Angeloni’s is Caldwell’s Newest Italian Restaurant

Nicholas and Erma Consorti turned a former newspaper office into a new Caldwell restaurant that features brick, stained glass and soft lighting.

Named after Erma's grandmother, Philomena Angeloni from Italy, Restaurant & Pizzeria at 6 Brookside Ave. is a family affair. Their daughter Amanda is one of the waitresses and the couple also owns Michael's Pastaria in Nutley.

On the night we went, the evening’s specials included veal and peppers, pistachio-crusted sea bass, chicken Savoy and several other items. We began with appetizers. The appetizers are varied, ranging from cold antipasto for two ($15.95) to eggplant rollantini ($9.50). We focused on the rice balls ($10.25), the stuffed artichoke ($10.95) and the mozzarella caprise salad ($12.95).

The rice balls arrived first. The dish featured four Clementine-sized split rice balls covered with cheese and small pieces of meat. The texture was very soft, yet firm, and beautifully prepared and spiced.

The artichoke was large and stuffed with breadcrumbs and garlic and arrived hot, which made it difficult to eat until it cooled down. The leaves came apart easily and were juicy and delicious with some peppery seasonings hidden inside the breadcrumbs.

The mozzarella caprise salad featured large slices of fresh mozzarella along with equally large ripened tomatoes with basil and a generous portion of balsamic vinegar. Each bite of this dish was an explosion of flavor. 

For dinner, three of us chose the specials—the veal & peppers with risotto ($18.95), the broiled salmon ($21.95) and the chicken Savoy ($18.95). Another guest chose the tilapia oreganato ($18.95) off the main menu. 

Angeloni’s is a new restaurant and when we visited, it had only been open only a few days. Keeping that in mind, a few kinks still needed to be worked out. We waited for nearly 35 minutes for our meals to arrive. Though the wait was long, the meal was delicious.

The veal & peppers was served over risotto. It featured a large portion of tender veal cut into cubes with a spicy balsamic sauce, spicy red peppers and onions. The veal was so tender, it easily fell apart on our forks. 

The broiled salmon was served with roasted red potatoes and spinach. Our guest thought the salmon was one of the best-prepared pieces of fish she ever had. The spice rub complemented the overall appeal of the dish. The potatoes were well-seasoned and crisp—the perfect complement to the fish. 

The tilapia was prepared in a white wine sauce and seasoned with oregano and garlic. The fish was light and flaky and met all of our expectations. The portion was generous and was served with spinach as well as the same crispy roasted red potatoes as the salmon.

The chicken Savoy featured pieces of chicken (on the bone) prepared in a light balsamic sauce with a side of rigatoni in tomato sauce. Our guest asked the chicken be served “light on the balsamic” and the request was met, though we still found the balsamic sauce a bit overwhelming. 

When we asked about desserts, our waitress showed us a plating of them—including pumpkin pie, tiramisu, cannoli, coconut custard pie and apple pie. We chose the cannoli, the coconut custard pie and a slice of apple pie (all $6.95). 

Our guest who chose the cannoli said it was “one of the best cannoli’s he’s ever eaten,” citing the creaminess and crunch of it. The two pie dishes were nestled between two dollops of homemade whipped cream.

The apple pie was described by our guest as “not too sweet and having a sturdy crust.” She also said she enjoyed how the apple pieces were prominently displayed. 

The coconut cream pie had a light, creamy texture and featured an abundance of coconut. Our guest said the pie was tasty and sweet and went well with her cappuccino.

Some other items of note: 

■ The restaurant features a full takeout menu with sandwiches and subs (both hot and cold) as well as takeout thin-crust and Sicilian pizza. While we were there, there was constant traffic picking up pizzas.
■ The restaurant features a children’s menu. While we were there, the restaurant filled up with many families with children and teens.
■ The restaurant is BYOB.
■ The restaurant’s website (AngelonisPizzeria.com) is currently under construction.
■ There is no restaurant lot. The night we were there, the street filled up quickly. It has time-limited parking. Because the restaurant is off of Bloomfield Avenue, parking may be troublesome.
■ The restaurant has a full catering menu featuring subs, salads, platters, pizza and other courses.

Angeloni’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
6 Brookside Ave.
Caldwell
973-226-1234
BYOB

Reservations accepted for parties larger than four people.