By Colleen Leidner
Located in The Wharf of Orange Beach, Alabama, Villaggio Grille is a chic Italian restaurant perfect for a stop during a tournament or a boat show. As one of four restaurants in The Wharf owned by Ginny and Lane Gilbert, there are plenty of events happening at any given time, with specials that change every week.
“There’s definitely always something different going on,” says Front of House Manager Anna Trawick. Villaggio Grille’s sister restaurant Ginny Lane, named after the owners, was opened in 2005. Villaggio Grille opened in 2006, with the addition of Mile Marker 58, Yoho Rum & Tacos and Boat Bar following closely thereafter. Incidentally, Boat Bar is where all the weighing is done for The Wharf’s tournaments.
“All our restaurants are in the corner of where they do weigh-ins in the circle of The Wharf, which is the middle of where everything happens with the tournaments,” Trawick says. “We get quite the bustle around that time.”
In Time With the Tournaments
There are three big tournaments that happen in The Wharf: The Invitational at the beginning of May, the Orange Beach Billfish Classic at the end of May and the Blue Marlin Grand Championship of the Gulf in mid-July. There are also two boat shows in the area and on the coast, held in the spring and the fall.
“And on top of all that, Orange Beach and the Gulf shore are built on the charters and tourist hubs, so there we see fishermen and captains in the Grille all the time,” Trawick adds.
Villaggio Grille Specials and Events
In the same way the fishing and boating events vary throughout the year, the menu at Villaggio Grille varies by week. A special they always have running is the Hook ‘n’ Cook, where anglers can bring their catch in and ask for it to be prepared a specific way—it runs for $30, with two to three sides or the oyster trio. The oysters are prepared prosciutto Rockefeller, gorgonzola and shallot, manchego and jalapeño, while the platter comes with three of each.
“We try to source local where we can. Sometimes that’s easier than other times,” Trawick says. “But primarily the fish and oysters are local.”
For large events, pre-planned wine dinners in the private dining room that holds up to 80 are a favorite. There will often be wedding receptions or Mardi Gras balls that happen there as well. In addition to Villaggio Grille’s brunch and dinner, there is a full bar and wine menu offering house cocktails, beer, wine and everything in between. The restaurant was even awarded the Wine Spectator Award ten years in a row, a considerable feat within the restaurant industry. While Villaggio Grille specializes in Italian fusion, there are also plenty of other options for eating. They are well known for their “flats,” which are pizzas made fresh from scratch.
Whether for an event, a tournament or just stopping in while in the Gulf, Villaggio Grille is a restaurant worth looking into for some sophisticated eating.
Leave a Reply