Ever been to pastry heaven? Come with me and I’ll take you there. Cakes, pies, cookies, breads, puddings, cheesecakes, danish, sticky buns, biscotti, beignets; do I have your attention now? These delicacies, along with made-from-scratch offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner, are all waiting for you at Angela’s at the Crosswalk in historic downtown Plano.
Angela Murphy is an Italian goddess of food and spirits. She was born and raised in Rome, Italy, and attended culinary school in Lyon, France. A chance encounter with a persistent American military suitor stationed in Italy had her blissfully married within two months. Her wonderful husband brought her home to the States in 1969 and they proceeded to own and operate several small restaurants in Oregon and later in California. They were married 35 years and after his passing, Angela moved to Texas to be closer to family.
In 2011, along with her business partners Julie Holmer and David Rankin, Angela opened Angela’s at the Crosswalk restaurant. Before Julie and her husband David partnered with Angela, Julie was a regular patron at Angela’s previous café in Plano. Julie went there often to work on her laptop and loved the atmosphere and inviting service so much that she admits, “I used to end up staying all day!”
Staying all day is something you might find yourself doing here as well. Angela’s is designed like a European café with a beautiful full bar. The space is airy and full of natural light and the beautiful exposed brick walls of the old downtown Plano building make you feel like you’ve stepped into a bistro in France or Italy. Angela laments that they would have an outdoor patio if they only had room.
Angela’s at the Crosswalk is seriously food nirvana. The restaurant specializes in upscale comfort food with Angela’s favorites being her homemade soups. She is the complete mastermind behind the made-from-scratch menu and pastry offerings. Want a special cake for a party or need a little help with catering your family reunion? Craving something you don’t see on the menu? Angela will whip up whatever your heart desires (told ya, goddess). She can even do special orders for gluten-free pastries and desserts. Julie’s favorite is the Coconut Cream Pie and any of Angela’s Italian dishes. The restaurant even hosts theme nights with Italian, French or Irish menus that include a full seven-course meal.
Brunch is also a big deal at Angela’s. Their traditional Crosswalk breakfast and Eggs Benedict are popular, but maybe not as popular as the “Manmosa,” a masculine concoction of orange juice, champagne, bourbon and vodka that will most likely put hair on your chest. Or you can go with a traditional Bloody Mary, local beer or Texas-made spirit to get your weekend started off right.
Angela’s at the Crosswalk was awarded the Plano Chamber of Commerce “Rookie of the Year” award in 2013. Aside from their menu, there’s no doubt a big reason the restaurant received this award was due to their friendly customer service. Angela is there most of the time and can often be found leisurely strolling between the kitchen and the dining room, chatting with diners and their families or helping her staff. She says her “recipe for success is having great servers that are friendly” and welcoming diners “so it feels like home.” She also says the best part for her is not only cooking, but seeing her customers happy and being able to create jobs for a community that supports others. She believes those things foster customer loyalty and get people coming back time and time again.
In addition to the delicious food and spirits that Angela’s offers, they also offer fun and sometimes quirky entertainment options. Monday nights are Open Mic Nights, and the staff at Angela’s really wants to hear what you got going on. Every Thursday night is Geeks Who Drink Pub Trivia. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights boast live music where local bands get the chance to entertain you while you dine. The restaurant also hosts special events such as their recent Herman Marshall Whiskey Tasting.
So there’s no need to make a wish in the Trevi fountain, just let the goddess Angela know what you desire. With extensive choices for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, cocktails or dessert, and pub trivia, live music, special events, and complete catering, you should have no trouble finding something divine.
Angela's at the Crosswalk Website >[codepeople-post-map]
