Angelina's Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

Summary: Unprofessional Management! Unreliable establishment. Broken agreements.

My brother in law had a reservation for a small wedding party for the afternoon of Thursday November 11th, 2021. He and his fiancee had chosen the place primarily for the atmosphere it could provide and not necessarily for the quality of the food. The reservation was for an outdoor table with a direct view to the ocean.

The reservation was made in person at the place with the owner 3 weeks prior to the event. The owner had shown my brother in law and fiancée around guaranteeing the spot and even suggesting few things they could do with the wedding party.

Sadly, on the given day, when we arrived at the place, we found out that another larger party had been given all the outdoor tables!

We did NOT get a courtesy call or a notice that our reservation was changed/canceled. If our event was a random get-together thing, it could have been fine, but it was a reservation for a WEDDING party! We had people flying from Poland, California, and DC. To add insults to injury, the manager of the day let us know that, and I quote, "the owner has no idea what happens in this place".

We were instead seated inside (with no view on the ocean). Not even an apology was provided.

The dinner itself was at best average and it cost our party around $800. We made sure to provide tips as we know this whole mix up and unprofessionalism were not the fault of the servers or cook and most likely resides in the poor and unprofessional management.

Here are the few things the management could have done to fix almost ruining my brother in law wedding day:

They could have called us ahead of time and let us know things were changed. We had other options which we canceled. They could have provided us with a proper apology instead of brushing us aside and saying things like : "the owner has no idea what happens in this place" They could have given us something during our dinner to fix their mistakes. Either a discount or a cheap wine bottle.

Instead, none of the above was done.

We took the wedding cake with us and decided to have it cut at home.

I would suggest if you make reservations for big events, be ready to have the reservation canceled without notice. The food is average at...

I'm giving it 5 stars for the food, also our waiter Francesco was good. It's expensive, we heard, we knew, we know...martini is $16 so you can't deaden the sticker shock with too many of those. We were only disappointed because we went for our anniversary (with gift cards from ol Costco) and we had made 8 pm Sat reservations. There was a happening vibe when we walked in, so we didn't mind when the hostess said our table wouldn't be ready for a few more minutes and we could wait at the bar. There was the right guy singing Mack the Knife, lively conversations over drippy candles in these cool booths (who do you have to know...or be...to land one of those...?), so, yeah, we were enjoying our cocktails and the atmosphere. Then it was off to our table with the hostess who proceeded to walk us up 2 flights (!) of stairs to a third floor room. Quiet, mostly empty tables, yeah there were windows offering a distant glimpse of some Perth Amboy at night but it was amazing how you could not even hear the faintest sound of the action on the main floor. Quiet. I thought of the hostess telling us how our table was not ready when there were all of these just sitting here..... If your looking for quiet conversation over your meal then this is for you (our 21st anniversary). They chip off a few chunks of parmigiano reggiano and give a small dish of eggplant caponata with good bread so you have something to keep your mouth busy while you scour the menu (and take a break from all that tawkin, lol). What I Loved: They had specials, yes, but instead of listening to someone rattle them off and then wonder if you'll be kicking yourself later when you find out what they cost, they list all the specials in detail along with their prices so there are no surprises and you can really study the choices. I had a swordfish special so fresh and juicy perfect. Shared a yummy shrimp pasta special as an appetizer and thought it was a generous enough portion. He had Chilean seabass from main menu and it was a good portion, no complaints there. Potatoes and fresh veggies were cooked right. Food tasted extra special, impressive even. We will go...

As I write this review, I grapple with a dilemma: to gatekeep or not to gatekeep? It feels almost mischievous to share the coordinates to such a treasure trove of culinary delights. But fear not, I’m no culinary miser. This gem deserves to be on the map—not hidden away!

Dining at Angelina’s Ristorante is like stumbling upon a secret culinary society where the food is so divine, you almost want to swear an oath of secrecy. Tucked away with a serene view of the water, Angelina’s isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a culinary speakeasy where the history is as rich as the tiramisu and the service sparkles more than the glassware.

As we entered, the atmosphere was buzzing with the kind of warm familiarity you’d expect at a family reunion— that is if your family consisted of gourmet chefs and the world’s most charming hosts. The menu was a parade of dishes so brilliantly executed, each bite felt like discovering a hidden treasure that, frankly, I wanted to bury again just for me.

The real treasure, though, was Angelina herself, playing the part of both captain and storyteller of this fine dining ship. Sharing a drink and stories with her, I was half-tempted to check if my reservation had mistakenly been swapped with some other VIP’s. The staff treated us not just as guests but as old friends, in an ‘everyone-knows-your-name’ kind of way that could make even the Cheers bar seem standoffish. Angelina’s is the place where ‘everyone knows your name, and a smile greets you at every turn.’

From its sophisticated decor to the tranquil views that complement each meal, Angelina’s offers a luxurious escape from the mundane. It’s the kind of place where you come for the food but stay for the laughter, the stories, and the sheer joy of feeling like you’re part of something so exclusive—yet wholly welcoming.

In conclusion, if you’re seeking a dining experience that combines the allure of a hidden gem with the vibrancy of a family feast, sail no further than Angelina’s. Just don’t tell them I sent you—they might start expecting you to...