Villa Castrioti Lakeland

Nate was great!! And we really enjoyed our food!! Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We love Villa. Our go to menu item is the New York strip. It’s typically enough for us to share. The service is always great. It’s always refreshing to see Pedan, she just ask if we want the usual.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Always a great choice.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great experience all the way around.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Staff is kind and professional

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

06/23: Pedan was delightful. She suggested the Johnny New Yorker pizza, her way with banana peppers, to go with my prosecco, and she was spot on. Maybe I found my new regular after-work spot?

Older review: Thank you for allowing us to have our holiday party here! The food was fantastic and service was above and beyond! Support local! I loved the tenderloin risotto and the ambience is gorgeous.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Came by on a whim. Great potential as a combo of Italian and cocktails in East Memphis metro, with a few minor negative surprises.

Bartender super nice and attentive, but didn't know Fernet-Branca/fernet(Italian digestif amaro).

Bar didn't have FB, so I didn't check their select of Italian amari. They might not want to deal with Southern Glazers. Didn't look hard enough to determine a distro pattern, but if they have Aperol... Though I don't actually remember seeing it or not. I didn't see Campari either, but again, I didn't look that hard.

Their American Italian-style sweet vermouth Vya is unique for a Memphis restaurant. It lands itself on the bitter end of the spectrum(angelica, cinchona/quinine, gentian). I don't think I've seen it in Memphis before, which is a double edged sword. Would make a more bitter Manhattan or negroni. But it does taste good.

I didn't see anything on either cocktail menu that jumped out to me to try; seemed like standard Memphis thoroughfare, even the side menu. You don't need smoke, flashing lights, or deconstructed manhattan with vermouth pearls to do it. Just lean into the Italian culture and well-executed 3-4 ingredient cocktails.

I should've asked if they had any grappa. Maybe next time.

Large selection of wines.

Quiet, with darker lighting. Decor is really nice, quite happy my bar stool had arms, and was very comfortable. Wraparound bar with bottle island great setup.

Overall I think of they give their bar an opportunity to lean into the Italian universe of Amari, spend some time on their bartenders' knowledge, and looked for some big Italian cocktails adding their own minor twist(s) they could become the best cocktail bar on the east side of the Cove. Memphis could use it.

I'll definitely drop by again.

Edit 8/8/25:
Yeah unless theres some outside impetus I dont think Ill be back. I visited hopeful a second time but no amari. No Fernet Branca, Cynar, Averna, Dell Etna, Miletti, Nonino, Ramazzotti, Montenegro, Braulio, Lucano.. even their Campari ran out with no backstock bottle. They even had no Angostura bitters(?!).(not italian, but very standard barware)

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 4

Alaina was an amazing server. Food was great too.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

I always look forward to coming to Villas, especially when Pedan is working. She goes above and beyond every time—greeting me with a smile, staying on top of every detail, and making sure my experience is perfect from start to finish. On top of her incredible service, she makes the absolute best drinks, perfectly crafted every time. She’s a big reason why Villas feels so welcoming and why I keep coming back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The tunes are always great and when Pedan is behind the bar the drinks are the best. Food is top notch. Pedan will always recommend the best to compliment my meal. To say she means BUSINESS would really sum it up. Go see her and try this place out !

Pecan makes the best drinks I have ever tasted. Her pristine attention to her customers is top notch and unbeatable to others bars. Villa is very lucky to have her

Pedan was amazing!!! From the time I entered until I had a seat at the bar, she gave me A1 service. She was very tentative and made sure I had exactly what I needed. Thank you for a great time.

Rusty was an amazing server who knew the menu and provided amazing recommendations!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Very good food and service. Needed handicap parking , you only have 2 and they were taken

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere.