Buffalo Rising Online

May 13th, 10:31am By Kate Sorice

North Buffalo’s Hertel Avenue stands out as a great place to work and play. Among other things it is home to a great selection of restaurants offering a variety of cuisines including Middle Eastern, Japanese and Contemporary American.

A friend of mine lives in North Buffalo, and when I mentioned to her that I wanted to try a great, reasonably priced restaurant on Hertel, the first name that came out of her mouth was Café GarAngelo.

It is a small, bustling Italian restaurant nestled in the block between Lovering and Virgil Avenues, near Chateau Buffalo and the Aladdin Market. When I arrived at the restaurant on a sunny Thursday right after work, the first thing I noticed was the restaurant’s homey feeling. The rear dining room is decorated with twinkling lights and colorful paintings. The owner greets guests as though they were part of the family and offers diners wine and complimentary gorgonzola bread and olives. The bread is warm and flaky on the outside and has a buttery gorgonzola spread on the inside. The olive antipasti is marinated in olive oil and is a great start to the meal.

We started with an appetizer. Sadly, the famous stuffed artichokes were sold out. Simply stuffed with breadcrumbs, herbs and cheese, they are Café GarAngelo’s biggest seller. Instead, we opted for a plate of calamari. The calamari was sautéed in a wine sauce with tomatoes, onion and garlic; it was very moist and delicious. The dish was so plentiful, that with the addition of a side salad, it would easily make a light meal.

I learned from our waitress that nothing at Café GarAngelo is deep-fried and that all of the food is prepared fresh to order. Guests will find many healthy selections on the menu. Before our entrees arrived, I sampled a cup of housemade Italian Wedding Soup with meatballs and bits of grilled chicken.

Most of the entrees are priced at less than $10 and come with your choice of soup or salad. If you want to splurge, there are pricier options that include braciole (when it is on special), steak and veal specialties.

On the evening of my recent visit I opted for the Sicilian fish special. For $9.95, I was served a good sized piece of haddock baked with lemon, olive oil, tomato and cheese. The fish was incredibly fresh tasting and it came with a side of spaghetti with red sauce. I enjoyed the sauce because it was simple and savory. My friend chose a dish of spaghetti and spinach. The pasta was sautéed in olive oil and tossed with fresh, leafy greens.

The food at Café GarAngelo is both simple and absorbing; one can tell when the food has arrived because the roar of conversation that fills the dining room suddenly quiets to a whisper. There are traditional desserts to choose from as well, and I encourage everyone to try one, or at least take one to go!

No matter what someone chooses at Café GarAngelo, they won’t be disappointed. It’s inexpensive, fresh, and tasty Italian food served in a friendly atmosphere.



Café GarAngelo
1197 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, 14216
716.875.8940