Angelo Mio, Menlo Park

We have had many delightful dinners here before but most recently we hosted a dinner for 28 and the private room was not only private but the decor and furnishings put everyone in the proper mood. Emelio helped us plan the menu in advance and include options for our guests which added to the occasion.The ambiance, food and service could not have been better!

It's a good basic Italian restaurant. Both the food and service is dependable and you won't get any surprises. Although the last time I was there, the service was a bit slow...but that can happen anywhere.

The only thing disappointing about Angelo Mio is that we didn�t discover it sooner. We�ve lived down the street for a couple of years and finally made our first visit on a recent Saturday night. We arrived at prime dinner time (7:30 pm) but had no problem getting a table. The restaurant was busy but not overcrowded. The high ceilings, Italian d�cor, and open front make for a quaint setting. The bread and garlic/olive oil starter was tasty � enough garlic to scare off the vampires. The �Angelo Mio� spinach salad was excellent � extremely fresh fruits and vegetables including right-off-the-vine cherry tomatoes, orange slices and a creamy goat cheese. My �Pollo Adriatico� was very good � perfectly cooked, tender chicken in a nice sauce with eggplant, tomatoes, spinach and olives. The accompanying mashed potatoes, polenta and saut�ed veggies were good as well. My wife�s �Pollo Marsala� didn�t disappoint either � nicely cooked in a subtle wine/mushroom sauce. We finished things off with a �Cioccalata tart�, a rich chocolate base (almost like a fudge) covered with creamy Italian ice cream � very nice. The only problem was trying to break through the cold, hard chocolate, which sent a couple pieces of the dessert flying! Overall� excellent, fresh food; friendly service, and reasonable prices for Menlo Park (~$12-20; $10 corkage). One minor nit is that the entrees took a while to come out, though this wasn�t a problem on a Saturday night with wine and good friends.

Starting with the garlic/oil and bread to start, the food is fantastic. It's quite small - so make sure to make a reservation.

The quiet setting is a perfect for a date or dinner for four. Portions are perfectly sized...you don't get overstuffed.