Gorgeous rooms, capable of hosting private parties at any time. The owner and servers are excellent and the food is wonderful authentic italian cuisine. I provided the music for a private party here yesterday and it was excellent. And a big plus is that the family felt safe with lots of kids moving around between tables.
I've been here twice. The bread is really good. The food is really bland. I kept having to add pepper and cheese to my pasta dish and even still it did not taste very good at all. The sign outside always confuses me too. I think it says panini cafe on it. The first time I saw it I thought it was a sandwich shop. I wouldn't return. There are better places around.
(2)
Tony T.
I have been to this place probably ten times, I love the decor the service is great and so is the food if you get a chance go to one of there dinner dance things it's like $50 dollars has like a four course meal and all u can drink beer wine or soda when we went the two times they also had a live band and dancing the whole group of 12 had a blast I enjoy the heck out of the food but it is and I can say this being Italian myself a ginzos dream they are a lil pricey but I feel it's worth every penny btw Pino the owner/chef is a sweetheart bring your date to dinner there spend a little money and pino actually comes to your table and makes sure things are 100% while he speaks itailian to you love it puts the icing on the cake try them out you won't be diss appointed :)
(4)
Chris I.
Having just moved to the neighborhood the fiance and I were looking for a nice restaurant to try in the new hood. I had been having a craving for food from the motherland so we decided to try Villa Gaia. Great spot with a nice sized bar and dining room and a room on the other side of the place for private parties. ( they were having one that night but I don't know if it too is for seating when not in use for parties) We were greeted warmly right away and the atmosphere was very family like. Seemed that most of the people there were regulars and new the owners who were always around to make sure everyone was enjoying their meals. Drinks were ordered and the bartender has a heavy hand when pouring which is always nice for us that like the spirits. We were starved so we decided to get some appetizers of stuffed calamari and baked clams. Both had great flavor and were large portions but if I;m being honest here I'd say the calamari was slightly overcooked and the clams just a tad under cooked. but overall still great. For our entrees I got the a pork chop special and the fiance got chicken francaise . The chicken francaise was great it had nice flavor and the chicken was cooked well. My Pork chop was really great. Aside from it being huge, it was topped with spinach, prosciutto and mozzarella all in a nice brown sauce. Cooked to perfection, I made sure I finished it all ( as I was instructed to do so my the chef/owner.... little does he know that's never a problem for me) We capped the night off with a double espresso and a tatrufo ( or bomba as they call it) I was happy that for our first meal in the new town we picked a good one. We will definitely be back for some more, plus the y have an amazing looking pasta dish where they make it in a giant wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano. ( of course I will report once I try it!)
(4)
Judy G.
I threw my husband 30th birthday party there and it was the worse decision that I have ever made! The food and the service was ok however I payed for an open bar from 7 to 11 and the owners decided to cut everyone off at like 1020 ... This place is absolutely horrible and the owners are terrible business people ! They don't deserve the one star that I have gave them !
(1)
Sabina O.
I had a wonderful experience here. The staff is super friendly and the food is delicious. We stumbled on this place on a Tuesday night and really lucked out because it was Pasta night. The prices were unreal! I was with some pretty picky eaters and our waitress was more than accommodating and pretty much allowed all of us to order off the menu. The owner came by and checked on us, which really made it a special experience. Veramente delizioso! Grazie mille Villa Gaia per una notte indimenticabile!
(5)
Bella P.
Uggh would never go back, so funny how there's not ONE bad review... Really? This place should post who they use to erase the truth lol.
(1)
Margaret L.
We went with friends last night to Villa Gaia for the first time. As Italians we are very critical of Italian restaurants, but Villa Gaia is one of the "Best" Italian restaurants around. What a special restaurant, from the friendliness of the owner and staff, to the food so delicious it was like eating in my grandma's kitchen. Definitely go with the evening specials, they are especially delicious! We will definitely be making a return trip for some very authentic and delicious Italian food!
(5)
Erica D.
We went a few weeks ago for their pasta night. I picked up my glass and there was lipstick on it. ICK. So, I looked at my boyfriend's glass...YES, lipstick on his too!! Don't they clean the rims of the glasses??? GROSS. That alone would make me not want to return but I will go on.... Atmosphere: Very cute...old school Italian. I liked it. Service: It was OK. Our waiter wasn't very friendly (which is surprising based on the reviews). Someone else (maybe the owner?) came over to the table to see how things were and he was very friendly. Food: Loved the bread and absolutely LOVED the olive oil and spices they put down for us to dip the bread in. The entrees were good...not amazing. Dessert was awful. It was included in the price and I swear I think they just cut up a birthday cake that was leftover. There is just NO comparison between Mama's in Amityville and this place. Mama's beats them on every count (except the bread/olive oil). I kept going back between 2 and 3 stars. I really wanted to give it 2 stars because the lipstick was so gross (I mean, if it was just one glass, I could have over looked it as a fluke...but two on one table? And it wasn't even smudged. They were perfect lipstick prints...which made me feel like a sponge had barely touched the glass. I would love to have checked all the other tables to see how many more I would have found...) But the food wasn't bad so I didn't want to ruin their rating. I wouldn't go back...I am sticking with Mamas.
(3)
Debbie B.
We came to villa gaia the first time, because we had a coupon for lobster! We have been back numerous times, bring different family and friends to enjoy the great food,,and atmosphere! We especially love "Italian night", set pricing for FULL dinner and music and dancing! The staff is great, always attentive. They make you feel like family! We will be going to the Gala tonite, New Years Eve!...review to follow! Highly recommended!
(5)
Kaitlyn F.
So happy my family found this place. I live in lindenhurst but have never been to this restaurant until last night. We were a party of 18 and everyone enjoyed the food last night. Let me first off say that the staff was so nice and accommodating. We went here in between the 2 services of my grandmothers wake. Me and my mother were nervous because we were on a limited time crunch and we wanted everyone to enjoy their food. It was honestly so great, the flow of the meal was perfect. No one was rushed which was wonderful because we had drinks, appetizers, entrees, coffee and cake. There are so many different plates that everyone got that i can't review all of them but not 1 person had a bad thing to say about it. I had the calamari which was really good. The rings were huge. Then I had the penne ala vodka which was also great. The sauce was very good. The cake they served us was very light and airy which I also enjoyed a lot. Overall was a really great experience and I wanted to thank villa Gaia for making a very stressful day into a nice enjoyable break from that. Thank you.
(5)
William P.
Great service, excellent food, and overall a very neighborhood-type restaurant hospitality that reminded me of being back home in Howard Beach. I surely recommend dinner here and a stop at the bar area for a drink.
(4)
Mike L.
We decided to give this place a whirl with some family, we have been back more times then I can count at this point. Pino the owner is a real class act, and will make any food to your liking. He also will come out sporadically to check on weather everything was to your taste or what not. The portions are great, the food is terrific, and the restaurant was renovated very nicely. We've had many dishes here, but a few of the stand outs are: White Clam Sauce, Stuffed Artichokes, and the Fried Calamari. They also have a great deal where on Tues. and Wed. of each week you get an appetizer or salad, main course, dessert, and a coffee or tea for a $11.99 I believe? The waiters are always very nice, and the owner and most of the staff speak Italian, or are straight off the boat. So they will always try and humor me with my limited vocabulary. This is a great choice if you are looking for a new Italian restaurant to check out.
(5)
Billy D.
Very good food some are betters than others. Calamari is bad don't doubt the reviews like I did, it's a waste of money.
(4)
Rob W.
This is one of my favorite place. The food and staff are the best!!
(5)
Mike C.
What an elegant dining experience w/ an excellent atmosphere & superb food. Nothing corporate about this place -- its ran by real Italians who have seemed to focus on the little things when it came to the food & the service and that makes this place a gem. I highly recommend you give this place a go one evening & see what I mean.
(4)
Solange P.
Excellent food and friendly environment. Always a good experience.
(5)
James P.
Very good, upscale; a little price. Good place to take your Honey for a date.
Barr H.
Gorgeous rooms, capable of hosting private parties at any time. The owner and servers are excellent and the food is wonderful authentic italian cuisine. I provided the music for a private party here yesterday and it was excellent. And a big plus is that the family felt safe with lots of kids moving around between tables.
(5)Amanda K R.
A lil pit stop after work. Warm the heart and the stomach. The minestrone is a must have when I come here. Never disappoints! Saluté
(5)Katrina I.
I've been here twice. The bread is really good. The food is really bland. I kept having to add pepper and cheese to my pasta dish and even still it did not taste very good at all. The sign outside always confuses me too. I think it says panini cafe on it. The first time I saw it I thought it was a sandwich shop. I wouldn't return. There are better places around.
(2)Tony T.
I have been to this place probably ten times, I love the decor the service is great and so is the food if you get a chance go to one of there dinner dance things it's like $50 dollars has like a four course meal and all u can drink beer wine or soda when we went the two times they also had a live band and dancing the whole group of 12 had a blast I enjoy the heck out of the food but it is and I can say this being Italian myself a ginzos dream they are a lil pricey but I feel it's worth every penny btw Pino the owner/chef is a sweetheart bring your date to dinner there spend a little money and pino actually comes to your table and makes sure things are 100% while he speaks itailian to you love it puts the icing on the cake try them out you won't be diss appointed :)
(4)Chris I.
Having just moved to the neighborhood the fiance and I were looking for a nice restaurant to try in the new hood. I had been having a craving for food from the motherland so we decided to try Villa Gaia. Great spot with a nice sized bar and dining room and a room on the other side of the place for private parties. ( they were having one that night but I don't know if it too is for seating when not in use for parties) We were greeted warmly right away and the atmosphere was very family like. Seemed that most of the people there were regulars and new the owners who were always around to make sure everyone was enjoying their meals. Drinks were ordered and the bartender has a heavy hand when pouring which is always nice for us that like the spirits. We were starved so we decided to get some appetizers of stuffed calamari and baked clams. Both had great flavor and were large portions but if I;m being honest here I'd say the calamari was slightly overcooked and the clams just a tad under cooked. but overall still great. For our entrees I got the a pork chop special and the fiance got chicken francaise . The chicken francaise was great it had nice flavor and the chicken was cooked well. My Pork chop was really great. Aside from it being huge, it was topped with spinach, prosciutto and mozzarella all in a nice brown sauce. Cooked to perfection, I made sure I finished it all ( as I was instructed to do so my the chef/owner.... little does he know that's never a problem for me) We capped the night off with a double espresso and a tatrufo ( or bomba as they call it) I was happy that for our first meal in the new town we picked a good one. We will definitely be back for some more, plus the y have an amazing looking pasta dish where they make it in a giant wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano. ( of course I will report once I try it!)
(4)Judy G.
I threw my husband 30th birthday party there and it was the worse decision that I have ever made! The food and the service was ok however I payed for an open bar from 7 to 11 and the owners decided to cut everyone off at like 1020 ... This place is absolutely horrible and the owners are terrible business people ! They don't deserve the one star that I have gave them !
(1)Sabina O.
I had a wonderful experience here. The staff is super friendly and the food is delicious. We stumbled on this place on a Tuesday night and really lucked out because it was Pasta night. The prices were unreal! I was with some pretty picky eaters and our waitress was more than accommodating and pretty much allowed all of us to order off the menu. The owner came by and checked on us, which really made it a special experience. Veramente delizioso! Grazie mille Villa Gaia per una notte indimenticabile!
(5)Bella P.
Uggh would never go back, so funny how there's not ONE bad review... Really? This place should post who they use to erase the truth lol.
(1)Margaret L.
We went with friends last night to Villa Gaia for the first time. As Italians we are very critical of Italian restaurants, but Villa Gaia is one of the "Best" Italian restaurants around. What a special restaurant, from the friendliness of the owner and staff, to the food so delicious it was like eating in my grandma's kitchen. Definitely go with the evening specials, they are especially delicious! We will definitely be making a return trip for some very authentic and delicious Italian food!
(5)Erica D.
We went a few weeks ago for their pasta night. I picked up my glass and there was lipstick on it. ICK. So, I looked at my boyfriend's glass...YES, lipstick on his too!! Don't they clean the rims of the glasses??? GROSS. That alone would make me not want to return but I will go on.... Atmosphere: Very cute...old school Italian. I liked it. Service: It was OK. Our waiter wasn't very friendly (which is surprising based on the reviews). Someone else (maybe the owner?) came over to the table to see how things were and he was very friendly. Food: Loved the bread and absolutely LOVED the olive oil and spices they put down for us to dip the bread in. The entrees were good...not amazing. Dessert was awful. It was included in the price and I swear I think they just cut up a birthday cake that was leftover. There is just NO comparison between Mama's in Amityville and this place. Mama's beats them on every count (except the bread/olive oil). I kept going back between 2 and 3 stars. I really wanted to give it 2 stars because the lipstick was so gross (I mean, if it was just one glass, I could have over looked it as a fluke...but two on one table? And it wasn't even smudged. They were perfect lipstick prints...which made me feel like a sponge had barely touched the glass. I would love to have checked all the other tables to see how many more I would have found...) But the food wasn't bad so I didn't want to ruin their rating. I wouldn't go back...I am sticking with Mamas.
(3)Debbie B.
We came to villa gaia the first time, because we had a coupon for lobster! We have been back numerous times, bring different family and friends to enjoy the great food,,and atmosphere! We especially love "Italian night", set pricing for FULL dinner and music and dancing! The staff is great, always attentive. They make you feel like family! We will be going to the Gala tonite, New Years Eve!...review to follow! Highly recommended!
(5)Kaitlyn F.
So happy my family found this place. I live in lindenhurst but have never been to this restaurant until last night. We were a party of 18 and everyone enjoyed the food last night. Let me first off say that the staff was so nice and accommodating. We went here in between the 2 services of my grandmothers wake. Me and my mother were nervous because we were on a limited time crunch and we wanted everyone to enjoy their food. It was honestly so great, the flow of the meal was perfect. No one was rushed which was wonderful because we had drinks, appetizers, entrees, coffee and cake. There are so many different plates that everyone got that i can't review all of them but not 1 person had a bad thing to say about it. I had the calamari which was really good. The rings were huge. Then I had the penne ala vodka which was also great. The sauce was very good. The cake they served us was very light and airy which I also enjoyed a lot. Overall was a really great experience and I wanted to thank villa Gaia for making a very stressful day into a nice enjoyable break from that. Thank you.
(5)William P.
Great service, excellent food, and overall a very neighborhood-type restaurant hospitality that reminded me of being back home in Howard Beach. I surely recommend dinner here and a stop at the bar area for a drink.
(4)Mike L.
We decided to give this place a whirl with some family, we have been back more times then I can count at this point. Pino the owner is a real class act, and will make any food to your liking. He also will come out sporadically to check on weather everything was to your taste or what not. The portions are great, the food is terrific, and the restaurant was renovated very nicely. We've had many dishes here, but a few of the stand outs are: White Clam Sauce, Stuffed Artichokes, and the Fried Calamari. They also have a great deal where on Tues. and Wed. of each week you get an appetizer or salad, main course, dessert, and a coffee or tea for a $11.99 I believe? The waiters are always very nice, and the owner and most of the staff speak Italian, or are straight off the boat. So they will always try and humor me with my limited vocabulary. This is a great choice if you are looking for a new Italian restaurant to check out.
(5)Billy D.
Very good food some are betters than others. Calamari is bad don't doubt the reviews like I did, it's a waste of money.
(4)Rob W.
This is one of my favorite place. The food and staff are the best!!
(5)Mike C.
What an elegant dining experience w/ an excellent atmosphere & superb food. Nothing corporate about this place -- its ran by real Italians who have seemed to focus on the little things when it came to the food & the service and that makes this place a gem. I highly recommend you give this place a go one evening & see what I mean.
(4)Solange P.
Excellent food and friendly environment. Always a good experience.
(5)James P.
Very good, upscale; a little price. Good place to take your Honey for a date.
(4)