In 1995, Tony and Phyllis Olin opened the Emerald Diner in Hubbard and after many successful years there, decided to open a second venture, Ange Netta's in Canfield in 2001 named after their daughters, Angela and Annette. It's warm and inviting; a comfortable place for families, a quiet place for date night. Ange Netta's has a large dining room but also offers seating at their chef's table which is where I was seated. It's a bar-seating area facing the kitchen that allows guests to watch their meal being prepared. Sitting here will give you a whole new appreciation for chefs and their skills, not to mention the wonderful smell of garlic emanating from the grill.

As well as being the owner, Tony is also the head chef, bringing 40 years of experience to the restaurant. The menu has a little bit of everything. Some things you would expect to find but also a lot of dishes with pleasant nuances and different sauces that take each one a bite beyond excellent. Tony had several dishes prepared for me to try and took pride in every one as it was presented before me. Everything is fresh. Everything is homemade. Everything in made to order. One thing that Tony stressed to me, he only buys the best, "we're serious about the food we serve." Only natural caught shrimp and calamari from domestic waters. Fresh "sushi grade" diver scallops. Hormone free-steroid free strip loin and of course homemade Italian bread and pasta.

I started with an Ange Netta's signature dish. Seafood Picasso. I love seafood. I love this dish. A perfectly cooked bed of linguini is mixed with Italian greens, mushrooms and roasted red peppers then tossed in garlic and olive oil. Topped with sauteed Jumbo Tiger Shrimp and Diver Sea Scallops, this dish looks beautiful and tastes even more beautiful. The seafood is so fresh and wonderful. The shrimp are meaty, the scallops are sweet and tender. A definite must try for seafood lovers. It gives you a little bit of everything in one big dish. Another wonderful seafood fare is the Blackened Norwegian Salmon. Again, deliciously fresh, the blackened spices are Tony's own blend and are the perfect match with this mild fish and also a very healthy seafood choice.

Steak lovers will not be disappointed with the House Prime Sirloin. This dish comes in two sizes, 8 oz. and 12 oz. and it's not any ordinary steak. Chef Tony uses the Culotte which is cut from the very top of the sirloin. It's very lean and tender, you'll think you're eating Filet. It's served with an amazing mushroom wine sauce. It's a bit like a marsala sauce but thicker with its own unique flavors and the mushrooms are the largest I'm ever eaten. Another beautiful dish at Ange Netta's.

With an name like Ange Netta's you can't help but think Italian and there are plenty of pasta dishes on the menu to satisfy your spaghetti cravings. I've already mentioned the Seafood Picasso but I also tried the Ange Netta Pasta, Baked Penne and the Eggplant Parm on Spaghetti. The Ange Netta pasta is made with my favorite pasta, Farfalle. It's lightly tossed with garlic and olive oil, sundried tomatoes, black olives, spices and herbs. I had it with grilled chicken but you can also order it with hot peppers, shrimp or those deliciously firm diver scallops. The pasta alone is great. It's lightly dressed so it's not heavy in oil and all the herbs and spices bring the dish together nicely. The Baked Penne is a great choice for cheese lovers like myself. Melt cheese on anything and I'll order it. Again, the pasta is cooked perfectly, tossed in "grandma's sauce" then topped with mozzarella cheese. Placed under the broiler just to get that cheese bubbly and brought to the table piping hot. It's the perfect dish to enjoy with the homemade bread. Grandma's sauce is a delicious marinara with the just right hint of herbs and it's also on the Eggplant Parmagania. The eggplant here is wonderful. Three thick slices are lightly breaded and fried to a crispy golden brown. Nestled on top a bed of spaghetti, covered with grandma's sauce and topped with cheese. By far, the best eggplant I've ever tasted. I love the crispy breading and of course the cheese but anything with Grandma's sauce is a winner here.

If you stop in for lunch or want a lighter dinner, the menu has several sandwiches, salads and pizza. The Diablo Burger is a customer favorite. A big 1/2 pound, 100% fresh ground chuck burger topped with roasted peppers, hot peppers and provolone cheese, is placed between two thick slices of that homemade bread and grilled. It's juicy and perfect just as is. Pass on the ketchup because you won't even need it. My favorite sandwich is the Chicken and Greens. Strips of grilled chicken, Italian greens (love the garlic in these), mozzarella cheese and peppers, again grilled on Italian bread. Served with hand cut fries, and a side of Tony's homemade hot peppers, this is the sandwich I would come back for again and again. The Ange Netta salad is full of color and taste. A fresh bed of mixed greens are topped with fresh seasonal berries, oranges, tomatoes, cucumber and walnuts. Add grilled chicken, salmon or shrimp, one of their homemade dressings and it's a meal in itself. The kids will love the pizza. 12" or 14", your choice of toppings. The crust is light, the sauce is yummy and the cheese melts all the way to the very edge of the pie. Did I mention how much I love cheese?

Save room for dessert. You could get a sweet to take home but ordering it there gives you a presentation that will make you uncontrollably say 'Mmmmmmm' out loud. The desserts are made from scratch by Tony's daughter, Angela. With the help of her art background and her mom's training, she takes a traditional dessert recipe and adds her own creative touches to present beautiful 'works of art' much to the diner's delight. Homemade Tiramisu topped with shaved chocolate and Fresh Berries, Apple Pie that's a mile high with chunks of cinnamon-flecked apples and a sweet crumb topping, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake on a drizzle swirl of chocolate, Lemon Almond Torte with fresh red raspberries and more, and more, and oh so much more. Beautiful, mouth-watering, delicious. It's like having a specialty bake shop right there in the restaurant.

I could sit and talk to Tony all day. He shared his life, his passions and his delicious food. If you haven't been, you must go to Ange Netta's in Canfield. Enjoy a wonderful meal and a divine dessert all while meeting the family, you'll be glad you did.