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Villa Castrioti opens a second location; take a look
Ever wonder why the pizza is so good at Villa Castrioti?
It’s because this popular Cordova Italian restaurant got its start as a pizza by the slice joint in the Hickory Ridge Mall. Since that humble beginning in 1981, serving great pizza has been a tradition that the restaurant kept since opening in 1990.
Today, Villa Castrioti is known for more than just its stone-oven baked pizzas. Elevated classic Italian dishes made with fresh ingredients have customers returning to the restaurant at 714 N. Germantown Parkway on a regular basis.
“What makes Villa Castrioti so special is not only the freshly made sauces that accompany our entrees, but the familiar friendly faces that everyone knows when you return,” said owner Brian Leith.
Now, residents of Lakeland and the surrounding area will have a chance to enjoy Villa Castrioti’s fine Italian fare and welcoming hospitality in their own neighborhood.
A second location of the restaurant opens Dec. 23 at 9861 District Drive in Lakeland’s Lake District.
“When we were approached by the Lake District development team about opening a second location for Villa Castrioti, we were very excited about the opportunity to expand and grow our business that has been operating in the Memphis area for 40 plus years,” said Leith. “This was during Covid when the future wasn’t so certain for our industry, but we decided to take the chance!”
A modern take on an old world Italian vibe
Interior designer Ann Parker of Parker Design Studio and architect Christopher Schmidt of CS Studio worked with the restaurant owners to create a new restaurant that reflected the original Cordova location
The new restaurant is similar in size to the original location and seats 155 guests. Parker said they intentionally designed the restaurant to have several dining experiences depending on the party size, making the space flexible to seat a group and able to shift it around for a quiet party of two.
“The dining has many layers to quiet the experience but keep it comfortable and still be causal,” said
Parker. “It’s a modern take on old world Italian vibe. It’s cozy and open at the same time.”
As this restaurant group grows, Parker, who also led the recent remodel of the Cordova restaurant, said she has taken a few cues from the original to keep the new restaurants all visually related.
One key element is the mural designed by Jamond Bullock of Alive Paint. This Memphis artist also painted the mural at the bar in the Cordova restaurant.
Titled “Two Lands,” the mural that is the focal point of the bar was inspired by the restaurant’s Albanian and Italian roots.
The restaurant was founded by Adam and Julie Papraniku, who then sold it to the current owners Brian Leith and Aron Pullen in 2020.
“The original owners of The Villa Castrioti are an Albanian family that cooked Italian cuisine. In the design are Albanian symbols that connect the space to the family’s origins like the red poppy, which is the national flower of Albania, and the historic hero of the country, Gjergi Kastrioti,” said Bullock.
You can’t miss some of the iconic symbols like the large portrait of Marlon Brando as the Godfather. Inside his portrait is a scene capturing the serene landscape of both Albania and Italy.
Italian actress Monica Belluci is also featured in the mural, while Sophia Loren takes center stage in the mural in Cordova.
In addition to the main dining room and the bar, guests can also dine al fresco at the restaurant’s all-season patio that has infrared heaters and fans.
Italian specialties Villa Castrioti style
Joe Clarke, the Lakeland restaurant’s general manager, said the menu will be the same at both locations.
Guests will still be able to order veal of chicken scaloppini just like they want it – choosing from nine preparations that range from Piccata with lemon garlic butter and capers to Cacciatore with a marsala wine sauce, marinara, red bell peppers, onions and mushrooms.
Also on the menu are all the Italian
classics – dishes like manicotti, chicken parmigiana, and baked ziti.
The restaurant also offers an extensive seafood selection, including dishes like seafood risotto and linguini with clam sauce.
They also offer two lobster dishes – lobster Newberg and a Maine lobster tail dinner with two lobster tails.
Clarke said that he thinks that Villa Castrioti’s steaks are some of the best in town. Filets come cooked to order with a Marsala wine sauce. You can also order a châteaubriand for two, a cut not often found on menus in Memphis.
And you can’t forget the pizzas that started it all. Guests can choose from a 12-inch or 16-inch size.
The move East
Clarke said that the Villa Castrioti family is excited and happy to be opening in its new location, adding that the restaurant offers something for everyone.
“It’s all about community. It should feel like you are at home when in our dining room,” said Clarke. “You can stop by for a quick meal like a pizza and an iced tea, or come in for a fancy dinner that includes a steak and a bottle of wine.”
The restaurant will initially open for dinner only. Lunch will be added in the coming months.
ing Reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.