Angelicas — Restaurant in Redwood City

Angelica's Redwood City: A Gastronomic Journey of Delights and Disappointments.

Welcome to Angelica's Redwood City, where culinary dreams meet reality. As a self-proclaimed gourmet and wine expert, my taste buds were eager to explore this renowned restaurant's offerings. With its reputation as a culinary hotspot, I entered with high expectations and a discerning palate, ready to savor the best of what Angelica's had to offer. However, as the night unfolded, I found myself experiencing a rollercoaster of gastronomic delights and disappointing dishes. Join me as I delve into the intricacies of my dining experience at Angelica's Redwood City.

Upon arrival, I was captivated by the charm of Angelica's, with its elegant decor and cozy ambiance. The dim lighting and soft jazz music created an intimate atmosphere, perfect for a romantic evening or a gathering of friends. The warm welcome from the staff set the tone for what promised to be an exceptional dining experience.

As a wine enthusiast, I eagerly perused the extensive wine list, hoping to find the perfect complement to my meal. To my delight, Angelica's boasts an impressive selection of local and international wines. From bold Cabernet Sauvignons to crisp Chardonnays, the choices were abundant. The sommelier was knowledgeable and offered excellent recommendations, ensuring that the wine selection was one of the highlights of the evening.

The culinary journey commenced with a selection of appetizers that showcased the chef's creativity and flair. The Lobster Bisque was a velvety delight, perfectly seasoned and rich in flavor. The Ahi Tuna Tartare, served with a zesty avocado salsa, was a refreshing and delightful start to the meal. However, the Crab Cakes fell short of expectations, lacking the desired crispness and depth of flavor.

The main courses presented a mixed bag of culinary sensations. The Filet Mignon, cooked to perfection, was tender and succulent, leaving me longing for more. The Pan-Seared Halibut was equally impressive, perfectly flaky and accompanied by a tantalizing lemon butter sauce. However, the Vegetarian Pasta dish was disappointing, with a lackluster sauce and overcooked vegetables.

As a self-proclaimed dessert connoisseur, I eagerly anticipated the sweet finale to the meal. The Flourless Chocolate Cake was a decadent delight, rich and moist, melting in my mouth with every bite. The Crème Brûlée, with its perfectly caramelized crust, was a luscious treat. On the other hand, the Tiramisu lacked the expected layers of flavor, leaving me wanting more depth and richness.

While the restaurant staff was friendly and attentive, there were occasional lapses in service. The timing between courses was inconsistent, with some dishes arriving too quickly and others taking longer than expected. Nevertheless, the sommelier's wine service was impeccable, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Angelica's Redwood City is a restaurant of contrasts, where moments of culinary brilliance are paired with occasional disappointments. As a gourmet and wine expert, I appreciate the restaurant's dedication to offering an extensive wine selection and the creativity displayed in their appetizers and main courses. However, inconsistencies in some dishes and the occasional service lapse detracted from the overall experience.

If you seek a cozy ambiance and an extensive wine list for an enchanting evening, Angelica's Redwood City might be the perfect choice. However, it's essential to temper your expectations and be prepared for both delightful surprises and moments of culinary letdowns. After all, the joy of being a gourmet expert lies in the exploration and discovery of new culinary experiences, embracing the highs and lows that make each dining...

There are so many good things to say that it's hard to even know where to begin this review! Just to sum everything up before I start describing how wonderful Angelica's is, the most important thing is that I haven't stopped recommending them to friends and family since the day of our wedding (even during preparation, to be honest).

I've been to Angelica's for brunch, but haven't attended an event there, so I knew I loved their food and atmosphere. I wasn't prepared for it to feel so perfectly “us” as a wedding venue, though. I'm not joking when I say that from the moment we walked in to tour, it was like my fiance and I both felt like something had fallen into place. Crystal, the event coordinator, is so knowledgeable and calming and sweet! She's honestly incredible, and stood out from every other venue coordinator we’d met with beforehand. It's truly a family business, which I love. Crystal is Angelica's daughter, and the bar manager is her son, and they make such an amazing team! Crystal was so patient during prep despite the fact that both my fiance and I had a really busy and emotionally difficult year, and every meeting, call, and email was meaningful and deliberate.

One of the first things you notice at Angelica's are the incredible floral, even if you're just casually eating dinner, but I didn't realize at first that Angelica herself is passionate about plants and floral arrangements. She did our wedding floral, including my bouquet and the wedding party's corsages and boutonnieres, and they looked exactly the way I hoped they would! Crystal also coordinated rentals at a fantastic price and the team had everything perfectly arranged the day of the wedding. I keep hearing from guests that the food was perfect, the drinks were delicious, the place looked beautiful, and even the lighting and sound were fabulous. Being able to host the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one location was SO nice, and we were able to sneak downtown without photographer for some golden hour photos in front of the Fox!

Honestly, not once did I regret choosing Angelica's as a venue. I'm so glad we live close by so we can continue to grab dinner or brunch in this special spot whenever we want, and for our anniversaries to come. Thank you to Crystal and the whole...

We visited Angélicas for the first time and while the atmosphere was lively and the service was fast and friendly, the food fell short in several ways.

We ordered two cocktails: the “Violetas” and the Espresso Martini. Both were tasty, but the Violetas was very light on alcohol and had a subtle, almost diluted flavor. The presentation was simple and nothing special. The Espresso Martini was not served in a traditional martini glass, which took away from the experience.

For food, we tried the tamarind wings and the Peruvian ceviche. The wings were disappointing as the tamarind sauce didn’t taste like tamarind at all. It lacked the expected sweet and sour punch and came across more like a generic dark sauce with no distinctive flavor.

The ceviche, although described as a fusion dish, consisted only of shrimp and a few slices of octopus (literally four). The octopus was overcooked and rubbery, and the shrimp had clearly been boiled rather than marinated in lime juice. There was barely any lime, so the ingredients didn’t blend. The fusion element of hominy (pozole corn) with serrano chili was overpowering and didn’t pair well with the seafood. The raw unsoaked onion added a harsh bite and the dish lacked balance. Each ingredient stood alone with no cohesion.

The ambiance was energetic, likely due to multiple graduation parties inside. We sat outside and while the music was a bit loud, it still allowed for conversation. It matched the lively setting.

As for presentation, the dishes were unremarkable. Looking at other menu items, we noticed some odd flavor combinations. While it’s a fusion concept, the creativity didn’t translate into appealing or memorable dishes. Prices were high for the portion sizes and overall, value was lacking.

I’ve reviewed a wide range of restaurants from street food to Michelin-starred establishments and while this place may be popular, I question the criteria behind the high ratings.

In conclusion, the food was mediocre and I don’t see a reason to return. Hopefully the restaurant improves, as there is potential, but currently the...