This was my first visit to Villa Nova. My son-in-law and I enjoyed a lovely meal and excellent service. We also appreciated the decor and ambience. We each had a main entree, both of which had very high points: my pork tenderloin with the polenta side was delightful; the asparagus and carrots were perfectly done, and the presentation was quite good. My son-in-law ordered the medallions of beef, medium rare with the risotto. The medallions came medium-medium well but were flavorful and he did not want to send them back. Again, the sides were very good. We both enjoyed a single glass of wine from a well rounded wine menu. It is a generous pour and each of our selections paired perfectly with our meal. We decided to split the Tiramisu and we both found it to be one of several highlights to our dinner. It had excellent flavor and texture. The side of coffee was fun surprise. To get to 5 Stars I would offer the following: I would have enjoyed an espresso with dessert. Please add that service at a future time. It would elevate the dining experience. I think the chefs are probably still dialing in the menu. The Medallions of Beef should have been an easy Medium Rare. A salt well/salt grinder instead of a salt shaker and table candles (flameless options are fun and elegant) would elevate a beautiful setting even more. We will be returning! read more

We made reservations for a busy Friday night. The parking lot is very small and we had to make a few loops and then create a spot by the dumpsters. We were a bit early for our reservation, but they were able to seat us right away. The decor is pretty, and you can tell they put some work into the remodel. The tables are a bit close together on the platform where we were sitting, and there was a lot of apologizing among patrons as people scooted chairs to get up and down. The food is very pricey and we were ok with that, expecting absolutely delicious meals. But honestly, they just weren't that good. We started with the lobster bisque. It was a bit watery and bland, with a couple very dry pieces of lobster garnish. The bread was delicious and nice to dip into the soup. The butter that came with the bread was wonderful, but it came in one spoon size portion for four pieces of bread. My husband got the short rib rigatoni and it was good! I got the chicken pesto pasta and the sauce was plentiful and tasty. The noodles seemed to be homemade. But the chicken was so dry, even swimming in sauce didn't moisten it up. We finished off with the tiramisu, and it was not good. It came out with a gravy boat of cold coffee on the plate. We tried the tiramisu without the coffee (definitely didn't seem like espresso), and it was dry. So we poured the coffee on it thinking that would help. But now it was soggy tiramisu that tasted like old cold coffee. I think some of this is new restaurant ironing out kinks, and I would give it another chance. But at the prices they are charging, I honestly expected a much better meal. I will say that the fettuccine Alfredo tossed in a Parmesan wheel seemed cool and the only reason I didn't get it was that there wasn't a meat included. Also, one of the tables near us got a house salad and it looked really good. Additionally, the manager was making rounds and checking on patrons, which is always appreciated. read more

My husband and I went for our anniversary. I made a reservation with the note of the special occasion. I was disappointed to find that this was not passed or conveyed to the server. Beyond that, the overall experience was good but not knock your socks off. Our server was kind and attentive- I would give her 5 stars. I ordered the onion soup and it was very rich and delicious. My only complaint was the bread on top was hard to separate and I needed a knife to do so; using a knife in soup is awkward. I had the short ribs for my entree and they were very good. Tender with a nice sauce. The vegetables were nicely done but the risotto was a little underwhelming. It was good but its flavors conflicted with the short ribs. My husband had the fettuccine. The table side service was neat and the server who did it was great. You are paying for the experience more than anything. The food was good but hard to justify for the cost. 4 stars. The restaurant is very nice inside. The atmosphere is calm and intimate. We were at a center table but it never felt loud or busy. They only have a beer and wine license which is something to note since their cocktails are all wine based but they sounded interesting. We opted for a bottle of red. Overall, I was impressed with the atmosphere and style of the building. They put a lot of time and energy into it and it showed. The food and experience were fine, with room for improvement. I am not writing them off yet but they would not be my first recommendation for a special occasion. read more

New resturant across the street, this location used to be a Mexican restaurant. Remodeled inside to a nicer "upscale" feel although it's quite small. We asked for a booth as there was one open when we arrived for our reservation, and were told we could not sit there and were seated at a half booth instead. Food was very good, waitress took a bit to warm up to us. The dinner was expensive, entrees at $55. You add on a salad that we shared, and two drinks and it becomes questionable if it's worth the price. read more

Villa Nova - Italian Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Didn't get the opportunity to go to this restaurant because of what I was told over the phone. History is that we used to frequent this restaurant when it was located on the corner of ARCTIC and international Airport Road and they had gluten-free options. Found out recently that they were reopened in a different location so I called and asked do they have gluten-free option the first thing out of the young ladies's mouth on the phone was salad. I chuckled because I thought she was kidding! I asked her again because they would certainly would have to do better than that so she put me on the phone with one of the servers who said that they had zucchini noodles that probably could be used for gluten-free but other than that, they had no other entrées that could be made gluten-free and I informed her that they have just alienated a whole group of people from their establishment. She said that the menu changed when the new owner took over. Well, the new owner needs to get a clue. So won't be dining there and will not suggest it for anyone else until they do better and advertise it make it known on their menu on their website because you can find nothing there. For the amount of money that they're charging for food they should be able to accommodate all dietary needs. So I guess I'll be going to Kincaid Grill, who will actually adjust some things for you. read more

Both the food and the service were excellent, and we will definitely be in again. The manager came over and greeted us and the servers were very attentive. We couldn't resist sharing the Lemon tart and it was a perfect finish to a delicious meal. read more

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This review is a bit late - We went to the soft opening with two couples, a party of 6. The restaurant was full but we had a reservation. We didn't all arrive at the same time and they seated the first couple and then unbeknownst to the rest of us, it took the reservation off the computer, so when the rest of us arrived they didn't know what to do with us. After 15 minutes we figured it out and got seated. Beautiful place, great atmosphere! We ordered drinks that came quickly but we had to ask for menus and place settings. We ordered the food and it came pretty quick considering it was first night and the place was full. The manager stopped by and introduced herself- a very nice touch. We ordered salmon, beef tenderloin, beef short ribs, lasagna and pizza - a pretty good menu sampling. The food was delicious, the lasagna impression wasn't the best but everything else was good. It was also fun to see the pasta prepared in the Parmesan wheel. Looking forward to returning to see if the kinks have been ironed out. read more

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Portions for the price are insane. 50$+ for pasta??? Was not happy with over 100$ bill and not even full. Kind of a disappointing interior remodel read more

Went here during the soft opening, it was amazing! Loved the apps and entrees. Service was impeccable. Loved the atmosphere. You should definitely go! read more

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Oh Gosh , What a surprise to find this hidden Gem in south Anchorage! Unassuming as we drove up and all I could think was That patio will be a wonderful outdoor space on sunny evenings. I was greeted by Friendly kind hearted staff . I didn't have a reservation but the Hostesses were happy to seat me at the bar with my friends for dinner . It was actually Perfect as the Bartender Katie was incredible and Up beat in her energy and positive attitude. She was creative with cocktails . Atmosphere was exceptional, lighting , music and vibe was not fancy but very elevated in every way . We started with the Arrinchni Balls that came out in a hiccup and were pupping hot and filled will melty hot Cheese ! Sauce was delicately placed under the dish . Both the owner and manager Bicky came to greet us at our seats and introduced themselves and asked for feed back on the food and service. The entrees were excellent! Perfect execution of the pasta dish and my Braised short ribs stacked on polenta was remarkable. read more

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I visited last Saturday and the parking lot had about four cars at 5pm (early bird special ) I was greeted right away, seated right away with no reservation, next to a shelf of books shown how to adjust my little table lamp's brightness so I could read my book, she just got a bigger tip...had the house salad which was smothered in fresh-grated Parmesan cheese so I must complain to the manager Nooooot! Speaking of the manager she made the rounds to each table welcoming us and thanking us for coming. Nice. I tried to say hello but my mouth was packed with...fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Next, raw oysters with some fancy stuff but I slurped them down anyway! Yum yum! Nice glass of red something something but I must have impressed the 2 old couples a few tables away because they sent the waitress over to ask me what I had selected. Because the glass of red I was drinking looked good??? I don't know. It WAS good! Maybe they noticed my facial expression while I was sipping and wanted that, too?! Rossa is all I remember from the long name, sorry. Ohh! It's listed on the menu on FB! Everyone acted like I was a special guest from entrance to exit. Thankyou! Because I am nobody! I left and the parking lot was FULL! Will return! read more

Probably the best Italian food in Anchorage right now. They have a very sophisticated menu which is executed with perfection. Large portions, excellent service, attractive interior. Having lived in Southern Italy for a number of years I'd say the taste profiles are right on. Minor negatives are that they could simplify the menu a bit and the prices are fairly high ($215 for 2 with a couple of glasses of wine). Try the Carpaccio & the Ensalada Caprice appetizers. They could be a meal in themselves! read more

This is a belated review. A friend (dining partner, or DP) and I dined here early on in the Soft Opening. We were seated in a booth by the window, by request, but it was very cold. As has been noted by others, the menu is very ambitious and sophisticated, unlike probably any other restaurant in town except the Top of the World, with many choices of appetizers, salads, soups, pasta, pizza, and other entrees. Perhaps it should be winnowed down to concentrate on quality and execution, but, regardless, it is intriguing and I am looking forward to trying out more of the items. A plate with some thinly sliced bread and small amount of flavored butter in a ceramic spoon was placed on the table. Ultimately, after being overwhelmed with an amazing number of choices, we ordered. I started with the porcini and Rimini mushroom truffle soup and it was outstanding. DP had, and shared, the saffron risotto balls stuffed with melted smoked gouda cheese undeserved over pomodoro sauce of Italian tomatoes, herbs and spices. which was also excellent. For my main course, I ordered, without paying attention to the details, the fettuccine with truffles and parmesan, not understanding that it would in fact be prepared inside of a wheel of parmesan cheese at table side. And it was, by an energetic and earnest waitperson who explained it was the first time she had ever done it. She did a fine job, and the fettuccine was very good, though it was a small portion, with a large scoop of truffles plopped unceremoniously on top. DP had the spinach and ricotta ravioli, and it was delicious. For dessert we shared the tiramisu, which is uniquely prepared to be very light and airy, but beware there is alcohol in the small bowl of espresso that is to be poured over it along with the dusted cocoa. I plan to try the other two soups, the carpaccio, and a number of the entrees. I am excited to have such an adventuresome restaurant in Anchorage. The service was excellent. It made me want to come back. read more