Growing up in Palm Beach Gardens, my parents and I loved to eat out. One of our frequent haunts was Vic & Angelo’s. The Italian eatery has a new seasonal menu that aims to pay homage to the culinary traditions of the old country, including grilled octopus, squash blossoms and a personalized meat & cheese board. I hadn’t been back here until my guest and I were recently given the chance to try out their signature items.

Located just off PGA Boulevard, Vic & Angelo’s, which also has a location in Delray Beach, was beautifully decorated for the holidays. We sat in tall-backed red, squishy armchairs outside, giving a feel of a grand lounge combined with the coziness of an Italian trattoria.

We started our evening off with a couple of Vic and Angelo’s signature cocktails, the French Vanilla Martini and the Italian Margarita. The margarita definitely had a refreshing Italian flair with amaretto and tequila, and the martini had a fruity aftertaste and went down smoothly.

Our meal began with traditional mozzarella, which is made tableside. It was kneaded and soaked in hot water and then served along a caprese salad. The mozzarella could have used some seasoning, like salt, pepper and olive oil, but this cheese was undeniably fresh. The tomatoes and basil turned out to be my favorite part of the dish.

I have eaten plenty of pasta in my life, as is tradition when being raised by an Italian mother. I never dreamed that one of the best pasta dishes I would ever taste — maybe even just regular dinner dishes — would be right here in the U.S. Do not leave this restaurant without trying one of their signature dishes: the four cheese pear tortelloni with white truffle zabaglione. I didn’t think it was possible for cream sauce to be rich without being thick, but the chefs here showed me it can be a reality. The pear and cheese turned out to be a wonderful combination of flavors — slightly sweet with a distinctive taste that only truffle can bring.

If you’re going to get a classic veal parmigiana anywhere, get it here. The veal is pounded thin with a nice breading atop a robust tomato sauce and al dente rigatoni.

Although we were absolutely stuffed after a rich dinner, ordering a sweet treat turned out to be a smart choice. Zeppole is one of their many desserts that are made in house. Covered in powdered sugar and accompanied by sides of chocolate and caramel sauce, these little balls of fried dough were soft and chewy with just the tiniest bit of crunch.

Vic & Angelo’s will certainly provide a meal worth celebrating.. Make sure to try one of their seasonal menu items and signature dishes on your next trek to Palm Beach County.

Vic & Angelo’s in Palm Beach Gardens is open from Sunday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

 Olivia Feldman is a contributor for The South Florida Sage. Her favorite foods are anything that involves pasta and her mom’s cooking. When she’s not eating and drinking her way through South Florida, you can find her going to concerts, planning her next travel destination, and hosting her biweekly music show, “Back in Our Minds,” on Jolt Radio. You also can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @oliviafelds

Disclosure: I received a complimentary tasting at Vic & Angelos. All opinions are my own. All images appearing in this post photographed by Olivia Feldman. 

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