Angelo's Cafe & Bistro

Angelo Maglione and Piero Oriolo know Italian, which is what makes Angelo’s Cafe & Bistro so authentic – in its food, its decor and its Old World atmosphere.

Both men were born in Italy, Maglione in Naples and Oriolo in Calabria.

Over the years, together, the two have made restaurants not only their business, but also part of their lives.

Vanessa Oriolo, Piero’s daughter and Angelo’s granddaughter, said her father currently owns Piero’s restaurant in Union Beach, and was also co-owner with Maglione of Piccolo Forno in Long Branch for 18 years. That restaurant closed two years ago.

During the time the two operated Piccolo Forno, they built up a following so between the two restaurants, Angelo’s is seeing new customers from the Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro, area as well as longtime customers who have come to Angelo’s to have what they had before, great Italian food in a warm, cozy atmosphere.

The tastefully decorated dining area exudes warmth with its soft orange and gold walls and stimulates a hearty appetite for what will come as one inhales the heady aroma of homemade Italian sauce and other dishes. Ambient lighting, cozy table set-ups and lovely artwork depicting scenes from the family’s homeland serve as inspiration for the tempting meals, all authentically and freshly prepared.

“Grandma (Virginia Maglione) makes all our homemade pastas and sauces, and “Grandpa (Angelo) makes all our pizza doughs and breads,” Vanessa pointed out.

The restaurant is all about authenticity, even importing flour for the pizzas that Angelo makes in an authentic wood burning brick oven from Italy. Other imports are rich desserts such as Chocolate Lava Cake, Cannolo Ripieno and Italian Cheese Cake. The Tiramisu is homemade by Angelo.

This eatery features a wide variety of dishes, which includes Cavatelli, Shrimp and Broccoli, one of the most popular meals along with Gnocchi Sorrentina.

Also on tap at Angelo’s is something you won’t find at any other Downtown restaurant – an owner who prepares the food and then entertains you as well.

Angelo and Virginia were once singers in a band back in Italy and always delight their patrons.

So on any given evening you may find Angelo in front of his microphone belting out his version of classic Italian songs. And if one looks closely, one will catch sight of the hats and scarves he uses as props that allow him to transform from chef to entertainer in a flash.

And the customers love it, according to Vanessa.

“We love Downtown Freehold. It’s a warm and welcoming place and it reminds us of Italy, with its streets and people walking, and the shops and cafes lining the streets. So we bring a little bit of our own Italy here to the Downtown.”