Il Villaggio

JESSICA COOPER

We had a very nice dinner and the food was mostly great. The Alfredo shrimp pasta was just okay. The other dishes were fresh and very tasty. The service from Derrick was wonderful with suggestions and timely service. We would definitely go again!

Paul J

First time to Villaggio's, but won't be my last! My wife and I came here for date night and man, what a great experience. This is old-world Italian at its best, from the wait staff to the gentle background of the live acoustic guitar and exquisitely prepared meals. Their house salad includes their own, home-made dressing that is so good, I would come back just for that! My fiancé had the Chicken Canneloni and I, the Meat Lasagna. Both were served bubbling hot in their own casserole dish, so we had to wait patiently for them to cool slightly, which was challenging as the aroma was amazing! From the first bite you know that you are not eating anything that was just removed from some pre-packaged container. Villaggio's makes clear that everything they serve is fresh and prepared in-house, and that is quite evident! To be sure, for true Italians, meals are to be enjoyed and savored with family and friends. Don't be surprised if it seems as though the staff ignores you, its part of the experience to come, relax and enjoy the time, not rush through! If you're anywhere near Lutz, FL and want authentic Italian, make sure to reserve your spot at Villaggio's. You'll be glad you did :)

Elle Lee

2nd time here, ordered ala carte’ items and it was truly a decent price: A large chicken breast, grilled shrimp and anchovies $19 The restaurant is very clean, service was good, we will be back!

Jim isF

Great Italian restaurant! There was 16 of us so they had their hands full but still managed to deliver. Service was great, food was spectacular & the restaurant was clean. We even got to sit in the private room in the back 😎. Thanks guys we had a great time

We celebrated a friend's bday here and had a private room. It was truly perfect and made for a very special night with friends. They have a giant lazy susan in this room and we truly enjoyed it. The staff were so kind and took great care of everyone. I had the osobucco which was phenomenal and the lobster bisque was delicious.

This restaurant is amazing. The staff is friendly professional, and really listen and care about what you asked for. I wanted chicken Marcella without mushrooms and they brought me exactly that. The chicken Marcella is sweet rich and amazing, and this is honestly the best I have ever had. Thank you Villagio for a great experience!!!!!!

Alex was very welcoming and offered me a glass of wine. I couldn't get anyone on the phone so I decided to go inside to place my order. I saw that they do online orders but I wanted to visit the restaurant as it was my first time there. I went on a Saturday night when it was very busy. I was first told by Rob that it would be 40 minutes and then he got my order ready in 20. The portions were large and the food was delicious. It's a good place to celebrate a special occasion. It was a $50 meal. Many people were speaking Italian in the bar area. Very authentic Italian food!

We found out about Villagio's through a close friend about 6 months ago. Hands down the best authentic Italian food we've had in Florida. We're originally from Jersey. This has become one of our favorite spots. We've had a variety of dishes here which have all been amazing. We also can't say enough about our server, Francesca. We request her whenever we dine there. She's just fabulous & makes our dining experience that much better! She's full of personality & super attentive. She makes you feel like part of her family. She makes amazing cocktails too! We just love her! Highly recommend this restaurant!

We went to Villaggio’s tonight after Christmas church service with my family (seven of us total, including two kids) and without a reservation. They still graciously fit us in, which in itself meant so much, especially on such a busy holiday evening. The restaurant was clearly slammed and likely short-staffed, and while we did have a wait for our food, what stood out most was how the staff handled it. The table next to us kindly asked to have their meals packaged to go because of the wait, and the staff truly went above and beyond to make things right; not just for them, but for everyone in the restaurant. You could tell they were doing absolutely everything in their power to keep guests happy, comfortable, and appreciated, all while maintaining kindness, patience, and grace. Things don’t always go perfectly, especially during the holidays, but how a place handles the curveballs is what matters. Their team handled it beautifully, and it did not go unnoticed. The food- Absolutely incredible. The best chicken parm & mozzarella squares I’ve ever had. Worth every minute of the wait. We will absolutely be back. Huge thank you to the staff for such a wonderful experience on a crazy evening!! :)

The only reason for not being a 5 star iin service is they are short of help as some others have stated. Our server just was too busy to give us fast service, such as ordering quickly, getting refills. getting desert ordered etc. He eventually did get back to us but it was obvious he was overwhelmed. I hope they can get this worked out. However the food was exceptional. We will be returning and will simply plan on perhaps being patient. It is in our opinion worth the slight wait. The veal parmigian was so tender and tasty I can easily forgive the less than FAST and individual service one hopes they get. Another reason to love tis restaurant is their prices are exceptional and where I would pay $35 for my veal elsewhere, here it was $8 less and better. Great house wines and even being overwhelmed the staff was so damn nice. Thought my old italian uncle was having us over at his home. I had flash backs to my italian family get togethers 60 ayers ago when I was a youngin'.

Lisa Buonomo

This restaurant is amazing. The staff is friendly professional, and really listen and care about what you asked for. I wanted chicken Marcella without mushrooms and they brought me exactly that. The chicken Marcella is sweet rich and amazing, and this is honestly the best I have ever had. Thank you Villagio for a great experience!!!!!!

Kelsey Gulic

We went to Villaggio’s tonight after Christmas church service with my family (seven of us total, including two kids) and without a reservation. They still graciously fit us in, which in itself meant so much, especially on such a busy holiday evening. The restaurant was clearly slammed and likely short-staffed, and while we did have a wait for our food, what stood out most was how the staff handled it. The table next to us kindly asked to have their meals packaged to go because of the wait, and the staff truly went above and beyond to make things right; not just for them, but for everyone in the restaurant. You could tell they were doing absolutely everything in their power to keep guests happy, comfortable, and appreciated, all while maintaining kindness, patience, and grace. Things don’t always go perfectly, especially during the holidays, but how a place handles the curveballs is what matters. Their team handled it beautifully, and it did not go unnoticed. The food- Absolutely incredible. The best chicken parm & mozzarella squares I’ve ever had. Worth every minute of the wait. We will absolutely be back. Huge thank you to the staff for such a wonderful experience on a crazy evening!! :)

Kevin Hillmer

We celebrated a friend's bday here and had a private room. It was truly perfect and made for a very special night with friends. They have a giant lazy susan in this room and we truly enjoyed it. The staff were so kind and took great care of everyone. I had the osobucco which was phenomenal and the lobster bisque was delicious.

John DeSalvo

The only reason for not being a 5 star iin service is they are short of help as some others have stated. Our server just was too busy to give us fast service, such as ordering quickly, getting refills. getting desert ordered etc. He eventually did get back to us but it was obvious he was overwhelmed. I hope they can get this worked out. However the food was exceptional. We will be returning and will simply plan on perhaps being patient. It is in our opinion worth the slight wait. The veal parmigian was so tender and tasty I can easily forgive the less than FAST and individual service one hopes they get. Another reason to love tis restaurant is their prices are exceptional and where I would pay $35 for my veal elsewhere, here it was $8 less and better. Great house wines and even being overwhelmed the staff was so damn nice. Thought my old italian uncle was having us over at his home. I had flash backs to my italian family get togethers 60 ayers ago when I was a youngin'.

TheLis333

Alex was very welcoming and offered me a glass of wine. I couldn't get anyone on the phone so I decided to go inside to place my order. I saw that they do online orders but I wanted to visit the restaurant as it was my first time there. I went on a Saturday night when it was very busy. I was first told by Rob that it would be 40 minutes and then he got my order ready in 20. The portions were large and the food was delicious. It's a good place to celebrate a special occasion. It was a $50 meal. Many people were speaking Italian in the bar area. Very authentic Italian food!

Sandro took care of us. Not the warmest service but efficient. Guitar player was a great touch. This is not a place to come for a bar setting mostly a dining room. The rsvioli were delcious and the ossobuco extremley tender. Sandro mixed up a nice manhattan for us. Going out is expensive these days and the quality isnt always there, but at Vlaggio they prodive a good product for the cost. Thanks for your service.

Overall, I had a great experience here. Our server, Mariella, was incredibly kind and truly enhanced our visit. We were seated quickly, received excellent service throughout, and the interior was very clean. I really enjoyed my lobster bisque and agnolotti. However, some of my family members weren’t as satisfied with their meals. My friend ordered a side of grilled chicken and found it quite bland, so the food seemed to be a bit hit or miss.

Nirvani Maharana

Overall, I had a great experience here. Our server, Mariella, was incredibly kind and truly enhanced our visit. We were seated quickly, received excellent service throughout, and the interior was very clean. I really enjoyed my lobster bisque and agnolotti. However, some of my family members weren’t as satisfied with their meals. My friend ordered a side of grilled chicken and found it quite bland, so the food seemed to be a bit hit or miss.

I ordered Villaggio’s with chicken breast, and that's disappointment. The chicken was noticeably dry and overcooked—a shame, as it's the centerpiece of the meal. • The Sauce: The sauce accompanying the dish was perfectly fine, but nothing to write home about. It tasted like a standard, middle-of-the-road white sauce lacking the depth, I'd expect from a highly-rated Italian restaurant. It was average. • The Bread Knots: The table was served with bread knots, which were also just okay. They were slightly chewy. Again, average. Nothing stood out. Everything was competent but utterly unremarkable. When you read reviews claiming a restaurant is amazing, you expect something special—a signature flavor, impeccable service, or a dish you can't stop thinking about. This place delivered none of that. While the atmosphere was pleasant enough, the food simply didn't justify the praise or the price. If you're looking for a quick, average Italian meal, perhaps this is your spot. But if you're seeking truly memorable, delicious Italian cuisine, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

The food was great, no issues. We really enjoyed it. The reason why I gave 3 stars because of the waiting time. We reserved the table for 5pm. We got seated around 5:10ish. Then our order was taken. The rolls and salad came quick and the kids’ food came out like after 10-15mins. For the adults, we had to wait for another 45mins. Our kids already finished the food before ours arrived.

Pinay Nanay

The food was great, no issues. We really enjoyed it. The reason why I gave 3 stars because of the waiting time. We reserved the table for 5pm. We got seated around 5:10ish. Then our order was taken. The rolls and salad came quick and the kids’ food came out like after 10-15mins. For the adults, we had to wait for another 45mins. Our kids already finished the food before ours arrived.

A W

I ordered Villaggio’s with chicken breast, and that's disappointment. The chicken was noticeably dry and overcooked—a shame, as it's the centerpiece of the meal. • The Sauce: The sauce accompanying the dish was perfectly fine, but nothing to write home about. It tasted like a standard, middle-of-the-road white sauce lacking the depth, I'd expect from a highly-rated Italian restaurant. It was average. • The Bread Knots: The table was served with bread knots, which were also just okay. They were slightly chewy. Again, average. Nothing stood out. Everything was competent but utterly unremarkable. When you read reviews claiming a restaurant is amazing, you expect something special—a signature flavor, impeccable service, or a dish you can't stop thinking about. This place delivered none of that. While the atmosphere was pleasant enough, the food simply didn't justify the praise or the price. If you're looking for a quick, average Italian meal, perhaps this is your spot. But if you're seeking truly memorable, delicious Italian cuisine, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

Gary s

If you grew up in an Italian family on authentic Italian food, then you will be very disappointed. One step above Olive Garden. They took an hour and 25 minutes to serve one appetiser and three entrees. NOT ACCEPTABLE. You could not pay me to go back there!

After reading many favorable reviews about Villagio's, my husband and I decided to give it a try. What a disappointment! First of all, we had a reservation for 6pm on a Friday night. We arrived a few minutes earlier. The place didn't look very busy, and yet we were not seated until 15-20 minutes later. I ordered Pescatore, which was supposed to come with shrimp, grouper, clams, mussels and scallops. It wasn't grouper, but resembled more like tilapia and there were definitely NO scallops. The garlic red sauce was nothing special. The meal came with salad and garlic roll. They boast about the homemade house salad dressing, it tasted just like a jarred dressing. The garlic roll was very dry and hard, I imagine it was leftover from the day before. My husband ordered veal marsala and he described the veal as tough and dry. For appetizer, we ordered escargot with mushroom caps - I cannot review it since our server forgot to put in the order and therefore we never got it. To make up for his shortcoming, he gave us complimentary dessert. The tiramisu was bland and tasted old. The creme brulee was just okay. I gave the atmosphere 3 stars because we enjoyed listening to the guitar player.

Not a great experience, only an hour after visiting I was violently ill. I just had an appetizer Salsicci E Fungi, basically sausage flatbread with mushrooms and onions. Had nothing to eat in the previous 7hours so I really suspect this was the problem. The service was also very poor with my dining companions not getting meals on time and order was incorrect.

Took 10 minutes at the host desk to be acknowledged before 6pm on a Tuesday night. Then we were told twice to just wait 5 more minutes. We tried to ask if it was going to be long because we didn’t have a ton of time and the lady continued to say just 5 more minutes. Multiple people walked by us and didn’t offer to seat us etc. we got seated and the wait staff spilled a glass of water on my son. We expressed we were in a hurry to get to a show and service was extremely slow. One salad came without dressing, had to ask for it twice. Food came, pasta was very greasy, specifically the gnocchi. Wait staff spilled cheese on my son also while topping dishes. My husband’s fish dish was so overcooked it looked like chicken. They did take his meal off the bill. We again expressed we were in a rush and it took forever to get the bill. Will not be back.

Mike Stephenson

Not a great experience, only an hour after visiting I was violently ill. I just had an appetizer Salsicci E Fungi, basically sausage flatbread with mushrooms and onions. Had nothing to eat in the previous 7hours so I really suspect this was the problem. The service was also very poor with my dining companions not getting meals on time and order was incorrect.

Joanne Stewart

After reading many favorable reviews about Villagio's, my husband and I decided to give it a try. What a disappointment! First of all, we had a reservation for 6pm on a Friday night. We arrived a few minutes earlier. The place didn't look very busy, and yet we were not seated until 15-20 minutes later. I ordered Pescatore, which was supposed to come with shrimp, grouper, clams, mussels and scallops. It wasn't grouper, but resembled more like tilapia and there were definitely NO scallops. The garlic red sauce was nothing special. The meal came with salad and garlic roll. They boast about the homemade house salad dressing, it tasted just like a jarred dressing. The garlic roll was very dry and hard, I imagine it was leftover from the day before. My husband ordered veal marsala and he described the veal as tough and dry. For appetizer, we ordered escargot with mushroom caps - I cannot review it since our server forgot to put in the order and therefore we never got it. To make up for his shortcoming, he gave us complimentary dessert. The tiramisu was bland and tasted old. The creme brulee was just okay. I gave the atmosphere 3 stars because we enjoyed listening to the guitar player.

Patrick Pellizze

This is our second and last trip. We had a reservation at 730pm they didnt seat us until 8pm. No one came to our table until 818pm. The waiter was the most impersonal waiter I have ever had. House salad was the quality of lettuce you feed to pigs. The salad and bread came about 15 minutes after we placed our order. We didnt get our food until 9pm. The food was okay but nothing to remember. We had two friends tell us it was great but I am not sure what they saw in this place. I would assume it will be put of business soon. I eat out a lot and this is the worst place I have been to in years.

Geneane Tomasulo

Maybe I’m biased, being Italian from NY. But we had an awful experience here. My daughters ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and penne with marinara. The sauce tasted like tomatoes out of the can with sugar. The meatball… the worst meatball I ever had. No one at the table would touch it. My husbands chicken Marsala didn’t taste like there was any Marsala wine in it. It looked like brown gravy on pasta. I got the veal vellagio… the sauce, I’m convinced, was just melted butter. The bread I think was kings Hawaiian rolled with butter and garlic on top. And the calamari was so rubbery, and we were told the chef is from Italy and he says real calamari isn’t fried. THIS CHEF COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE REAL ITALIAN. I am offended. When we came in with a reservation we waited for about 20 minutes before a hostess came up to us. And then the service was horrible because of a large party in the back that our waiter was tending too. The kids dishes came out about 20 minutes before ours… so they were done eating and bored by the time we finally got our food. When we first moved here two years ago Velaggio’s was recommended to us by a few different people. I don’t know if you’re under new ownership or a new chef or something… but this was a very expensive disappointment. I will say, the sauce that the rubbery calamari came in was delicious.