Villa Castrioti Restaurant

The food is absolutely great and the staff treat you like family. Restaurant atmosphere is wonderful.One of the very best Italian restaurants in Memphis area. more

Went to Villa yesterday with a group of eight for lunch. We were the only people in the restaurant. We placed our order and waited and waited and waited. After nearly 40 minutes I asked the waitress how much longer before our food would be delivered. She told me the Salmon is the longest to cook. Salmon should only take a few minutes. Our food finally arrived. I order the White Clam Sauce over Linguine. The clams were canned and the linguine was so over cooked it tasted like baby food. They are way over priced for what they give. Everything is Al la Cart. $10.00 for this plate of mush is not my idea of a good lunch. more

I have been to Villa several times and always have been pleased. I think the pricing is moderate and everything I have ever ordered I really enjoyed. I love their fettuccine more

Love this restaurant. The pricing is moderate, the food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. more

my family and i went here for my birthday dinner because my husband and mom always talk about how good the food is,however when we got there we were deeply dissappointed... to begin, our server was completely lethargic and unattentive, i asked for both a soda and a cup of coffee to drink and got neither, he only visited the table when the drinks were brought out and when the food was brought out, and he forgot almost every special request made (including more than 2 peoples beverages after he had asked them what they would like to drink). The food was not the worst, but it was nothing like what we all remembered it to be.... i had veal with spinach and artichokes and the spinach was really overcooked and just mushy and droopy, the veal was alright,but not worth the $25 i paid for it. Overall, the whole experience was disappointing,under-par,and overly expensive.Villa Castrioti used to be what i considered one of the best Italian steak houses in the south, but now its just your average mediocre italian restaurant. Pros: great fried ravioli Cons: food is mediocre and lacked freshness, service was horrible more

This restaurant is not only the best Italian restaurant in Memphis, it is the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to...granted I've never been to NY,but this place is outstanding. Everything I have eaten here is delicious, served hot and you can tell they make everything from scratch...no processed or frozen ingredients here! I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a hearty and fresh Italian meal. Pros: Great atmosphere, fresh food/ingredients, great menu Cons: sometimes service could use work, expensive more

What can I say? This little restaurant is an undiscovered pearl in the midst of a lot of faux pearls! The pizza is fantastic, if you like thin crust pizza; (Request the shrimp and mushroom pizza (not 'seafood' as it appears on the menu! The coffee is the best! You do have to request (really insist) on real butter, not margarine! The Caesar dressing is not very good, so remember to request their 'house dressing' for your salad, because it's really good! The minestrone is wonderful! The desserts are okay, not really special. Pros: great food, great service Cons: closed for lunch Sat and both lunch and dinner on Sun more

2 words: Crab legs.\r This place is litterally incredible.\r Everything on the menu is good.\r Not only the best veal in Memphis but the best I have ever had. more

Greeted by ?owner who looked somewhat like a bum. Ordered eggplant parmesan which came with a side of spaghetti. Eggplant parmesan is not an easy dish, so I felt that, plus a taste of the marinara sauce would guarantee a good sampling of the food. Pros: Attractive and located in Cordova, just a few miles from Germantown Cons: Service and marinara more

Sometimes you can get hot fresh pizza from this location and sometimes you can get cold and all most chewy pizza from this location. I would still recommend trying the pizza because it is so good when its fresh! more

At best it was ok, the food was served cold, the pizza was soggy. My wife had fettuccine Alfredo that was cold. The meatballs were soggy and tasted like they had green peppers in them which I did not enjoy the taste of them. The atmosphere was nice but the food was disappointing for the price. My family is Italian and this was no Italian family style meal. Pros: Nice atmosphere Cons: Cold Pizza more

We've had many substandard meals in the Germantown in places like Equestria Restaurant and Lounge, but this place tucked away in a strip mall (yes, I know) is very surprising. Pros: fresh innovative and traditional food- good service Cons: in a strip mall- but so what I guess more

This is THE neighborhood restaurant for lunch (M-TH; or Dinner, M-SAT) We discoverd the fantastic pizza, years ago, but ALL the food is consistently delicious. The service is superb! The menu, which includes great pastas, shrimp and lobster, is varied, so it's NOT just an Italian restaurant. Their coffee is better than gourmet coffee houses! As long time Memphians, we think it's one of the best, so we can't understand why local Magazine reviewers haven't commented!!!! Pros: like a French bistro, we love the intimate dining Cons: Caesar dressing, no! house dressing, YES!! more

It's a surprise indeed...never had a bad meal there...never had bad service, even when the bar is busy on a WED. afternoon happyhour ! this one is obviously ignored in Memphis or memphians simply don't recognize good food when they have it ! Try it ! more

I have been a patron of Villa Castrioti for many years. I am European, have traveled the World extensively (Favourite destination - Italy) and have dined in many a fine restaurant. Villa Castrioti has the best food in the area. When I visit, it feels like I am going home. For those that think the best Italian food, in Memphis, is Brooklyn Bridge or any of the Grisanti establishments, then good for you, but... if you want REAL Italian cuisine, visit Villa Castrioti. There is no comparison. Great wine selection also. Check out the Tommasi or Bertani Amarone... more

For the past four years, I have had the pleasure of eating at the very best restaurants from Memphis to New Orleans. However, I find the Villa Castrioti profoundly _stunning_ in the quality of their fare - and no one seems to know this! If you wish to sample the best seafood in the Memphis/Cordova area with an Albanian/Italian flair - go here. Also- I grew up in New York - so TRUST me - try their pizza. Say what you will about any restaurant on this list - JUST TRY THIS ONE ONCE... Pros: Food Quality, Atmosphere, The intangibles Cons: To some- slow service, Hours of Operation, Nothing Else more

Just because a restaurant is in a strip mall, does not mean it's not good. Owner/operator restaurants are becoming fewer and fewer, so please take the opportunity to enjoy this family owned restaurant. Every year I see awards given to Italian restaurants in Memphis with no notice of Villa Castriotti, and the restaurants that win the awards pale in comparison to this one. Thanks to Adam and his wife for all the hard work they have done to provide Memphians with an excellent dining experience. Pros: Atmosphere, Value, Service more

My husband and I always very much enjoy dining at Villa. They have very fresh seafood and a great wine list. We always have Stephanie wait on us and she does an excellent job. This is not the kind of place you should go to if you are in a hurry, it's not supposed to be a quick dining experience, if you are looking to get in and out I suggest you try the McDonald's out in the parking lot of Trinity Commons. Pros: Fresh seafood, great service more