Beach Blog Restaurant Spotlight: Villa Mare
By Michelle Cantey
For almost 20 years, Villa Mare, a family-owned Italian restaurant, has been a locals' favorite. So much so, that you're likely to hear Fred, Lucy, and Fred Jr. Fusco greet customers by name.
Located for many years in the Northwood Shopping Plaza, Villa Mare relocated to its current home in the Carolina Forest neighborhood in spring 2008. Now seating 96, Villa Mare almost doubled its seating capacity in its new home. Jazz music is piped into the dining room and bar area. Decorated in warm Tuscan yellows and reds, the décor begs you to linger over dinner and a bottle of wine or dessert and coffee.
Villa Mare combines the age-old Italian traditions of fresh, homemade dishes using the finest, authentic ingredients. Every meal is meticulously prepared fresh to order. All sauces are made fresh daily by Lucy. You've never tasted great Italian food until you've had fresh sauce that clings to the pasta and fresh ingredients.
The Italian word mangia means to eat. After reviewing the Villa Mare menu, we were drooling and fully prepared to mangia!
Villa Mare's appetizers include several long-time, true Italian favorites: calamari with white wine and marinara sauce, homemade Italian sausage, lobster ravioli and banana peppers stuffed with the homemade Italian sausage. Any of these appetizers make a great start to a fabulous dinner.
House specialties are numerous and include the mussels in white wine and garlic; veal portabella; kitchen-made (restaurant lingo for homemade) lasagna and eggplant parmigiana.
Our dinner selections on a recent visit were the mussels and veal portabella. Complementary wines are available by the glass, ½ liter or bottle. Ask your server for a wine pairing with your entrée. Villa Mare also has a full bar available. Entrees are served with soup, salad and warm bread. Select dishes also come with a side of pasta.
The mussels are basked in perfection, swimming in the white wine and garlic sauce on a bed of al dente linguini. The only way to finish this dish is to use the fresh-baked bread to soak up the sauce. What more can I say? Yes, we did. Truly a house favorite!
The veal portabella is best described as succulent, tender veal stuffed with roasted red peppers, artichokes and provolone cheese topped with a portabella mushroom sauce. Chef Fred credits this dish with being such a popular feature that he had to add it to the menu. Veal lovers will NOT be disappointed in this dish. Absolutely fabulous!
A true Italian dinner is not complete without dessert. Villa Mare does not disappoint with its selections of tiramisu, cannoli, spumoni, and tartufo paired with a cup of espresso or cappuccino. We selected the tartufo which boasts vanilla and chocolate ice cream filled with royal black bing cherries, roasted crushed almonds and select blend of jams, covered with a decadent chocolate shell. Can we get four spoons please?
http://www.mbsun.com/assets_c/2009/07/Villa Mare box-thumb-300x213-2094.jpgSeveral popular features include fresh seafood, lamb chops, ribeye steaks, and the pork chops. Vegetarian options and wheat pasta are available upon request.
All menu items are made-to-order. Special requests are welcomed and, if possible, prepared by the chef.
Reservations are recommended but not required. Child-sized portions are available and include pasta, chicken tenders and ravioli. Early dining specials are featured daily 4-5:30 p.m. Buon appetito!
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