A bistro experience

Oak Harbor residents and visitors who enjoy coffee now have a different place to go and relax.

Angelo’s Cafe is now open on Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor, located at the former site of Big Cup Coffee. The owners of Angelo’s Cafe are Oak Harbor residents Elfuel and Kathy Callantes, who have lived on Whidbey Island for about a year.

“Our intent is to create an an environment where the local people feel comfortable to bring their families, relax and have a good time,” said Kathy Callantes.

Angelo’s Cafe features their own home baked pastries and baked goods as well as a menu of assorted Mediterranean bistro style lunches. Angelo’s provides the freshest, made-from-scratch food that contains no preservatives or processed products. Among the menu items are a Caesar spinach salad with roasted prawns and various homemade soups, breads and pastries.

Their specialty drink is a smoothie made from fresh local fruit. Angelo’s also sells local fruit such as strawberries and blueberries from their refrigerated case to eat along with a meal or coffee, offering a healthy alternative to the tasty bakery items also showcased.

Nikki Longstaff is the on-site baker who prepares the baked goods by hand. Elfuel Callantes will be performing the rest of the cooking since in the past he has managed four restaurants.

The cafe currently has six employees plus the owners. Angelo’s newest employee finds the job to his liking.

“I’m happy to have a job that is flexible enough to allow me the hours I need while I go to school and take care of my children at the same time,” said Mike Till.

Eventually the Callantes plan to turn the cafe into an actual bistro reminiscent of their days of living in San Francisco. So far they are keeping the extensive coffee menu that was left by the previous owner, but plan to make their own adjustments to the lunch menu.

Angelo’s Cafe also provides catering and delivery services within the Oak Harbor area. Angelo’s will be taking orders for prepared sack lunches during Race Week. Customers can place an order ahead of time and pick it up early in the morning so that they may enjoy it later in the day.

“We are looking forward to the cafe’s bistro style since it is something that the island does not have. I enjoy seeing the regulars that come into the cafe but also look forward to meeting the new customers that we hope to bring in from Oak Harbor and also the visitors,” said Jaymee Derrick, who has worked at the location for three years and is planning on staying on with the new owners.

When asked why they chose Oak Harbor for the site for their new cafe, Kathy had a ready comment.

“We are originally from California so we wanted to live in a place where we could be by the ocean and seafood,” she said.

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