The buzz: Home to traditional recipes and simple Italian cooking by Chef Edoardo Bonavo, Villa Italia also offers shopping, art and even a spot of drama. Italian import business, the Dream Company, look to showcase fashions by Mariella Burani and Desio, furniture by Robe, as well as imported pastas, cold cuts and cheese. The alfresco dining area in the garden doubles up as a space for theater productions (the man behind the restaurant worked in the business for a while) and art projects.
The décor: Inside, the first floor of the converted home is both a restaurant and a shop and makes a generous use of wood. Upstairs the individual rooms, filled with imported antique furniture for sale, offers more privacy.
The cuisine: Come at 6pm for an aperitif as you munch on some free finger food such as homemade pizza breads and panzenella (bread salad). Or sample the imported Italian food products, like cold cuts and cheese for sale in the shop. Start with the bacco, a big platter of young to aged Pecorino cheeses from Pienza, Parma ham, Tuscan salami, coppa, pancetta, and the “poor man’s” delicacy of salted pork lard, lardo di colonnata. The papa col pomodoro is just bread and tomato with some seasoning and oil. For mains try the trippa al pomodoro, a serving of tripe in a flavorful tomato sauce on bread. Desserts include chocolate mousse, and ricotta ubriaca (drunken ricotta).
The crowd: Soi 33’s affluent residents.
Villa Italia
