Villa Sorrisa is half restaurant half social gathering place. When we arrived at dinner at 8 on the patio, one of the rooms was holding a salsa or tango dancing class. It was fun to watch during conversation lulls. The wait staff encouraged us to go in and dance a little. Our table declined. The patio is sheltered from the street and a good place to sit and chat in the mild So. Cal weather. There is also an indoor dining room and several bars.
After 10 the restaurant turns into a club. The lights are dimmed, the music becomes decibels louder and a bouncer appears at the entrance. The new crowd is completely different from the dinner crowd--donning the shortest skirts and sleekest suits. The come to drink and dance. When you go here for dinner, finish eating well before 10 and leave the premises--unless clubbing is your thing.
The restaurant is Italian. As an appetizer, I ordered the caprese salad which had a very creamy high quality mozzarella in its midst--one that Mario Batali could have served at his Osteria in Weho. I also tasted the calamari--standard and my personal favorite, the carpaccio--thinly sliced raw beef flavorful with a touch of lemon, capers and Parmesan.
For the main course, I had the Mussels & White Wine spaghetti--one of my favorite things to order when I'm not paying. It was absolutely filled with clams and the white wine sauce was very flavorful. I cleaned my plate. The rest of the diners got various pasta dishes and everyone seemed to enjoy them. We also tried the Margherita pizza. The pizza was very plain--I would go for pasta if I were you.
And let me reiterate...dessert! Even as I write this I crave the light taste of warm hazelnut milk perfectly complimenting the rich chocolate brownies.
168 West Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 9110
Pasadena, CA 9110
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