Villa Castrioti - Cordova — Restaurant in Memphis

It wasn't that the food was nasty, but the disregard to strive for good customer service was highly disappointing. While I understand that accommodations for a large party can become hectic at times, there is no excuse to make people feel less than due to their skin tone. To sum up our visit briefly, we ordered first in a group of about 25 people. The entire group had finished their food, as we sat still waiting. When asking the female server about our order, she stated with an elevated and irritated tone that the orders came out based on how the ticket was submitted (remember we had ordered 1st & our party had completed their meal). We responded advising her that we had indeed ordered 1st and had been waiting for over 45-mins. To my surprise, the male manager responded with "you all have not been waiting 45-mins (take notice to my bill at 6:19p... we arrived exactly at 4pm & I boxed the majority of my food since my party had finished eating). When I did receive my order, my steak was charred and the lobster was ice cold, although I was very specific on well-done butterfly no char!! Mistakes happen, so I didn't make a fuss about it, but I did decline on ordering more cocktails becauseit was apparent that the staff members catered with care the other group whom I will say didn't share a similar skintone as myself.... I receive the bill, and it included a $50.13 tip for that horrific service!!!! Absolutely NOT! #EXTREMELY LATE BURNED & COLD FOOD, AS WELL AS RUDE FEMALE SERVER & MALE MANAGER. I approached the manager after waiting for 10 additional minutes to be approached about paying my bill, and I let him know that I would pay for my entire check with no issue, but I would not pay that absurd tip for 2 (my check only included my spouse and self). I even told him that leaving a tip was definitely appropriate, but i wouod decide the amount, given this ridiculous experience. I could see this man's jawline moving as if he was gritting his teeth. His respond was "I'll have to call my GM for this." My steak meal was ultimately removed, but I expressed to him SEVERAL times beforehand that I wasn't looking for a discount. I was looking for the same level of courtesy and respect he was given to the patrons that were not of color. My initial check was $300, and had they had a bit more tact about themselves, we nay have doubled that by patronizing. I don't spend my money where it's apparent we aren't wanted, and I have NEVER in life felt racially discriminated against.

P.S. his excuse after he saw I wasn't backing down on my stance was that well-done means char.... I am a regular at Ruth's Chris and Folks Folly, and they get it right EVERYTIME! That is the purpose of butterfly...

I am so disappointed in this restaurant.. NYE was our 2nd visit and likely my last. I don’t understand why people continue to choose this restaurant and rave about it. Overall, the food isn’t good and certainly not worth the price.

First, I will say the Shrimp Scampi appetizer was really good. $14 for 4 shrimp is overpriced, but the sauce made you forget. Unfortunately, the service was (again) really slow so you’ll have plenty of time to think about it between courses.

Secondly, we have yet to be able to order a pizza- so maybe (just maybe) we’ll return for the shrimp scampi and hopefully the pizza oven will work.

On to the food- for dinner we ordered the veal Marsala With a side of spaghetti (you get a choice of spaghetti with meat or red sauce/ or spinach) and the cannelloni. The cannelloni was okay- but it didn’t taste like authentic cannelloni. Honestly, it tasted like an enchilada with marinara sauce smothered in white cheese sauce. It wasn’t bad, but that’s not cannelloni.

Now to the veal Marsala with mushrooms, such a disappointment. I was so excited to see veal on a menu again in Cordova and would gladly pay $31 for veal. Just not here— ever again.

First, the “Marsala” wine sauce wasn’t Marsala wine sauce. It smelled, tasted, and looked like brown gravy. Folks, it’s brown gravy. And super, watery thin. It was gross.

The veal was overcooked so much it tasted like cube steak. Overdone cube steak. At this point, my date could tell how sad I was and offered to trade his Italian enchilada for my cube steak in brown gravy. Honestly, I planned to bring it home to my dogs. I can’t believe I paid $100 for such horrible food.

Now the side of spaghetti was okay. But you can go to Olive Garden for better pasta, better bread, and more wine choices.

For dessert, our waitress tried to talk us into ice cream with fruit cocktail (which.. no thanks) so we opted for tiramisu instead. The tiramisu was good but not really a shareable portion and there’s better down the street. If you’re looking for authentic Italian- DO NOT go here. Drive down 3 more blocks to Crazy Italians (by Petco) for amazing pasta dishes and the best tiramisu (I recommend getting a scoop of house made gelato as well) for, at least, half the prices here.

If you want more options, less authenticity- go to Olive Garden.

If you want overpriced but worth-it-every-now-and-then shrimp scampi? Well, then stop by this place. Otherwise, don’t fall for the hype of this place. It’s not good and I feel sorry for the regulars who aren’t willing to try much, much...

First let me say that the people cooking were NOT wearing a mask, half of the other employees were wearing theirs improperly. The Service is VERY slow, drinks were not filled with alacrity, the Server was nowhere to be found when you wanted him, He did not get our drinks to us quickly after being seated, and even though we were told that we needed a reservation, we were not in the main dining room, were stuck in some little corner and, out of sight out of mind... When our order was taken, and our drinks were finally delivered to our tables, we ordered the mozzarella bread, EXCELLENT! I ordered the cannelloni castrioti, because I really wanted to try it and hoped for a place with decent pasta. While it was nice and cheesy with a nice marinara sauce on the outside, the filling was completely dry and lacked flavor! It needed garlic, onions, salt pepper, herbs and spices, and some sauce! It was terrible! My wife ordered the Chicken albanese, which was magnificent! She got a side of fettuccini alfredo, which came out greasy and with a sauce that had SEPARATED! I can't believe that it was even served! NASTY! Meanwhile, our glasses sit empty while the Server talks to the guy cooking pizzas! When he finally checks in, we ordered dessert, which of course is tiramisu. It was still frozen, it was very good, which leads me to believe that it's from Lucchesi's. It taste EXACTLY like theirs and it was frozen... Yes, I will return, and hope that the Service is better and that the food is a lot more consistent! I have worked in the restaurant industry (Sous Chef), and I really hope that this review is seen by them and that they can make the necessary improvements! I will try it again and give an addendum to my review. Tell them Chef...