Villa Romana

Located in Downtown Hollywood, Villa Romana’s space is what you’d expect at a special occasion Italian restaurant: white table cloths, waiters in button-downs, and elegant wood accents. And while the Italian food here is very good, the menu’s Romanian options are where it’s at—a delicious mashup of Mediterranean and Eastern European flavors. For starters, try the zacusca, a zesty eggplant spread with peppers, garlic, and other seasonings. Our favorite entree here is the tochitura dobrogeana, an orgy of pork in garlicky tomato-based sauce containing everything from braised pork chunks to several kinds of sausage. It’s served with mamaliga, a thick polenta topped with shredded feta cheese and a fried egg.