Antonio Spinola and Salvatore Caratta recently opened the doors to their newest venture, L’Angolo Blue, and to kick things off, a four-course autumn wine dinner was in order. This marks their third restaurant, and like the others, the focus is a modern take on classic Italian Cuisine. L’Angolo Blue is situated in Blue Bell and features an extravagant dining room, full bar, and even a pianist. While the interior has minimal décor, the space still feels warm and friendly.
The first course consisted of Beans and Grilled Shrimp in Red Sauce with toasted bread, a grilled portabello mushroom with sautéed spinach and cheese, and Toscolo Chianti. The beans and shrimp was a unique dish, marrying the flavors of seafood and beans, and the portabello mushroom had all the components of a classic Italian dish, executed quite well. This course blended both the traditional and the modern, and paired excellently with the bold chianti.
The next dish featured Lobster Ravioli, as well as another glass of Toscolo Chianti. I was hesitant that this may be the normal seafood and pasta dish that can be found at nearly any Italian restaurant, but it was surprisingly refreshing. The presentation was a strong point, boasting a pinstriped ravioli and an appealing blush sauce. The sauce was sweet, and the seafood tasted quite fresh.
The third course sampled two menu entrees: A Chicken breast with melted Ham and fresh Mozzarella cheese, and Veal and Asparagus. L’Angolo Blue’s main entrées were more traditional than the first two courses that were served: The chicken was cooked well with fresh, gooey cheese and ham that blended successfully, and the veal was succulent with a cream sauce — both common dishes able to illustrate their interpretation of traditional Italian classics. The veal had a savory cream based sauce that was relatively ordinary for any Italian restaurant, and although the chicken was succulent, it certainly didn’t stand out as the most memorable course being offered.
The dessert course consisted of Butternut Squash and Chocolate Panna Cotta, both made on-site. Both flavors were rich and the butternut squash had a very unique flavor, similar to that of pumpkin pie.
Overall, dining at L’Angolo blue was a pleasant experience. The appetizer and pasta course were both very satisfying and brought something unique to the table, whereas the entrée course was cooked well, but seemed somewhat standard amidst the rest of the menu. The dessert was a great take on a traditional Italian dish with a much more American flavor. The featured Toscolo Chianti paired well with each course, and was a good wine to drink throughout the meal since it wasn’t too heavy or bold.
The food and atmosphere at L’Angolo Blue were both satisfactory, and should definitely be experienced firsthand if you’re a fan of traditional or modern contemporary Italian cuisine.
Find L’Angolo Blue at 602 Skippack Pike in Blue Bell, or online at langoloblue.com.
