The Next Chapter for La Villa Brings More Italian

La Villa Restaurant and Bar, which debuted in 2011 and closed at the end of 2014, will reopen anew in a couple of months.

Though Eater heard that several local restaurateurs had expressed interest in taking over the space, it will be one of La Villa's original owners who will resurrect the restaurant.

Antonino Mastellone (Ristorante Arrivederci and La Pizzeria Arrivederci), who is also partner in numerous local Italian restaurants, from South Park's Piacere Mio to Osteria Romantica in La Jolla Shores, says he will be remodeling La Villa and renaming it Sorrento after his hometown in Italy.

Mastellone says Sorrento won't have the farm-to-table influence of La Villa, but it will serve homemade pasta and pizza plus some of the cuisine of the region; he plans to make his own limoncello and feature signature dishes inspired by the Amalfi Coast.

His new design for Sorrento isn't locked in yet, but Mastellone told Eater he plans to cover the often-chilly outdoor patio that adjoins the restaurant and that it will be less formal that La Villa; he's aiming to reopen in two months.