Italian food and football

By Josh Spooner
The Collegian

From the outside Michelangelo’s can be quite deceiving.

The restaurant, located in Old Town Clovis at the corner of Bullard and Woodworth, looks like a very tiny restaurant. But once inside, it is a different story.

When entering Michelangelo’s, a person can choose one of three doors.

The middle door is the main entrance, the door on the left is labeled “cocktails” and leads straight to the bar, and the door on the right is labeled “Italian restaurant,” which is exactly where it goes.

Michelangelo’s can serve two purposes: to have a few drinks with friends, or to take out that special someone.

On the cocktail side of Michelangelo’s, which holds $2 draft beer happy hours weekdays from 3-7 p.m., it looks like your typical sports bar. The walls are covered in sports paraphernalia and neon lights advertising different beer and liquor. It’s dimly lit by three televisions, neon signs and rope lights that line the walls.

The bar is fully stocked and there is also beer on tap ranging from domestic brews to premium.

The restaurant also provides a list of bottled beers, with a wide variety to choose from. There’s also wine. On Mondays, the big screen television highlights Monday Night Football, with its own drink specials.

For some of the regulars, it’s like walking into “Cheers.” Most if not all of the half dozen employees who work here know most of the people by their first names and vice versa.

Jeremy Bergmann, manager of Clovis Music Center, said, “Michelangelo’s is a very family oriented place. It is also a place that I can be myself and let my hair down. I don’t have to worry about what people think there because everyone is treated the same.”

Clayton Kemble, a 5-year customer of Michelangelo’s, said “It is a comfortable atmosphere where there is good food and good people. If I am going to spend my money somewhere I would rather it be here. I try to eat here once a week, but right now it’s more like once every other week.”

The Italian restaurant side of Michelangelo’s is a little more low key and relaxing.

It is a little more lit with some hanging lamps, along with the same rope lights as the other side. The walls are covered with Italian-inspired artwork.

Replacing the high-rise tables of the bar side are lower, more intimate tables and booths. It has a romantic feel.

The food available at Michelangelo’s is the same on both sides of the restaurant. The menu consists of a range of Italian dishes as well as sandwiches, soups and salads, with daily lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 20 different specials to choose from.

Bergmann said “The calzone is my favorite plate, with a side of chipotle for dipping.”

“I tell people to try the sautéed shrimp and chicken wings, if they have never eaten here before” said Kemble.

For those who do not enjoy Italian food, Michelangelo’s also provides three different kinds of soup and three different kinds of salads. It also has five different sandwiches to choose from each costing about $9.

Bergmann said, “I like how nicely separated the place is, if the bar side gets a little rowdy, you really can’t tell from the restaurant side, and you can still enjoy your meal.”

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