Chow Time: Angelo's & Vinci's

I know our last wacky tacky culinary adventure left you perfecting your pasta twirling technique and it may seem a bit redundant to feature another Italian restaurant so soon.  Nevertheless, we are certified, spaghetti fiends and we just couldn't stay away from one of our favorite Italian grub hubs, Angelo's & Vinci's.

Angelo's & Vinci's Ristorante - Fullerton, CA

Opened in 1972, Angelo's & Vinci's is a wacky tacky masterpiece.  Located on bustling Harbor Boulevard in historic, downtown Fullerton, even the entry to this mecca of manicotti is festooned with with all things wild and wonderful from the old world. 

A detail of Angelo's & Vinci's front door

Miniature suits of armor stand sentry

I have no idea what activity is being depicted in the figure on the left, 

but I don't think the cherub approves.

We're serving dessert first in this addition of chow time and showing one of the best parts of the restaurant immediately.  Angelo's & Vinci's has a basement (trust me this is pretty unusual and exciting in Southern California)!  Lurking in said basement is a collection of aberrations so peculiar, so dangerous, so horrible that they must be locked in cages. 

Spooky!

Demented clowns and caged monsters are not really the scariest part of the basement;

the scariest part is the smell - sort of old refrigerator meets moldy carpet. 

Frankenstein's monster & dismembered bodies

Gorillas & Vampires - Dracula, you don't have to put on the red light!

The best part of the basement is the fact that the space is dedicated to such a silly exploit.  Our favorite A&V pastime is to lead the uninitiated down to the basement and hide around the corner so we can jump out and scare them.  Juvenile?  Uh-huh.

As frightening as the basement might be, the centerpiece to the entire restaurant is the main dining room known as the Piazza Fantasia.

The Piazza Fantasia

The Piazza Fantasia really is a fantasy of color, light, soaring ceilings and a truly-wonderful assemblage of junk!  Aerialists and acrobats swing from the ceiling.  Cured meats, pirates, Santa Claus, Italian poster art, The Phantom of the Opera and twinkle lights are only small parts of the larger wacky tacky equation.  There is so much visual stimulation that I see something new every time we go.

Dinner guests enjoying the atmosphere

Sometimes it is difficult to tell which part of the building is the scariest.  

I'm not so sure the basement would win.

Just one small corner of the room includes street lamps, puppets, a pirate and Pinocchio!

A wall of faux food helps recreate the atmosphere
of food stalls in an old Italian Piazza

Taking a page out of The Godfather, "The Family" is given a place of honor.

Speaking of family, the place is usually packed with hungry families.  Moreover, there is almost always a wedding reception being held; there are multiple banquet areas and the absence of a private party or wedding reception is an exception to the rule.  The first time I saw that people were hosting their reception at Angelo's & Vinci's, it seemed to me rather odd.  The regularity with which these celebrations are held there has me questioning my initial judgment.  Apparently, A&V's knows how to throw a party and the revelers seem to leave the festivities happy and full.

What does it all mean?

I'm not sure if we mentioned, but the food at Angelo's & Vinci's is pretty good too.  Their Italian dressing is amazing and every meal is served with delicious homemade rolls.  Pasta can be eaten many places but why not eat it in the under a tightrope walker?  Why not masticate your mostaccioli with monsters?  Why not slurp spaghetti where Santa Claus can see that you're being nice this year?  Why not go to Angelo's & Vinci's?  You'll be glad you did!

Angelo's and Vinci's Ristorante
550 North Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton, CA
(714)879-4022

Hours of Operation
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-9pm
Friday & Saturday: 11am-10pm

www.angelosandvincis.com


Cheers and Ciao!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Pann's

We're always looking for great restaurants around Southern California.  We search high and low for places with interest, history and delicious food.  Sometimes it seems that there is just nowhere to go eat.  Truth be told, Southern California is just lousy with amazing places to go grab a bite and we're spoiled with epicurean richness.  In short, southern California has a glut of eateries to indulge one's gluttony.  Among LA's gastronomic crown jewels is Pann's.  Opened in 1958, Pann's is the perfect mixture of good food, good prices and good googie!

The architectural lines of Pann's are pure atomic age.

The handles on the doors are enough to draw you in.

Pann's is the perfect 50's diner without being a "50's Diner."  Hallmarks of mid-Century, googie diners are ever present without falling into a stereotypical trap of pink & aqua color schemes.  There are no costumed waitresses to reinforce some imagined nostalgia.  There are no roller skates, no Marilyn Monroe photos and no TV's playing episodes of Happy Days.  No, you won't find the Fonz here but you will find a Pann's almost identical to the one you would have found in 1958.  Fortunately, the owners have preserved Pann's in a way that honors its history and welcomes its delicious future.

Chrome barstools are upholstered in button-tufted, white vinyl
that highlights the terrazzo floor. ("Barf-errazzo," my favorite)

A view of the dropped ceiling above the counter.
A combination of materials including rock, vinyl, formica,
laminate, chrome, wood and cork create a dynamic interior.

A row of original pendant lamps light the booths.
How about those striped venetian blinds?

I've told you many times before, I'm obsessed with light fixtures.

Atomic map in the waiting area.

Some views of the dining room:

The counter at Pann's (not to mention every other available seat)
 is usually full of satisfied diners.

 I am not a "foodie."  I LOVE to eat. I LOVE food.  I LOVE good food.  I am not not, however, an adventurous eater.  wacky tacky does not search out haute cuisine and the mere mention of "small plates," is enough to send us hightailing it to the nearest diner.  When I go out to eat, I want something delicious - not something overly thought-out or self-conscious or small.  Because I am a fatty, not a foodie, I have often already eaten the better part of the food on my plate before it occurs to me that I should have taken photos of our selections.  In this case, and just about every other, you may assume that I ordered a hamburger; trust me it is the foundation of the wacky tacky food pyramid.  Pann's is famous for their fried chicken, waffles, biscuits and grits, but their burgers are delicious!

Mary peruses the menu

A "pie-l" of cakes and pies
Try the Sock-it-to-Me Cake
(a cinnamon-walnut coffee cake on steroids)

Really, the best part of Pann's is that the food is amazing and the service is great.  It is more than a greasy spoon with cool vibe and mediocre food.  It is more than the many L.A. landmarks that feel they don't have to provide superior product or service because they have been doing the same thing for more than 60 years.  Every time we go to Pann's, the servers are friendly (not overly), helpful (without having to be asked), and professional (without being impersonal).  If we lived closer, we determined that Pann's would be our regular place.  Until then, I'm glad that it is not too close because first, I would eat (read overeat) there all the time and second, it seems more special when we go there as a treat.

Pann's
6710 La Tijera Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
(323)776-3770

www.panns.com

Sunday-Wednesday: 7:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday-Saturday: 7:00am - 11:00pm


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

MONSTER PARK II: The Revenge of the Sea Creatures

Not far from La Laguna de San Gabriel Playground in San Gabriel lurks yet another deep sea uprising!  We were ecstatic to learn that the sculptural playgrounds of artist Benjamin Dominguez existed in more than one location.  These creatures are a real fun-for-all and can be found in the charming city of El Monte at the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.  The name of this enormous park falls a little flat and doesn't nearly do justice to the 1,492 acres of sunny park land.  Whittier Narrows is home to multiple, stocked, man-made lakes that are perfect for casting a line, peddle-boating or just watching the congregation of all kinds of water fowl.  There are trails for walking and peddling surreys.  There are several playgrounds and picnic sites.  There are even areas for racing model boats.  There are also hordes of people to stare at an overgrown man-child as he climbs the playground equipment.

Obviously, we were there for the monsters.

I quickly tamed the beast and the children
were free once more to frolic and play....and then

We spotted another creature off in the distance.

We had no idea what the heck this was supposed to be but it was fun.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Extended exposure to these creatures left me with a few
questions about nature's miracles but they were quickly answered.

So that's where giant baby starfish come from....huh.

Apparently, the water is good for splashing
 too...and the sacrifice of small children.

Unlike La laguna playground, we had to earn these monsters.  They are spread at a great distance all around the lakes and so began our forced march.  Did I get a blister?  Yes.  Did I also get some much-needed, low-impact exercise? You got it.  We left the park injured, thrilled and exhausted but the fun wasn't quite over yet.  On our tour of El Monte, we found another picturesque exhibition of nature's awesome beauty.

Roughly translated from Spanish, I'm pretty sure this means
"Mr. Hondo's Nature Walk."

Mr. Hondo's Nature Walk

Mr. Hondo's Nature Walk is a riparian habitat rife with the spoils of untamed nature.

First, we saw one bird.

Then we saw two birds!

We ended the day at Colonial Kitchen Restaurant in San Marino.

This little gem of a restaurant is one that I had spied many years ago and vowed to one day return.  Thanks to Lori, our dear friend and trusty GPS, we made it there just in time to miss the 4 o'clock, early-bird rush.  Yes, Colonial Kitchen might be known for its above-a-certain-age clientele but it is quaint and reminds me very much of my grandparents.  The lobby is decorated with "Royal Doulton" toby jugs and porcelain bric-a-brac of indeterminate vintage and value.  Green booths, wood paneling, turned- spindle pub chairs and red glass lanterns decorate the dining rooms.  Yelp reviews on this joint are all over the map but to me it actually exceeded expectations.  If you're slumming it San Marino check out Colonial Kitchen and get the waiter with the wicked pompadour!

Original counter seating

We might start a whole blog based solely on the clever way restrooms are labeled.

I must always include the light fixtures.

wacky tacky signs of the day.

Whittier Narrows Recreation Area

823 Lexington-Gallatin Road South El Monte, CA
(626) 575-5526 Colonial Kitchen Restaurant 1110 Huntington Dr  San Marino, CA (626)289-2449 Cheers! Mr. Tiny