Villa Positano — Restaurant in Town of Monroe

We were in Monroe visiting some friends and afterwards stopped at Villa Positano to have dinner for the 1st time since it was recommended to us by a couple of people and they know we go out for Italian frequently. It was Saturday night at 7:30pm and the dinning room was about half full. We ordered 2 classic dinners, Chicken Francese and Chicken Sorrentina (Sorrentino in most other places) from the Menu. What we were served was very puzzling to us since we have been getting the same 2 entrees among others for 23 years at 7 or 8 other fine Italian restaurants in Orange County. First my Francese had NO lemon taste at all. Just a little brown sauce on the plate that tasted like Cherry Wine. I should also mention there was zero presentation, no garnish, just 3 thin pieces of chicken. I had my wife try it and she said there was no lemon taste at all, but it tasted the same as her Sorrentino which reminds her of Cherry wine. I tried hers and sure enough, tasted the same as my Francese (mine was not really a Francese sauce). It looks all they did was cook both of them in Cherry wine at the same time. Clearly whoever was in the kitchen did not know how to make Francese or Sorrentino sauce. I asked our server for some lemon and I squeezed some on my Francese at which time it started to taste a little like Francese, but was still missing something. Next the marinara sauce I had asked for my linguini tasted like plane tomato sauce and actually more like ketchup without the salt - extremely blant. Again I had my wife taste it and she said "is that ketchup?" So we were both in agreement on everything because I thought I was losing my mind or my taste buds with the lack of lemon on the francese, and now the marinara. The server said I must have gotten their "tomato sauce" instead of Marina (hmm.. they serve plain tomato sauce with nothing in it?). She brought out some Marinara sauce and it tasted mildly differently but better with a little more flavor. Our server was great, but I can't say the same for the Chef/cook or the food. Our food did not taste too bad, just tasted like Cherry wine and nothing else with both of them. Also my wife's chicken Sorrentino over linguini was very dry even though she asked for extra sauce specifically so that's it's not dry. She was eating dry linguini. FAIL on the food. If they can't get the Classic dishes right, we are afraid to go back to try the more expensive ones. Maybe the regular chef was out sick. I really hope so for their sake. Who has heard of Francese with no lemon and brown cherry wine sauce? They got the egg batter on the chicken right. I have to give them that but nothing tasted like...

Update 10/13/2022: Went here yesterday (10/12/2022) for my mom's birthday dinner. We went to the restaurant part again. We were surpirsed to see some full on booths that were located on the ends of the restaurant. We were sat at one of these booths too! Restaurant actually was a bit crowded, which is great to see! Next, our server greeted us and asked what we wanted for drinks. We all started with waters. My parents ordered titos with sprite. We started with the fried zucchini and eggplant parm appetizers. Apps came out in a timely manner. For entrees, I ordered the Linguni Frutti De Mare which was scallops, mussels, shrimp, and clams mixed in with pasta, my mom had a dish with sausage, chicken and broccoli rabe, and my dad had chicken soratina. i also had to ask what wines they had, and was recommended 14 hands wine by my server. Enjoyed it! Next, the food came out, and i gobbled down my seafood! took home the pasta as i didn't dig into the pasta. We all enjoyed our meals! next we got the check, paid with credit card, and btw this place doesn't charge for using credit cards. Hopefully we will be back soon! went here yesterday (10/12/21) for my mom's birthday dinner. This time, we went to the restaurant part. We were 3 people and didn't have to wait at all. we were seated as we got by the bar, and in a corner. Now what i don't really like about this place is that people aren't 6 feet apart. There was a table that was full with 4 people like sort of right next to us. Some people may want to still social distance a bit. Anyways, other then that, was served right away. Got waters, and some drinks. ordered the fried calamari and it was delicous! we also ordered the zuchini sticks, which were also good. next was our meal: i ordered mussels with maranara sauce (although it tasted like the fridilo sauce- which is fine, because it was still good.) my parents liked their food and we all took to go boxes home. probably will be back either for pizza or going to the...

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. HORRIFIC service. Called for delivery and they took our order. Girl on the phone was extremely rude and nasty the whole time. After we gave our credit info the girl told us they wouldn't be here until 215. It was 11 am. It would have been nice to know that before we ordered but we didn't complain and just asked to cancel the order as well as void our payment. The girl got mad, said "its fine. you'll get it at 215." We then asked politely again to have the order voided. She went "aye aye aye. wait a minute." then came back and said she could come at 1130.

By this time we were done with the service and just wanted a refund. The girl said they "cant void the payment." We asked for a manager and he was even more rude! He said that the order had been cancelled and then immediately hung up on us. We called back to make sure the cards would be voided and he said "They were never charged." and hung up yet again. So the girl lied to us on top of all of it.

Horrible rude service. Will never ever eat from here they treat their customers...