Review | Villagio Ristorante and Bar in Pinehurst

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Villagio Ristorante and Bar is the best traditional Italian restaurant in Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen. Villagio makes their pasta and bread fresh, in-house daily. The restaurant has a separate bar and outdoor patio with occasional live music. Villagio is located in the historic Magnolia Inn in the Village of Pinehurst and was acquired by Pinehurst Resort in 2021. We give Villagio four stars based on their quality food and ambiance. This place would be five stars if it had more meat-free options.

Here’s why this restaurant deserves a visit.

The Vibe

Villagio is fine dining with a smart casual dresscode. Villagio is spread across the first floor of the a historic Magnolia Inn in the Village of Pinehurst. The charming building was built in 1896 and is the second-oldest hotel in the Village. The aesthetic is old school southern with blue wallpaper and tufted chairs.

During nicer months, Villagio offers outdoor dining and live entertainment on their patio called La Terrazza. Or you can opt for one of the few seats in the bar tucked away at the back of the restaurant.

This is a great place for date night, work outings, or after a round of whatever country club sport you may play.

The Menu

Drinks: Villagio Ristorante has one of the best Lemon Drop martinis in The Land of the Pines
Starters: The Caprese features small garden tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, basil pesto, and aged balsamic pearls (instead of a vingarette)
Pasta: The pasta side can be served as an entree and topped with fresh parmesan. This is my go-to Italian classic
Main Courses: The Lasagna Al Forno features pasta sheets layered and baked with Chef’s bolognese meat sauce, Italian cheeses & besciamella sauce
Desserts: Villagio’s Tiramisu has espresso-soaked Lady Fingers layered with mascarpone cream with Cafe Borghetti liqueur and fine marsala. Served with chocolate sauce

Field Notes

After many visits to Villagio we learned that the most popular item on the menu was the Chicken Parmesan until the Chef removed it. Which is a shame because it is one of the best chicken parms our team has tried. You can try to request one during your visit but it is at the whim of the kitchen.

The vegetarian options are growing at Villagio. We also learned that after many requests for vegetarian pasta sauce, the restaurant started to offer it on the menu.

Our Thoughts

Villagio is an absolute must visit if you are in Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen and craving authentic Italian food. After dinner, practice the Italian ritual of “passeggiata”, a cherished tradition that roughly translates to taking a “little walk” in the evening. Take a stroll around the charming Village of Pinehurst and then have a drink at any of the area bars.