Michelangelo’s

I am so sad this place closed. I hope it reopens elsewhere.
Their food was amazing. Like nothing else. Ever.
I didn’t get to eat there enough. So sad.

Closed. Color me sad.

Baked Penne Caponata (Vegan) Very good… I’m not a Vegan, but I would definitely have it again. Gnocchi Pesto Cream was «AMAZING.»
Vegan Pumpkin Bar w/​Bourbon Caramel Sauce was probably the best I have ever had!!!
Salted Caramel Latte… Good. Ease back on the salt, just a tad. :-)
Overall, serves was great, polite and fun.

I’ve been several times over the years, with the parents, on a romantic date (and an awkward date), but last weekend amid Second Saturday festivities was the best visit yet. We were greeted immediately by the cheerful servers. I’ve only ever sat in the front room, but on this occasion we were lead through the back and out to the patio. As much as I love the ambience of the front room, the back patio was even more charming, adorned with twinkly white lights. We started with a round of drinks from their cocktail menu, a Tuaca Italiano for me and Michelpolitan for my mister. After placing our orders we were served some crusty bread with balsamic and olive oil to dip. Though I was tempted by the lamb bolognese (!) our excellent waitress convinced me the veal saltimbocca was the way to go. It was absolutely delicious! As the sun went down we noticed some art-​goers filtering into the gallery that was located just behind the restaurant, so we stopped in there after paying our check. Melanie, our server, was a standout. She was absolutely on top of everything and smiled the whole time, her timing was perfect and she was very attentive to our needs without ever disrupting the flow of our conversation. She was so good that I had to tell her she gave the best service I have encountered in a long time. It was a pretty perfect evening and we walked out very happy customers.

I would be giving this more stars, but the owner was really standoffish and seemed offended that we had a larger group.
With that in mind, the waitress, Melanie, was AMAZING! She was extremely attentive and tried to make us happy. This was despite the fact that we were seated in an outside patio that seemed inconvenient. More on the patio later. The food was delicious! We had a bottle of Chianti that paired well. And, ooooh, the desserts: we ordered cheesecake, tiramisu, chocolate flourless cake, and gelato. I would say they were all delectable except for the tiramisu, which was okay.
As for the patio, it needs to be redone ASAP! Plastic chairs!!! Really!!! Get real chairs people. A man even broke one and fell down while we were there.
If the patio had been more classy like the rest of the restaurant and the owner/​hostess more warm and professional, this would be a 5 star review.

Found this little semi-​hidden gem and have fallen in love! It’s pretty small but has great atmosphere and the staff there are really friendly. I can’t get enough of their creamy pesto gnocchi with goat cheese!
Oh! And we recently discovered that they have a patio around back. You actually go outside the front door and down the side alley to get to it. It feels like you’re sitting in the backyard of a friends house!

I have only been here once, came for dinner on a Saturday night around 7. This is s rather small place. There is indoor and outdoor seating. I would suggest eating outside if the weather is nice enough.
When you do go outside, they take you around the back, in an alley like path. The outside has nice greenery, the only downfall is where we sat was not under a roof, therefore sometimes pieces of the tree ended up in our drinks. Overall, the weather was very nice!
They serve you bread with olive oil and vinegar.
I ended up getting the small Salad with Chicken, the chicken was tender and had great spices on it. They gave me two huge slices.
I then had the eggplant, which I enjoyed, it had a slice of mozzarella. However, I felt it could have had a bit more flavor, maybe a bit of spiciness?
I then tried my friends gnocchi, amazing! This dish tends to run out, I would definitely suggest getting it.
Overall, my friends and I had great service, the waitress was friendly, we got our fodd in such a timely manner, it was crazy!

Dont underestimate this place! Its mellow exterior and conservative signage might give the impression it’s not worth stopping for, but what’s inside is great. I enjoy the feeling that it’s still a secret. feels more intimate and special that way.
In an attempt to find a new «hidden gem» italian spot for date night, my boyfriend and I stumbled in here on a surprisingly uncrowded weekend night. Ever since then, we’ve been back for dinner (with new guests) a few times. It was delectable and consistently delivers great foo, fine service, and a quaint, enjoyable atmosphere. Highly recommend the Bruschetta app, the Baked goat cheese salad, and the Butternut squash gnocchi if its on the special menu.

went to lunch at Michelangleo’s with some co workers. We took a walk just off the beaten path of J Street and it’s midtown eateries to find this place quietly tucked in on I Street. I can see why so many consider this a «date» restaurant.
We started off with the house bruschetta which was a welcoming treat. I had the Margherita Panini which was a perfect sized sandwich and just the right amount of crispy prosciutto to accent the melted mozzarella. A side salad with balsamic was perfect to cut the richness of the sandwich. The bonus was the homemade pickle, a very sweet and tangy cuke spear that bursting with spice (I couldn’t eat it all).
My co workers had ravioli in brown butter, and the other gnocchi in creamy pesto. Both were very impressed and satisfied.
I would love to try this place for dinner some time… maybe, with a date! :-)

Michelangelo’s has been on my radar for a long time, and even more so after walking past the place a number of times recently. Great local spot with such warm hospitality! Not a super extensive menu, but they do have specials of the day, of which we gladly partook. When the waiter told me small plate of whiskey bbq ribs, I was sold thinking it was short ribs. What came out was a plate of 3 meaty succulent ribs that fell off the bone on top of some greens. I could have ended my night with that, but also had the salad of the day which was arugula, fresh goat cheese, walnuts, berries and some kind of vinegrette dressing.
Onto the rest of the meal. I kept it simple with the famous spaghetti and meatball. Very good dish, simple, and I did not experience an undercooked meatball. Fiancée enjoyed chicken piccata which was 2 large pieces of breaded chicken that were thin, and polenta squares. Very big plate which she took half of home. My friends ordered the seafood dish that I can’t remember what it was called, and the linguine in alfredo sauce both looked really good, and were staples on the menu that I will have to go back and try.
I thoroughly enjoyed this neighborhood restaurant. Bring your friends!

I was looking to try and nice new restaurant and after reading some reviews I decided to come here and am so glad I did. There was no line on a Saturday night, seated within minutes. I liked the ambiance of the place, very comfy there was nothing too fancy.
For dinner we ordered:
Lamb bolognese: it was minced lamb, very well done with red sauce. Nothing too fancy, simple dish yet delicious.
Wild Mushroom Risotto
The portions were just right and the waiter who was wonderful recommended a nice red wine to pair with the Bolognese which I quite enjoyed. For desert we had their special which was a cake prepared by the owner with lemons from her own backyard. It was mouth watering good, and I can’t wait to come back and try more items on their desert list.
Besides the good food, the service was also excellent.

I should have known that this place would be awesome with a name like Michelangelo’s (a very famous name in the Unilocal Sacramento scene!).
This ristorante is an Italian Midtown gem! I walked in and felt like I had stepped into a restaurant in the heart of North Beach in SF. The décor is classic Italian. The smells emanating from the kitchen are rich and heavenly. The place was busy (but not overly packed) on a Sunday night with clearly «the usual suspects» who likely come here once a week and don’t need a menu to order (always a good sign).
DELIZIOSO: Once we sat down, they provided a basket of warm complimentary bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. And, the bread is rosemary bread! Love that little touch.
I opened my menu and found myself in a huge dilemma on what to order because all of it sounded so good! There are symbols next to meat-​based items that can be made vegetarian/​vegan and another symbol for items that can be made Gluten free. So, I had many options, which isn’t always the case for this veg gal. I struggled and struggled, but my partner in crime knew just what to do. He ordered 4 smaller things so we could try several items and here’s what we got:
*Butternut squash ravioli with sage-​brown butter sauce — definitely the best version of this popular dish that I’ve ever had (we ordered this as a small plate that is served with 4 jumbo-​sized raviolis).
*The vegetarian Tuscan white bean soup — savory, filling, and comforting. It is topped with a dollop of pesto. Absolutely a must!
*Baked goat cheese salad — this was Trouble for me! It is just about the best thing I’ve ever had in my life (if you are a lover of goat cheese products like me, you’ll agree). The salad is basic with a balsamic dressing and slices of pears and chunks of walnuts. The goat cheese is served in a small cup on the side of the salad and it’s baked with a sort of graham cracker-​like topping (though not as sweet as graham crackers). I licked that little cup clean and did not share (don’t judge!).
*Eggplant napoleon — a beautiful tower of eggplant, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese surrounded by marinara and pesto. Definitely delicious, but not the easiest thing to eat. I did wish it had more mozzarella.
We loved our meal and will have to come back soon because there is much more we want to try! I’m especially interested in their enormous desserts that could easily serve 2 or more, but why share when you don’t have to? They also have a full bar with a large wine selection and specialty cocktails (always a win for me!) that I need to take full advantage of.
THE BACK STORY: I found the story of this place on the menu very touching. The restaurant had its roots in Houston, but the family moved it to Sac years ago. Michelangelo is now deceased (RIP), but his daughters continue his traditional recipes with an added twist. They fly back to Italy to improve on their culinary skills and to add a spin to Michelangelo’s dishes. I think they have done him proud!

I really wanted to love this place but it just wasn’t doing it for me. I absolutely loved the ambiance and actual restaurant itself (very cozy feel). However the food and service were both subpar.
First off, the food. I came to Unilocal prior to dinner to browse around seeing as I have yet to try this restaurant. I ordered the chicken piccatta based on the reviews and wasn’t blown away. The polenta was what really brought down the dish for me seeing as how the chicken itself was only alright. I’m used to a creamy polenta. The style in which they serve it here is dry and hard.
The service was definitely lacking as well. I don’t know if they were understaffed or had new hires, but either way it was definitely noticed. One of the members of our party arrived a few minutes late and no one helped him find a chair or brought him utensils until he had to ask AFTER he received his meal. Some orders placed were also forgotten and had to be requested twice.
Overall it wasn’t a completely terrible experience but I was not impressed. Next time I’ll make note to come on a less busy night and order something else.

Came here last night on a date, and I must say I was impressed. Our server was wonderful, attentive but not overbearing. The Gnocchi was SUPER delicious!
The setting was intimate but the lighting was a little bright and in my face.
Decent wine list, but for an Italian restaurant I expected a little more.
All in all, great place! Would go there again!

Came here for dinner and loved the outdoor patio. It was beautiful, surrounded by green plants with a wood deck. Very secluded and peaceful. I’d definitely recommend eating outside.
The food was alright, nothing spectacular, but it tasted good. My father and I had the penne pasta with summer squash and my boyfriend had the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. Both servings were generous, and came with delicious rosemary bread and oil. The rosemary bread was my favorite part of the meal and I had to request seconds.
The real star of the show was the dessert. Fig cheesecake with homemade whipped cream on top. I split it with my father and boyfriend, and we all agreed the taste and texture were perfect.
Our server was friendly and attentive, although it did take awhile to get our bill and food. However the ambiance and company were so good I hardly noticed.

Had a hankerin’ for some Italian food and been wanting to try this place. The atmosphere is very charming and comfortable. I could sit there for hours just sipping wine and nibbling on bread. Speaking of the bread… YUM! You can tell it’s made fresh (not there though, they have a vendor) and has rosemary in it.
I decided to go with the Palermo which consists of sausage, onions and peppers in a spicy marinara over penne pasta. The sauce was the right amount of spicy for me while still allowing you to taste the richness of the tomatoes. The sausage is made by a local guy only a coulple streets away and is AMAZING! With a lot of restaurants and their pasta dishes, most of the time you have a huge bowl of pasta with a few pieces of meat thrown in. Michelangelo’s loads it up with the sausage. You can just about get a bite of sausage with every three or four noodles! Looking forward to it for lunch again:-)
The service was wonderful! Sam, my server, is also my neighbor which in no way influences my review;-) He was attentive and friendly, not overbearing like some servers can be. As I was about to leave, I met Loren. Not sure if she’s the manager or owner, but she was very nice and invited me back. I told her the food was wonderful and, now that I live downtown, I will definitely be back.

As a total gnocchi fiend, I was pleased to find a Sacramento restaurant with a variation I hadn’t yet tried. I went late on a weeknight and the place was largely empty. So empty, in fact, that it made me question the decision to eat there… but still, they had gnocchi.
I ended up getting the pomodoro bruschetta as an appetizer, and it was easily some of the best bruschetta I’ve had in Sacramento (although Lucca’s variation with corn is pretty darn good, too). Most places use thick, hard bread in their bruschetta, creating the perfect tomato catapult. Michelangelo’s didn’t. Their bread slices were wider and thinner, with just enough softness to make them easy to bite into (while still providing more than adequate support for the tomatoes and cheese).
Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite as pleased with the gnocchi. Part of it was a matter of personal preference. My favorite gnocchi dishes usually involve oil and truffles or mushrooms, followed by those with creamy sauces. Gnocchi with any kind of red sauce is way down on the list. Beyond that, though, the gnocchi was a little on the firm side and kind of dry.
The only other gripe I had was that I asked for iced tea and they brought me some kind of peach-​flavored monstrosity without verifying that I’d be okay with flavored tea. Disgusting.
Given the quality of the bruschetta and the extremely friendly service, I’ll probably be back. I’ll just try something different for the main dish and stick with water instead of the iced tea.

Have you ever had a mouth orgasm?
If you know whats up, then come thru here and get the Turkey pesto Panini.

Mama Mia!
SITREP
What can I say? Da place lives up to it’s name. MY name! Hahaha! For traditional and delicious Italian cuisine, this is one awesome establishment!
THE SET-​UP
Excellent stop for lunch with co-​workers or to meet up with friends locally in Midtown. Also an excellent place to stop at before making the rounds for the 2^nd Saturday Art Walk. It is right on the Midtown grid and between Lavender Heights and the Sub-​Q art exhibitions.
THE MENU
You can’t lose with the Tuscan White Bean Soup vegetarian, topped with pesto or the Spinach and Arugula Salad creamy garlic parmesan dressing with sautéed mushrooms and proscuitto. Both are incredibly delicious and not heavy.
But from time to time I love my olé favorite dish here which is the Gnocchi with four fresh herbs in a butter sauce topped with goat cheese for $ 13. In fact, most of the dinner time entrees run you at about $ 15 or under. And these pasta dishes are all exceptionally delish!
THE LOWDOWN
For a great Italian meal, this is the place to go, and tell them that Michelangelo sent you…(it will confuse the hell out of them!) ;^D

Michelangelo’s gets 5 stars across the board for me.
A word of caution: if you’re thinking about coming here on the weekend, I suggest making a reservation. We almost didn’t get a table since the owner told us that it was going to be getting busy soon and many tables were reserved already, but she told us that she could work something out and we were seated at a cute little table in the center by the bar.
To start, my boyfriend and I shared the bruschetta pomodoro. We both agreed that it was some of the BEST bruschetta that we have ever tasted! It was topped with freshly chopped tomatoes in basil, goat cheese, and sweet vinegar drizzled over each piece. Very delicious!
I also got a small cup of the Tuscan white bean soup which is a great vegetarian choice. It was a tasty broth chocked full of white beans and topped with pesto.
For my entrée, I chose the spaghetti and meatballs. I was a little caught off guard at first when my dish was brought to me. It was pasta with a GIANT meatball on top. But I could understand why — no need for more than one! All you have to do is slice up the giant one and you’re good to go. The marinara sauce was great. A thick, tomatoey goodness with plenty of flavor. I wasn’t able to finish the entire meatball (if you order it you’ll know why) but I loved my meal.
For dessert I had the chocolate gelato. The chocolate was a little rich for my taste and I wasn’t able to finish it off completely, but it was a nice way to end the meal and wasn’t too heavy of a dessert. They also make different cheesecakes daily, and this night they were serving Tuaca cheesecake. My boyfriend LOVES cheesecake so he jumped at it and loved it. My mom ordered the flourless chocolate cake which was seriously like a piece of chocolate brick cake. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t as hard as a brick (as in you can’t stick your fork in it), but it was definitely thick. It was very rich and definitely couldn’t be finished in one sitting — however, she did take the rest home and enjoyed it.
I really love the atmosphere of Michelangelo’s. Our waitress was pleasant and funny and the owner was very accommodating. It’s a small and quaint restaurant that would be a great choice for a first date. It’s also next door to an art gallery. I’d be curious to check it out. Maybe next time!