Angelo of Mulberry St Inc   

On May 8 I decided to go to Little Italy for a sumptuous-festive meal (we were celebrating a college graduation). I normally go to Da’Nico – a great Italian restaurant but decided to try Angelo of Mulberry Street (since it had a higher Zagat rating - but don’t go by the Zagat Guide, my experience is that they are nearly always wrong!) The service was spotty: for example, they do not identify the year on their wine list and the server has to go back each time you ask for a year (what’s the purpose of that?) After inquiry of 2 bottles, the server showed disgust at having to identify the vintage. The food was mediocre (especially in the relation to Da’Nico’s) – bland, pasta had no taste, lobster was buried in a spicy red sauce with no distinction, the veal chop was loaded with fat. The best thing was my $150.00 bottle of Amarone (Bertani 2000). What a shame, the only good thing was what I could control: the selection of wine. At the check presentation I noticed that the 1-1½ lb. lobster used in Lobster Fra Diavolo was charged $85. I am in the restaurant business and on the West Coast our current Maine lobster price is $9.95 per lb. – surely East Coast wholesale prices do not exceed that amount. When I questioned the bill (it should have been about $36 at $24 per lb. markup). I was told “that is the price.” I persisted that it was unfair to charge $85 for a $15 food cost – a markup of almost 600%. The so called owner, a young girl in her early thirties told me “conversation is over.” My sister-in-law did a better job than I – and negotiated it to $50 – still an outrageous price (I paid $48 for a 2 lb. lobster the next day at Atlantic Seafood). To add insult to injury this “restaurant” billed me twice on my American Express Card ($480 and $440) a mistake? I strongly urge the Zagat Guide to review their comments. This is a bad restaurant all around! - service, food, and integrity. Avoid it – there are much better restaurants all around Little Italy.

What a joint ! Food was awsome atmosphre is just like Sunday at my grandmothers noisey and jammed but this place cant be beat.Will definitly return! went 8/1/04 Place packed was seated in undr 10 minutes with reservation from my hotel Way to go Angelo!!!

I have been to the resturant a number of times over the last 20 years. Food is always very good, Pricey is true, 6 people dinner was 600.00 and that only inlcuded 2 bottles of 26.00 wine. love the staff, and if you have a local connection you can be seated otherwise forget about it.

GOOD FOOD PRICY AND REASONABLE PORTIONS