Villa Castrioti

My wife and I had an opportunity to visit Villa Castrioti in Lakeland. The first thing that you notice when you walk into this restaurant is how nice and classy the restaurant looks on the inside. The second thing that you notice about Villa Castrioti is the service. I would rate the service as top notch. The reason as to why I give Villa Castrioti 4 out of 5 stars is because of the flavor of the food. I thought that the calamari appetizer and the seafood platter, were both a little bland. This is just my opinion of course, but I just thought that both dishes could use a bit more seasoning. Yet, in all fairness, I am from New Orleans originally, so it could be my own New Orleans taste buds. I plan to go back in the future to try something different.

Our anniversary dinner at Villa was one of the worst dining experiences we've ever had, especially considering the restaurant wasn't busy. After being seated, we ordered drinks, which took so long that the server apologized for the delay.We placed our entree orders and began the wait. The server returned with a concerning tone, asking if everything was okay. We watched as both tables next to us received their food before us, none of which looked appetizing. The smoked salmon appetizer appeared liquefied on lettuce leaves, and the baked potato looked overly crunchy.After waiting an hour for our entrees and hearing other diners' negative reactions to their food, our server and the manager approached us. They explained there was a new system in place and apologized for the delay, offering to comp our meals and prepare them immediately. It felt like a rehearsed apology for a common issue.When our food finally arrived, both entrees looked unappealing. My chicken cacciatore was overcooked despite being started late, and the beef tenderloin was well done instead of medium rare. The sides arrived so late that I had forgotten I ordered them.We sent the food back, reassuring the empathetic server that it wasn't their fault. The entire hour at Villa was confusing, with empty water glasses, guests running out of drinks, and hostesses standing idle instead of assisting. The lack of management was glaringly obvious.There was no audible music inside, and the atmosphere, despite the nice decorations, fell short of a fine dining experience. The karaoke and bingo outside made it feel more like an Applebee's serving Italian food. Villa has potential, but it has become more of a neighborhood hangout than a quality restaurant. 0/10 rating, we won't be returning.

The ambiance is beautiful, especially the dining room ! The service was moderate..me and my husband sat down at the bar and it took a while to be greeted. There were several dirty dishes at the bar , but the manager came and grabbed them. The drinks were really good which is consistent with other reviews .. there was also live music which was a nice touch . The pizza was okay..it did come out fast which was good , the crust was crispy but the sauce was bland . Lastly, the bartender asked me and my husband what we did for a living , which could have been small talk , but as a black American at a non diverse restaurant, I found it offensive.

I was with a party of 9 and we had reservations. The food was tasty and our server was very attentive and helpful! As far as fine dining Italian goes, I do think there are much better options in Memphis, but the only one in the Lakeland area which is nice to have. We were the only people in the restaurant which was kind of awkward but it was fine.

Villa Castrioti is a great Italian spot located in Cordova and Lakeland. Their prices range from $10-$20 at lunch and $20-$60 at dinner. I found that their more affordable options, like the gnocchi and the pasta primavera, are just as good as some of their more expensive options. Their grilled shrimp is rather expensive ($16 to add to my pasta) but it is some of the best shrimp I've tried. The cocktails are my favorite in the area. The service is always excellent. The front room is rather small and well lit, while the main dining room is warm and cozy.I highly recommend trying the gnocchi appetizer, the mushroom risotto side, and the pistachio martini for dessert. I did not care for the veal scallopini nor the ravioli.

Great food. Great service. My goto is chicken fracaise and Italian spinach. I like the Lakeland location.

This is the NEW villa castrioti location and you will want to make reservations. I love the atmosphere and honestly you will not find better italian food in Memphis! Or honestly anywhere within a hundred miles!

VC hosted our party of 15 tonight for my daughter's 21st birthday dinner. We were on the covered patio, and even with tornado warnings and torrential downpours , that did not stop nor waver the great service we received from Alaina and her staff. Every order was correct and cooked to perfection and amazing on taste as well. The entire restaurant came together tonight during the weather and ensured an amazing experience for all, especially my daughter. Thank you so much Sarah True and Villa Castrioti.

To go orderPizza consistently good. Light weight crisp. Right amount of cheese and pepperoni. Really enjoy the pizza.Castrioti salad a great blend of vegetables and the dressing is delicious. Easy in and out every time.

Went for lunch a couple of daysbbefore and everything was great...service, food were all good. I had family in town for my mother's passing and made reservations for 5 at 1845 via Open Table. The reservation was confirmed from the restaurant. We get there and the manager tells us they can't accommodate us and that he closed out reservations from 1830-2030. Obviously not and show him confirmation email. I asked if they were not even going to try to accommodate for their error and despite an empty table right within eyesight, he says no. When I pointed the empty table out, he said it was for a 7:00 reservation!!!