La Villa Italian Restaurant

Not my favorite- the garlic bread with cheese was gluten free bread with just cheese (not garlic) and the sauce tasted like it was from a can. I ordered the ravioli and it was absolutely disgusting. It tasted old and was hard (maybe only partially cooked?). Our waiter was very knowledgeable about gluten free and celiac and took the ravioli off the bill. I decided to get a chicken parm hoagie and it’s ok. I would say that the food is average (this is coming from a person who lives not far from New York though).

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids
• Offers outdoor seating

The food was delicious. The server was very knowledgeable about food allergies and they had no problems seating my large family. I cannot wait to go back!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contamination?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids

I went here with my family of 8. 6 of us are gluten free. Service was fantastic and really quick order to food on the table turn around. The options for gluten-free was absolutely amazing. There is a star on the menu next to what Can be made gluten-free and there was a lots of stuff. They have gluten-free bread, rolls, pasta and pizza. They even had gluten-free ravioli which was delicious by the way. They offer their own signature sauce which is called a Rosy sauce which was absolutely amazing. It was kind of a mixture of Alfredo and red sauce. The service was fantastic. I couldn’t ask for anything better.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contamination?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Offers outdoor seating

Fabulous GF Italian food! Staff was knowledgeable and able to explain how they treat GF items.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contamination?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Dedicated gluten-free space in the kitchen
• Dedicated gluten-free fryer
• Other dedicated kitchen equipment (oven, toaster, pots, pans, utensils, etc.)
• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

I’ve felt completely safe. Well trained staff and chef. Owner takes it very seriously.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contamination?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for lunch
• Good selection of healthy options
• Offers outdoor seating

Everything tasted amazing! My husband said it was one of the best gf pizzas he ever had! The owner was so kind, knowledgeable and reassuring.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

They know the importance of non cross contamination. The owner and kitchen staff have taken classes.

Very accommodating especially with the kids! Had a lot of alternatives. The owner came to discuss the order to see who was celiac and inform us what they do.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contamination?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Dedicated gluten-free space in the kitchen
• Dedicated gluten-free fryer
• Other dedicated kitchen equipment (oven, toaster, pots, pans, utensils, etc.)
• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free

Certified gluten free prep area and anything on the menu can be adapted to GF. That's big for Italian, pizza, and sandwiches. Very thorough and attentive to Celiac.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Had a great experience in Lynchburg this weekend. If you want a knowledgeable owner/chef with lots of GF options AND a dedicated prep space (crazy, right??), please try La Villa. The owners both talked to me directly and explained the menu, ingredients and cooking/serving procedures in detail. The food was delicious!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Servers are very knowledgeable about gluten free. The owner is incredibly aware of what celiac is. They take every precaution possible to avoid cross contamination, even when it comes to what gluten free rolls and pasta they serve. It was so nice to order a delicious cheese steak out somewhere and not have to worry about getting sick! They have a huge variety of gluten free options. I would highly recommend La Villa. I know we will go back next time we are in Lynchburg!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

A LOT of GF options. It's good hearty food, and you get a lot of it. Our server was very knowledgeable about celiac and service was great.

Will visit again the next time I'm in Lynchburg.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Very allergy friendly and great food

Celiac friendly?

Yes

This place was AMAZING! The owner and staff were all very knowledgeable on not only gluten free options but avoiding cross contamination. Almost the entire menu can be made gluten free including cheese bread! My meal was so good, I had to double check with our waitress that it was actually gluten free.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I absolutely loved eating here! Once we arrived I told the waitress that I was celiac and had a dairy allergy. The owner/manger came out and spoke to me personally! Not only did he let me know that they took it serious he also suggested what I could eat AND enjoy eating! IT WAS SO DELICIOUS! ❤

Celiac friendly?

Yes

One of the absolute best experiences at a GF restaurant we have ever had! 90% of their menu can be made GF. The owner which is pure Italian comes and explains it all and is very proud of the fact that they do such a careful job to avoid cross contamination. We have eaten here several times and would highly recommend it. Plus this is the first place we have ever been that had gluten free cheesy garlic bread. Pizza is made on disposable foil to prevent cross contamination ♥

Great pizza and pasta! I've been here twice and had zero issues. Yummy food!!!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Great option for those of us who are gluten free. Very knowledgeable and so many options! Highly recommend!!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

This place is AMAZING!!!! The owner not only came out to the table after dinner, but he also explained how seriously they take cross contamination and safe food prep. HE GIVES HIS CHEFS MONTHLY TESTS to assure they are keeping the customers safe. The food was great, but the time he took to come to our table, completely unsolicited, was the best part of the evening. He's got a great sense of humor and takes pride in offering a safe environment for us to eat in. Also voted number one restaurant for gluten free in the state of VA.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Wonderful restaurant! Owner takes extra care for gluten intolerance and even teaches other local chefs classes on the importance of separate kitchens, utensils. Food is excellent!!!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Traveling through and saw this place had great reviews. Was not disappointed. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Owner very involved. Separate work/prep space. They even understand cross contamination too.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Wonderful food, lots of gluten free options, menu clearly labeled, staff knowledgeable. I had the chicken Parmesan sub and bruschetta, all homemade. Will definitely be going back.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I've eaten here multiple times and never had any issues. Anything I've tried has been great. The owner explained how they have training and a separate space to prepare the gf items.

Thoroughly impressed! I expected to get a gluten free pizza crust out of a package like most reaturants do and this place actually made it! I even talked to the owner who is well versed in allergies and cross contamination; him and his employees attend yearly classes to ensure they are current with newly found evidence. 90% of what is served here is homemade, and there is seperate gluten free equipment from knives to kitchen aid mixer. I'll recommend it for anyone who's celiac!

I have celiac and this place is wonderful, I ordered a sandwich and told the waiter that I needed gluten free breed, he told me that the French fries was made in the same oil that they fried bread and other breaded items in. Would I rather have chips instead. At most restaurant waiters and waitresses just look at me as if I lost my mind when I tell them I'm gluten intolerant.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Was impressed with their selection. Not sure if penne was barilla or housemade but the sauces were delicious and the ravioli was amazing

Excellent food! Excellent service! There are so many gluten free choices that it was hard to decide! I got the chicken Vesuvio. They also have sub sandwiches, pizza, and so many gf Italian dishes. A huge portion and I had gf garlic cheese bread with marinara sauce. I will go back! Best part : I didn't get sick! It is so wonderful to find a truly safe restaurant. (My non-gf husband and son loved their dinners too)

Celiac friendly?

Yes

An abundance of choices! Everything was delicious!!

Excellent! Lots of Gluten-free options. I had the ravioli, along with cheese bread before the meal. My 3 friends all enjoyed their meals ordered off the regular menu. Our server was friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend!

Although the food tastes great, I did have a reaction, which surprised me given the other reviews. Bottom line is, no restaurant that is not dedicated gluten free is completely safe, period. Did these folks do a good job of trying? Absolutely! Is there room for improvement? Yes.

If you are in Lynchburg and have Celiac, this may still be your safest choice. The family is Italian. Generally, Europeans "get" Celiac better than 'Mericanos. I think with a few extra precautions maybe they would be ok. Separate GF dishes washed in a separate sink would be good. And, maybe not bringing all the food out together. Of mine really comes from a different part of the kitchen, why take a chance on putting regular food in close proximity. These are the little details that can cause a fail.

Celiac friendly?

No

I had GF pizzas to go, they were only 10 inch so I picked up 2 for my family. I'm the one who has to have GF but my family never wants me to feel different so they eat GF also. Everyone enjoyed it. It was very tasty and Michael was so nice when explaining the GF menu to me. Will def be going back again.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Third time eating here. Very good gluten free food with many choices. The manager came out and spoke with us for a length of time specifically about the gluten free kitchen training. Very good restaurant. Just discovered they have gluten free bread sticks and brownies too.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

They had so many gluten free options! I'm not used to being able to choose from so many things. I chose the Francesca Chicken (pretty sure that was the name). It was a chicken dish with a rosy cream sauce over cheese ravioli. Yummy! The nephew of the owner seated me and he was very accommodating. He even brought me cheese bread, after making sure I could have butter and cheese, when he brought the regular bread to our table. You should definitely try this place!

The owner was actually the one who sat us and when I asked for a gluten free menu, he took quite the interest. He asked how I learned about the restaurant and proudly shared with me how many options they have and how the chefs are fully trained in Italy. He told me they fully understand celiac and gluten free safety. They essentially have a whole second kitchen area where they do the gluten free prep!

The dishes were a little heavy on the tomato sauce which scared me, but I didn't have heartburn after it like I sometimes do. Perhaps because the sauce is made fresh in house, daily--tomatoes are boiled down 6 hours EACH DAY! I had the gluten free cheese-stuffed ravioli and the gluten free chicken parmesan (grilled instead of fried) with Bionature GF pasta. (I couldn't pick, so I ordered both and took the leftovers for lunch the next day.) My husband said the non-gluten free food was very good also. The servings were not large but they were a reasonable amount of food with good prices.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Dedicated gluten-free kitchen and almost everything on their menu can be made gluten free!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The food is good and they use natural by nature organic pasta! I agree with the other reviewer that the ravioli is very good. I've also had the pizza. I'm not sure on the source of ingredients on those products. I can tell you the atmosphere is nice. The owner walks around and greets everyone individually.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The GF ravioli dish was delicious. SF

The food is amazing!!! I had the Katie special and my son had the alfredo pasta. The owner was so great. Explained they have a separate gf kitchen. Brought my son a mini dvd player to watch. I will drive the 1.5 hour trip to come here again. Words don't do this place justice.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Extensive GF menu and great service.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Good, Italian comfort food and the owner is exceptionally helpful and knowledgable. I've never gotten sick from eating here. Good food and wonderful people.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Oh my goodness! Best GF place ever. My goal is to try everything marked GF at least once. And it will take many visits! Everything may not hit it out of the park but how many places can you get GF ravioli!?? I love this restaurant so much. They are really careful and the food is tasty. Thankful for this great option.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The gluten free food is always delicious and I know we will not be sick when we eat due to contamination. They are careful with preparation. We love going to this warm, friendly place.

Michel and crew are awesome.Safest place to eat in Lynchburg and surrounding area. .The most amazing thing about this restaurant is that Michael has two different kitchens to stop any cross contamination. The menu is offered at 90% gluten free.His skills of gluten free cooking comes straight from Italy were 90% of the foods there are naturally gluten.The chef on staff specializing in gluten free cooking.This restaurant is my favorite and safe with no worries.Thanks Michael and service staff.

Very good food. I asked the owner when we came in about gluten free, he spoke with the waitress and told her to get him for any questions. He said they have 2 chefs from Italy that know gluten free cooking. They have several pastas, sub buns and they just got gluten free ravioli. The pizza looked great, we will get that next time.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Great food! They were willing to accommodate extra measures to avoid cross contamination!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I loved this place before going GF, and I love it even more now. Had the chicken parm. The chicken was grilled, not breaded. Gluten free rigatoni, delicious sauce, and cheese made it complete and yummy. My daughter got GF Hawaiian pizza. Couldn't resist bumming a slice and loved it as much. Will return often.

Very good... I had the supreme made GF. The center of the pie was a little underdone and I would have preferred fresh mushrooms over canned. But it was still tasty.

We ate here two times in one week. The first time we had 2 GF pizzas. Both were cooked in their own pans. One was pretty good, the other's crust seemed a little undercooked. I had specifically asked about GF subs and they said that all their subs can now be GF. I was surprised and asked again how the chicken parm sub was GF and I was assured it was. The sub roll was really good but a little overly toasted. The chicken parm was good but turns out was NOT GF. On a second visit later in the week we discussed the GF options and I asked about a different sub - the meatball sub. I casually mentioned that a lot of meatballs have breadcrumbs and the waitress thought that they didn't have any breadcrumbs but offered to check. Another waitress also thought they were ok. Finally they asked a cook and they do have breadcrumbs. Also all the Parmesans are breaded as well. At that point I politely educated the waitress that just having a GF bun doesn't make something GF. Celiacs or extreme GF sensitivity people be wary. This restaurant and its staff are not trained on GF and related issues. We would go back because they seemed earnest- we just won't order a Parmesan anything unless they change the ingredients and training.

Owner came to my table to tell me about the GF options. He said pretty much everything on the menu can be made GF. They have Penne. He was most excited to talk about making chicken Parmesan GF. I had their GF pizza and it was the best GF pizza I have had. Was amazing. I live an hour and fifteen minutes away and would drive just for this pizza. He said the crust and pasta are from Italy.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Very good pizza. They also had GF penne on the menu. The rest of the family really enjoyed their non-GF meals. Service was excellent.

My daughter has celiac disease. She tried the pizza and loved it. Reasonable price and wonderful service.