Pura Angulo cooks and plates while a dishwasher and waitress do the footwork outside the kitchen during the day, but in the evenings, she flies solo—her patrons are mostly couples, and she prefers that intimacy. Toledo Art & Food is Angulo’s third restaurant, her first in the United States, having previously operated eateries in Sicily with her late husband, and in Venezuela. The small eatery opened its door six weeks ago in The Lunch Hour’s former location at 332 North Erie St.
Art wanted
This charming woman with a thick Sicilian accent delights in preparing homemade Italian meals, but also has a passion for art. A small corner of the dining area showcases several pieces from her private collection and still more for purchase. She encourages local artists with a sign that advertises, “Ask us how to sell your art here.” At present, Gathered Art Gallery has a few items for sale and other exhibitors will be dropping off work soon.
Angulo’s wall pieces are inspired by her appreciation and interpretations of spirituality and faith. In another corner is a bench to sit and peruse a small collection of books while waiting for pick-up orders.
Breakfast is served all day, and choices include a fully loaded frittata for $9, a vegetarian or sausage panini for $5, and cereal, bagels or yogurt with seasonal fruits and granola. My dinner date sat with me at a quaint half-table booth, and ordered a turkey and pesto panini, $7. I had a lasagna-styled eggplant dish, one of the day’s $5 specials. Both entrees were flavorful and filling, and it was easy to tell that the food was made from scratch. I will make a return trip for another panini.
Unexpected delights
The pesto was light, the turkey fresh, and the panini was perfectly grilled. With the sandwich came a choice of soup or salad, and the owner recommended ham soup prepared with wine and the homemade meatball. An out-of-the-ordinary flavor came in a “shake” made from yogurt, honey and fresh mint leaves, a twist on the traditional panna cotta. With a distinct tang, it’s definitely something worth trying and “it aids in digestion,” says Angulo. For those who prefer it, she can add a little milk.
I’m typically not a fan of tiramisu, but I enjoyed its light-but-very-sweet flavor, whipped texture and lack of lady fingers. The menu advises that a patron can receive the “Original Italian Tiramisu” for free on their birthday with a valid ID.
Food aside, the new eatery seemed to have popped up from nowhere, unannounced. It has an eclectic-but-authentic vibe, and is easy to miss, as the sign in the window is only barely visible from the street. Angulo let on that her reason for opening in Toledo is to encourage a vibrant arts scene downtown, where “people paint right on the street,” like they do in her home country. When asked if she’ll have a larger sign in the future, Angulo simply replied, “The sign? It’s in my heart.”
Visit Toledo Art & Food at 332 N. Erie St. downtown. Hours are 6am-6pm Monday-Friday and 11am-4pm on Saturday.