Come to Angelina and get what the place is known for - the thick-as-sin African hot chocolate. It's creamy and rich and decadent, with just enough sweetness to do the trick and not a bit more. It comes with a whole pot of whipped cream, which cuts some of the impact of a bowl of melted chocolate. It's not served piping hot, unfortunately, but it's warm enough and simply delicious. If you're not too much of a chocolate person, or have an easily sated sweet tooth, split the thing. It's rich enough to satisfy two, though good enough to swallow alone.
As for the rest of Angelina's offerings, I haven't found anything overly impressive. I've been twice for lunch - once with my mother and then with Matt B. - and stuck pretty much to sweets and "salads" to ease the guilt. Of course, my salads came with fatty smoked salmon and artery-clogging duck foie gras, wholly defeating the purpose, even with dressing served dutifully on the side. The smoked salmon was quite good, fresh and tasty, and the salmon integrated well with the greens underneath. The foie less so - I only ordered it because I noticed it was the same price as the salmon. The foie was really fatty but not the most flavorful or luxurious, and it made me feel a little gross. I still had to eat it, since I paid for it and it was there, but I wouldn't recommend it. It came in a big chunk on top of the salad, with some toasted bread on the side. There was no match between the foie and the vegetables underneath. The greens, I must say, were quite good. There was a colorful mix of avocado, green beans, tomato, hard-boiled egg, lettuce, and a single artichoke heart. Every component was lovely, and I especially enjoyed the fresh crunch of green bean.
The sweets at Angelina are attractive and worth ordering, though on a different level from the hot chocolate. I've tried the signature mont blanc, and while I've had better, it was sweet and nice, with a good texture to the bountiful hat of chestnut paste. I also really enjoyed the lemon tart, which was really bright and tangy, with a soft, buttery crust.
Both times I visited Angelina, there was no line and service was polite and fairly efficient. The space is charming and feminine, and probably a bit more suited to lunch with my mother than with my boyfriend. The prices are a bit steep, especially when you order entrees, and in the future I'll probably just save Angelina for dessert. read more