Villaggio Restaurant

My grandparents were from Italy. This food is just like grandma used to make. Greeted with a boisterous ""bueno serra!"" this place hits the spot with welcoming you in like family. The decor is homey and comfortable, not pretentious. It feels just like coming home. The... food is OUTSTANDING, the service TOP NOTCH, the wine list is not only affordable, but IMPRESSIVE. We were invited to take the tour by none other than the owner himself. The wine ""cellar"" is very large and well stocked. I think they may have more wine than ABC Liquor... This is a must dine for any foodie and anyone that loves Italian food. The garlic knots are the best, crisply toasty on the outside and soft and hot on the inside and sprinkled liberally with Parmesan cheese, but their bruchetta is the best I've had. Be sure to get it with the fresh mozzarella! I've had nearly every item on the menu and have not been disappointed once. The lasagna is BETTER than my mama's (oh God, don't tell her!) and that's really saying something. They have the best primavera I've ever had. Tonight was the Pasta Al Forno which tasted so much like Grandma's mosticcoli that it brought a tear to my eye. The desserts are out of this world. My favorite is the Tiramisu. Its very rich as are the scrumptious canolis, but the tartufo (the chocolate one) is delicioso. If you're looking for light, there is a lemon tartufo and a limoncello sorbetto that is light, palate cleansing and refreshing. The orange one is beautiful too. I recommend this restaurant to everyone. I don't know why anyone would have anything negative to say about Villagios. I've been there frequently and they always do a wonderful job with the food and the service is exemplary. My mom and I are always greeted with a hug. They also will make your food any way you want, even if its not something that's on the menu. I ordered gnochi alfredo.... oh man, was THAT rich! It was buttery/garlicy/cheesy goodness....heaven on a plate! They made it special, just for me. My mom gets capellini aglio e olio with mushrooms, capers and pomodoro. MMMMMMM! Read More

Authentic and very good italian food. I felt like I was back on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Attentive service. Solid wine list with good offerings at multiple price points. Highly recommend.

This is one of the best Italian restaurants in Tampa. We have tried it numerious times and each time we are more satisfied. The owner makes us feel at home even though he does not know us. We've sampled a lot of the menu and like everything from the Pizza (casual) to... the special preperations of Italian favorites. The price compares very favorably to South Tampa haunts, and is worth the drive----but its for the food, not the atmosphere. A surprise for Lutz, a quality restaurant no matter where located. Read More

We visited on a Friday night at 7:00 and only waited a few minutes to be seated. The owner/host was quite gracious and outgoing and it seemed as though he was friendly with most of the customers in the restaurant that night. No complaints regarding the atmosphere - nice... harp music playing, sufficient lighting, healthy mixture of families and couples. A few reviews have noted that the restaurant seems small, but the owner seemed to manage his space effectively, as there never appeared to be a significant wait during our entire meal. A few minor drawbacks regarding the management include the service and seating. It took a few extra minutes for us to receive service, and while our waiter was pretty knowledgeable, he abandoned us after clearing our salads, leaving the bus boys as our only contact with the waitstaff. Such slow and inattentive service seemed to be consistent throughout, as many other tables looked a bit annoyed at their lack of informed service. Also, reservations are only taken for parties of six or more, so if you have a small party, there's no telling where you'll be seated... However, we had no complaints about the food. We had the gnocchi with shrimp special (lots of flavor but not too overpowering) and the baked eggplant dish. The rolls and salads were all fresh and appetizing, and the entrees seemed very authentic. Portions are not too large either, so the dining experience doesn't turn into a chore rather than an enjoyable night out. While the food was stellar, the wine could have been stored a bit cooler, as our carafe came out warm, thus altering the flavor of the wine. All in all though, we had a very positive experience regarding the food at Villaggio's, and while the service was noticeably slow, our overall night was certainly a positive one and we will return to dine again. Read More

This is by far my favorite restaurant. I have traveled to Italy and I think Villagio is better! Wonderful sauce, wonderful service. Molto bene, fantastico!

Ask for Pepito, he is the best waiter in the world. Oh, and ask for the sparkling wine, Banfi. You will not be disappointed.

Restaurant is fantastic. Always having specials-some not on menu. When I went back, even the special I had before was not on the menu or was not the current special, they made that dish for me(baked Zita w/italian sausage). The chef comes out to talk to customers. Every...one is friendly & I have never been dissappointed in any of the dishes. Highly recommend. Address is confusing for those not familiar with Lutz. It faces Hwy. 41. Will do private parties on Sundays. Read More