It was one of those nights when I just couldn’t reconcile myself to dorm food and fighting for a table in the craziness of the dining hall, so a friend and I decided to take a night off and adventure into Westwood to try a new restaurant. We were craving Italian, but with some specific lazy-and-broke-college-student requirements: we didn’t want to walk too far and we didn’t want to spend a lot of money. We wanted to avoid the typical choices—BJ’s, CPK, Mr. Noodle—and branch out, so when I found Angelino’s Café on Yelp, it seemed like the perfect choice.
Located on Kinross right behind Urban Outfitters, Angelino’s is a tiny, easy-to-miss red brick restaurant with just three small tables inside. We were greeted by an endearing man with a heavy Italian accent (the owner, Archie Zanali) as we walked up to the counter to order. The restaurant is run by Archie and his wife Emily, giving the restaurant a quaint family feel—all the food is prepared in the style of Archie’s mother’s Italian home cooking.
The menu on the wall is extensive—everything from hot sandwiches to salads to grilled items, and every kind of pasta and sauce combo imaginable. Angelino’s is famous for its pink sauce, but I decided to go with a safe option—penne with marinara and basil ($8)—and my friend got fettucine alfredo ($9.25). My penne was delicious—the pasta was fresh, perfectly al dente, and steaming hot, topped with just the right amount of tangy marinara, fresh basil chiffonade, and parmesan cheese. The fettucine alfredo, with chicken and a light cream sauce, also got good reviews. The portions were a good size: not huge but enough to fill us up.
There is something homey and welcoming about the restaurant that makes you feel like the service is just part of the experience. I would definitely go back to Angelino’s, especially to try the gnocchi or ravioli with pink sauce. The prices are very reasonable (pastas range from $7.25 to $9.25), the atmosphere is casual, and the food is delicious and authentically Italian.
Pictures:
http://findlocal.latimes.com/images/listings/4×3/235/D6D/C42/angelino-s-cafe-image.jpeg