Villaggio Ristorante & Bar — Restaurant in Pinehurst

Pros: the ambiance was cozy and gave silent luxury vibes; the noise level was lower than most restaurants; the menu selection was good even if the execution was a bit off; the homemade pastas were the best thing there; and the Steak had a great flavor but had the consistency of a thick roast even though it was undercooked. Everyone has their off days, and I would give them another shot BUT…

Cons: the service was horrid on a level I’ve never witnessed. The hostess, the bussers, and the manager, Layton, were truly kind and helpful. Our server, however, was unbelievably rude and condescending. She would run off without listening, make snide comments about what we could afford, and treated my parents as if they were not worthy to breathe the same air. She was a terrible server even without the attitude. Didn’t listen to our orders and we had to confirm, she wouldn’t refill our drinks and when we asked she snapped that she had the teas brewing. There were many issues with the food but she didn’t bother to ask. When it was over and we were salvaging our celebratory meal with dessert, she literally jerked the bill out from under my husbands forearm (we hadn’t even signed yet) and made a comment designed to show her displeasure at us not leaving the moment the bill was placed on the table.

We were just going to leave and not say anything, but one of the bus ladies informed the manager and she came over as we were leaving. The manager was so nice and genuine, but she wanted us to prove how bad the waitress was and it was more energy to relive the last long 2 hours (waiting for the food took about an hour) than it was to just let it go. The manager did offer for us to come back and give her a call so we could have a better experience. No amends were made and that’s ok. I still left a 15% tip because I refuse to not tip (I usually start at 20%). It was one of those experiences that start off lovely and end up as if you just left the twlight zone after going...

If you’re considering dining at Villaggio in Pinehurst, allow me to save you the trouble with a simple acronym: D.U.M.P

D – Disgraceful Service From the moment we walked in, we were treated like an inconvenience rather than guests. The hostess barely looked up, and the waiter made us feel like he was doing us a favor by showing up. Requests were met with sighs, eye rolls, tossing menus, and an astonishing absence of urgency.

U – Unbelievably Rude Staff Our waiter had all the charm of a DMV clerk on a Monday morning. No greeting, no recommendations, just cold indifference. At one point, when we declined ordering desert, she rudely scoffed and immediately grabbed the menus.

M – Mutilated Calamari & Mystery Bolognese The calamari came out as charred, rubbery rings that tasted like they’d been cremated next to a campfire. As for the bolognese? It had the bizarre, faintly metallic taste of a La Croix meatball—as if someone thought about adding beef and then got distracted by a bubble bath. Zero depth, zero flavor.

P – Pathetic Ravioli Filling The “Filet Mignon Ravioli” should be sued for false advertising. Inside each pillow was a mystery paste that might’ve been beef… three cows ago. Certainly no trace of filet. It was like biting into sadness wrapped in pasta.

Final Verdict:

If you’re looking for overpriced disappointment with a side of burnt seafood and a dash of culinary gaslighting, Villaggio is your spot. Otherwise, do your taste buds a favor and dine literally anywhere else.

Rating: ⭐ (only because zero...

Not a great experience. Our server, who was also the bartender, seemed overwhelmed despite only having a couple of people at the bar. We were her first table, but after our appetizer, when a second table was sat in her section, she never checked on us again.

My friend took her suggestion and ordered the chicken piccata over pasta. She clarified that vegetables wouldn’t come with it if she chose pasta, and she specifically asked for fettuccine—but the dish came out with spaghetti instead. No one was available to address it, and we had to flag her down just to ask for it to be boxed. When we mentioned the wrong pasta, the server admitted, “Yes it is, I should’ve checked on you earlier.” To top it off, the bill included an unexpected $8 charge for the pasta substitution, which was never disclosed. When we questioned it, she said, “Oh, I should’ve told you they charge a little more if you put it over pasta.” So… no veggies, the wrong pasta, and an $8 surprise fee for PASTA we didn’t even want. She didn’t offer to fix anything, just kept saying, “Thanks so much for being patient and kind,” and promised to hook us up with “free wine samples next time.”

We understand she may have been the only bartender working, but if that’s the case, management should really consider hiring a barback or offering support—because there were too many preventable mistakes. We left feeling disappointed, overcharged, and insulted by the attempt to smooth things over with future “wine samples.” No thanks. Won’t be back again. Food...