Bites Nearby: Angellino's

It's not a bad concept:

Good tasting Italian food.

Decent portions.

Comfortable decor.

Two locations - Vernon and Mansfield - that make the restaurant accessible from all over north central Connecticut.

Welcome to Angellino's.

Angellino's is known for a friendly wait staff and extensive menu. The chef posts specials daily and the staple Italian specialties on the menu include gorgonzola chicken, veal marsala, seafood ravioli and chicken Milanese. The restaurant also has several traditional offerings from ''Mama's kitchen.''

Diners can also create their own parmigiana with meatballs, veal, eggplant or chicken.

But the most appealing pat of the menu might be the most basic - create your own pasta. The choices of pasta are extensive and so are the sauce options:

• Alfredo.
• Meat sauce.
• Tomato Cream.
• Carbonara.
• Tomato Vodka.
• Garlic and olive oil.
• Fra diavlo.
• Basil pesto cream.
• Firenze tomato basil cream.
• Gorgonzola cream.

Even the bread is a classic with the option of roasted garlic to top it and olive oil for dipping.

The atmosphere is conducive to every occasion with booths for a quiet night out, center tables for larger groups and separate rooms for very large meetings or gatherings. The restaurant even caters to private parties. 

One big tip, aside from the one for the wait staff - get there early on the weekends because the place can fill up during peak hours.

Open daily for lunch and dinner - 135 Storrs Road, Mansfield, 860-456-7071; 346 Kelly Road, Vernon, 860-644-7702.  Entrees range from $12.99 to $19.99.