If you are sleeping on this place, you are missing out. I came for the first time on Thursday, and…read morecouldn't wait to come back with my husband at the first opportunity, which was today (Saturday). The ambience, the decor...all of it nice. But the food. Dear God! The FOOD! Every bite was better than the last. I got the Spaghetti Works. My husband got the Tour of Italy. Mouthwatering. Delicious. Heavenly. A religious experience. The waitstaff is also fantastic. We will be back.

Sorry, I have to share this story in its entirety. Picture…read morethis: My wife and I had just left Sunday Mass in Hartford, Arkansas. We were very, very "hangry" and headed to Poteau, Oklahoma, to do some shopping. While driving, we searched online for a local place to eat that wasn't a chain. We decided on a local BBQ joint. Well, rats! It was out of business, and I had to use the bathroom really badly. We stopped at a gas station. The men's room was occupied--I could hear a guy talking on his phone inside. I was desperate. I briefly considered the ladies' room... nope, that wasn't happening. I stepped outside to weigh my options. There was a stack of pallets next to some very tall weeds. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Nope--not these weeds and not these pallets! Right across the alley sat Poteau's finest: the Poteau Police Department. ‍ I looked across the street and there it was--salvation! Milano's Italian. I told my wife, "Stop looking. We're eating right there across the street. I'm not going to make it much farther." She replied, "I'm looking at their menu right now. I want a Stromboli." We walked in. The restaurant was clean and tasteful, not fancy. Most of the tables were occupied, but it was surprisingly quiet. You could feel it--and especially smell it. Milano's is clearly geared for serious eating. That explains the lack of conversation. Folks were too busy enjoying their food. As we read the straightforward menu, a very well-groomed young man with an authentic Italian accent approached and asked, "May I get you something to drink?" We looked at each other and smiled, realizing this was shaping up to be a real experience--in Poteau, Oklahoma, no less. Of course, our server's name was Luigi from Venezia, Italy. We were served the finest Italian cuisine I have ever had, period. It started with the fresh bread. Oh, that fresh bread was awesome. (Side note: Longhorn's, you have serious competition!) You better believe I'm getting the ribeye next time--you should be worried. We also had the stuffed mushrooms (freaking awesome), a salad with freshly made house dressing, "Spaghetti Works" for me, and the Stromboli for my bride. We didn't even come close to finishing it all--except for the stuffed mushrooms, of course. Toward the end of our meal, we were chatting with Luigi. He told us where he was from and taught us how to pronounce it correctly. I had no idea what or where the town called Venezia was. Being very proud of his hometown, he showed us pictures of this beautiful old city with its canals and gondolas. "Oh! You're from Venice!" I said. To which Luigi replied, "Sì, Venezia." The English language can be so lacking sometimes. The pictures were extraordinary, by the way. Since I had forgotten to check the prices, I was expecting the bill to be around $75. Nope--it was only $49.29! Are you kidding me? Hell's bells, you can barely get out of McDonald's for less than that these days. I mean really--$30 at McDonald's for crappy food, or $50 at Milano's Italian with a very nice young man named Luigi serving your food and sharing tales from Venezia? No contest. Luigi received the $25.71 difference as his tip. Money well spent. God willing and the creek don't rise, we'll be seeing Luigi and the Milano's crew again. P.S. I almost forgot--the restrooms are perfect!

Nice place and good service. Had the bacon and egg breakfast sandwich with a cinnamon caramel latte…read moreand it was spot-on delicious! If you're just passing through it's a must-stop for breakfast or coffee.

This place is always packed on the weekends and is a staple to the town. It's the place to be!…read more The food is average except the huevos rancheros which are exceptionally good. Your food usually comes out pretty quick despite it being busy. The interior is a mix of random tchotchkes and a surfer California vibe. It has seen better days and some of the furniture and decor is a bit worn and in need of replacing or a good scrub down. Parking can be a bit tricky when it's busy so you may need to park down closer to the park or the hotel and walk.