfect. We began our culinary bliss with the vegetable antipasto which included wonderfully Grilled and Marinated Vegetables, Olives and Fresh Mozzarella (was not expecting the BEST eggplant we have ever had on a starter plate like this...) which led my wife to ordering the eggplant parmesan. After we placed our entree orders, Donna kindly brought us a small taste of the scrumptious silky butternut squash soup which was topped with delicately crisped pepitas. We devoured the soup and wished we had ordered a giant bowl... but the fresh baked focaccia had arrived and more courses were on the way... Our entrees arrived and were a feast for the eyes... and they tasted just as delicious! The eggplant parmesan was crisp and light as a cloud... sided with a perfectly al dente bucatini noodle and fresh, bright red sauce... again, THE BEST eggplant my wife has ever enjoyed. Now... let us talk about the meatballs... I got the bucatini with meatballs... the sauce, delectable... the meatballs... are you sitting down?? Lean, pillow soft, hearty, herby, perfect mouthfeel, flavorful, insatiably delightful! Atmosphere was ma and pop taste of Italy experience... The entirety provided for a very romantic experience which was to pay off later that evening... but we digress... We can't recommend this restaurant enough... for the food, the experience and the beautiful Donna... Be sure to ask to sit in her section... And then enjoy YOUR romantic evening after your...