Trattoria Villagio, The Silva Family's Italian Trattoria in the Former Heart In Hand Space in Clifton

[wrash]

Trattoria Villagio has been open for a couple of weeks in downtown Clifton. It's on Main St. across the tracks and across the street from Trummers on Main. I went to the soft opening and found mostly good food surrounded by chaos. It was even more disorganized that most soft openings. The dishes were mostly successful, but the Calamarato Pasta needed work. It arrived cold with the pasta underdone (we're talking pre-al dente here), so they tried again, and the second try was the same. Reverted to the safer Spaghetti Carbanata, which was very good. The pasta was clearly house made, the sauce quite good. The wine list is well chosen and reasonably priced, the drinks are well made. They claim that this was designed to look like an Italian rail station. I've been in a lot of railway stations in Italy, but this version is far too clean and orderly to really look like one. This is just as well since I don't think I'd like to eat in the main station in Gaeta, for example.

If you find yourself in Clifton, it's worth a stop. There's also an attached market that has nice Italian groceries, but only in a limited supply. The market also sells carry out pizza.

I plan to go back.

Wayne Rash

[DonRocks]

Trattoria Villagio has been open for a couple of weeks in downtown Clifton. 

[it's kind of embarrassing saying "Italian Trattoria" in the title (as opposed to a, uh, Norwegian Trattoria), but ... <shoulder shrug>.]

[KoolPaw]

Wine Dinner tonight! Click here for details.

[dgreen]

Went her for lunch. Food was solid. Wife and I shared the Shrimp Badda Bing and one of the pizzas (artichoke, mushroom, olives, and ham). Both were good. The shrimp was an appetizer but larger than we expected. The pizzas are sized for one, but are a good size too.  Definitely not on the level of some the areas best pizzas, but still good.

I really liked the set up and the decor. Good atmosphere. The courtyard looks like it will be a great place to have an outdoor meal once they open it. You can also check out the market and pizza oven connected next door. The lady today said they import most of their market items from Italy and some from France. They'll start pizza delivery in a month or so to approximately a five-mile radius (which won't cover much since it's a sparsely populated area).

[B.A.R.]

We've poked our head in a couple of times and admired the handsome decor, but never had time to eat there (or even grab a drink). That's going to change.

After a long week we threw the kids in the car and headed to Clifton last night, looking to get a cocktail and dinner while the kids had their heart set on a nice pizza margherita. The dining room is handsome, with a nice bar and, off to the left, a little salami, cheese and antipasta prep area. It really was a charming little restaurant. We wanted to sit outside, and were graciously accommodated. A quick trip down the halll and out the doors led to a spacious courtyard designed to look like an Italian Piazza with the walls decorated like different buildings. I generally hate such kitsch, and it looked less like a real small Italian village square and more like one envisioned by Restoration Hardware. But it worked, and was cute and quaint and perfect. There's a large fireplace surrounded by sofas, several fountains, and even a small bar tucked into a corner that I intend become a fixture at!

The food is good, nothing that will blow your mind,  but well prepared. Word of note: they do not serve pizza in the restaurant at night!!!!!! They stopped when the pizza oven proved too small to handle the demands of the pizza cafe, carry out, and the restaurant. It's a prudent move, as there's plenty of offerings on the regular menu. We had an order of lasagna, tagliatelle bolognese, gnocchi, and appes of mussels, arugula salad, and artichoke hearts. The pasta's were indeed fresh and perfectly cooked. My daughters bolognese sauce had great porkiness to it with flavors of fennel. My gnocchi was pillowy and light, none of the heavy, gluey characteristics one often encounters in gnocchi. I really appreciated my server proactively telling me the pumpkin raviois are decidedly sweet, not savory. And he was most gracious when my wife sent back her glass moscato d'asti when she meant to point to the glass of prosecco on the menu.

We'll be back often, not only because service was great and the food was very solid, but because our bill for 1 cocktail, 4 glasses of wine, three appetizers and three entrees came up to $101 - a relative bargain in a great atmosphere.

[ulrath]

Family was in town for Clifton Day.  The pizza cafe was selling slices of pizza to the teeming masses.  In an effort to calm a grumpy three year old I bought a couple slices.  Just want to say that it was probably one of the top slices of pizza I have had in Northern Virginia.

Word must have gotten out because when I swung by to get another slice, the line had tripled.  Now I need an excuse to get to Clifton.

[ulrath]

We had my son's birthday party last week.  We ordered pizza from Paisanos (A step above some of the local options) and of course over-ordered so we had been eating Pizza for a week.  I was sick of Pizza.  Really sick of pizza.  Fast forward to Saturday.  I had a baseball game in Clifton (Really it is Centreville but they call themselves Clifton).  Sick of pizza or no, I was close so I made the trip.  I bought a fresh regular pepperoni pizza for carry out and went across the street for ice cream and had pizza and milkshakes with my boy.

It's cooked in a wood oven and I don't know enough about pizza to know if it qualifies as NY style or not.  All I know is it is good.  Damned good.  So good that I am trying to rationalize another trip out there.  I will hazard to say that this is the best pizza I have had in NoVa.  Better than Tony's in Fairfax.  Better than Ciro's in Centreville.  Better than Church Street Pizza.  The sauce is excellent, the cheese is excellent.  The toppings are fresh, and seem to be of a higher quality.

They have a restaurant with other dishes.    I have not tried them.  By virtue of the pizza alone I would put this in italics in the dining guide.  If you live out that way and haven't gone yet.... go.  If you are going, take me with you.

[DonRocks]

By virtue of the pizza alone I would put this in italics in the dining guide.  If you live out that way and haven't gone yet.... go.  If you are going, take me with you.

[Noted. Anybody else?]

[Bob Wells]

It's cooked in a wood oven and I don't know enough about pizza to know if it qualifies as NY style or not.  All I know is it is good.  Damned good.  So good that I am trying to rationalize another trip out there.  I will hazard to say that this is the best pizza I have had in NoVa.  Better than Tony's in Fairfax.  Better than Ciro's in Centreville.  Better than Church Street Pizza.  The sauce is excellent, the cheese is excellent.  The toppings are fresh, and seem to be of a higher quality.

They have a restaurant with other dishes.    I have not tried them.  By virtue of the pizza alone I would put this in italics in the dining guide.  If you live out that way and haven't gone yet.... go.  If you are going, take me with you.

Ulrath: I noticed you didn't mention Ciao Osteria in Centreville. Have you tried it? I must say, damned good stuff, sir. (Inglourious Basterds reference)

[ulrath]

I have.  That is good, this is better.  

[B.A.R.]

[Noted. Anybody else?]

It can't be in Italics for the pizza alone, as the restaurant does not actually serve pizza.

Been there 1/2 dozen times and the food has always been solid, but not exceptional. Just pretty good. My wife was there Saturday night (because Trummer's was closed for a private party) but I did not ask her about the food. Can't comment on the pizza, because it is carry-out only