Villa Roma

Villa Roma Restaurant Review:

Tucked away in a strip mall in South Orange County, this restaurant may be considered off the beaten path by those who rarely traverse past the El Toro Y. However, those who do make it to this Laguna Hills venue will be in for quite the find. Villa Roma’s warm, earth-toned space sets the stage for executive chef-owner Leo Razo and his wife, Teresa, to tap into their Argentine roots --- as well as that country’s underrated Italian influence --- by putting forth a dining experience that nicely blends the two culinary motifs. The fusion fun begins in the first course, where a caprese salad and calamari with marinara sauce coexist with beef empanadas, grilled blood sausage, and tasty grilled sweetbreads. Guests who want Italian may order entrées of pillowy gnocchi or the linguine with fresh clams in a red or white wine sauce, while grilled items such as the tender skirt steak or flap meat deftly cover the Argentinean side of things. Traditional desserts like flan and a nice selection of wines round out the meal. On weekends, the place comes alive with dancing and music ranging from exuberant salsa to cool Latin jazz.