Nestled in the rolling hills of Missouri’s wine country, inside a custom-built timber frame building at Frisella Nursery, is a picturesque bistro called Caffè Angelina. Named for the Frisella family’s beloved grandmother, Angelina, this limited-menu restaurant specializes in seasonal ingredients along with traditional favorites.
“Each season we harvest from our own organic garden,” says McKenzie Stroot, marketing director. “But regardless of the season, we always offer homemade cookies; muffins; and our popular, huge cranberry, orange and pecan biscotti.”
One of the other staples on the menu is Angelina’s roast beef sandwich, which is inspired by grandma Angelina’s own recipe. It is one of the eight sandwiches, two salads and two flatbreads offered in the restaurant. Angelina’s Salad, featuring a signature balsamic-based dressing and organic baby greens, also appears regularly on the menu.
With indoor seating for 20 guests and artfully landscaped patio seating for 40, the caffè has become a destination restaurant as well as a delightful surprise for residents and visitors.
“We are out here in wine country, close to Chandler Hill Vineyards,” McKenzie says. “We get a lot of traffic from people heading to the wineries as well as from bicyclists on the Katy Trail.”
The Frisella family actually decided to create the caffè in order to offer nursery shoppers a convenient place to get something to eat and drink. As a full-service landscaping company and nursery, many customers spend one to three hours shopping and in consultation meetings.
In addition to fresh food and homemade sweets, visitors can enjoy a variety of Missouri and domestic wines, sodas, craft beers, coffee, teas and lattés. And the caffè is pet-friendly.
The busiest times for the restaurant mirror the busiest times for the nursery: spring and fall. However, throughout the year the nursery hosts special “how-to” sessions, such as make-and-take events, and features changing holiday and home decor displays. This fall the grounds will showcase mums, gourds, Halloween and autumn decors and pumpkins. The caffè will complement the season with cider and pumpkin-spiced items. For the winter holidays, the nursery and caffè will feature a huge decorated tree, ornaments, poinsettias, Christmas trees, holiday decor and a specially themed menu.
McKenzie says the venue is available for special events and has hosted corporate meetings, bridal and baby showers, and luncheons. For groups over 10, she recommends calling for reservations.
“Come out for coffee or lunch,” she says, “and go home with plants and/or trees ordered to be planted later.”
With falling temperatures and the fall planting schedule starting, a drive to wine country will reap a turnkey visit to enjoy fresh ingredients from a varied, seasonal menu at the caffè as well as the whole nursery experience which includes home decor, kitchenware, soaps, lotions, cards and more.
Contact Information & Hours
550 Highway F, Defiance, Missouri, 636.798.2555, FrisellaNursery.com/Caffe-Angelina
Closed Tuesdays; hours are seasonal, check the website for updates.
Fall hours:
Sept. 19-Oct. 30
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday, Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Oct. 31-Nov. 24
Monday, Wednesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.