Villa Barolo

Warrington’s Italian culinary oasis.
By Dava Guerin

Bucks County is clearly among the most beautiful places to live in Pennsylvania and beyond. With its wide open spaces, rolling hills, quaint towns, and historic farmhouses, people from all walks of life choose to call Bucks County “home.” But when they want a little taste of Italy, without the expense of taking a trip to Tuscany, they can simply make a reservation at Villa Barolo, and for a few hours, enjoy a piece of Italy right in their own backyard.

The restaurant, which is the former site of the historic Vincent’s Warrington Inn, was transformed to Villa Barolo in 2006 by veteran restaurateur Chef Lo. Villa Barolo, which is named for the robust, Italian “King of Wines,” exemplifies Chef Lo’s belief on creating a world-class dining environment that is a balance of exceptional food in a casual atmosphere that is reasonably priced for everyday dining. No stranger to fine Italian cuisine, Chef Lo was previously the executive chef of an Elkins Park restaurant for over 10 years, and his resume includes opening La Veranda Ristorante as the Executive Chef for 6 years and the famed Hershey Philadelphia Hotel.

Chef Lo began his career in Philadelphia over two decades ago with the same tenets he practices today with an uncompromising emphasis on freshness, quality and originality. “When I first arrived in Philadelphia from Hong Kong, I was fortunate to start my career at the Hershey Hotel, which at the time had been a first class restaurant,” Lo said. “As I moved along in my career, I always tried to satisfy my customers, by giving them a wide variety of authentic dishes at prices that they could afford. So for example, at Villa Barolo, they can enjoy a fresh pasta dish for twelve dollars or a thirty dollar fresh organic game meal. The goal for me, especially in this economy, is to have people come to the restaurant and know they will never leave hungry or broke!”

Villa Barolo’s extensive menu is large enough to satisfy even the most discriminate patrons, and boasts a wine list of more than 180 varieties as well as 39 available by the glass. In addition to their wine list, Chef Lo has introduced a selection of premium wines from around the world priced only $20 per bottle. “With more than 80 items on the lunch menu and 150 for dinner, guests that frequent the restaurant can always try something new and different,” Lo said, “though we have plenty of regular customers that always return for the same meal.”

“Our guests can enjoy the best filet mignon, cheesesteaks and cheeseburgers, our famous pastrami and corned beef for lunch, and they can also order our fresh pasta, fish, salads, specialty dishes, or from our amazing raw bar. My mission is to make world-class dining affordable and casual enough to make it part of our guests’ daily lives.”

Villa Barolo feels like a place where people are welcome. Its modern
European style, with interior marble accents and Tuscan rust, green and gold colors, evokes an Italian ambiance, and gives customers a sensory retreat from their everyday lives. Though its grand lobby looks like a 5-star hotel, the atmosphere is very warm and friendly, with a gracious staff led by Chef Lo. When he’s not in the kitchen, Chef Lo is greeting people at the door, visiting with guests in the dining room, or filleting fish tableside. It is evident that Chef Lo and his staff are dedicated to the success of Villa Barolo, and Lo credits much of the accomplishments of the restaurant to his team of talented people. “When this property became available, I thought this would be a good business move for me and my culinary team, and I feel very fortunate to have them with me for over 15 years, because they are really more like family. It’s more than just a business relationship we have,” he added. “Dedicated people make all the difference, and for us, no matter what day or time it is, our customers know that they will have consistency in their meals and of course great personal service. The most important thing I stress to my staff is to work with their heart,” Chef Lo said, “We’re all here because we love what we do, and that results in an extraordinary experience for our guests.”

In addition to everyday dining, Villa Barolo is a popular place for holding corporate meetings, private parties and other special occasion events. With three dining rooms, 280 seats, over 10 lunch and dinner packages, and hors d’oeuvres menu, Villa Barolo is the perfect choice for private events. Villa Barolo also offers full-service off-premise catering, as well as take-out. For some of the best deals in the area, their happy hour and late-night bar menu are not to be missed.

Villa Barolo is located at Route 611 and Bristol Road in Warrington. For more information, visit www.villa-barolo.com or call (215) 491-9370.

Dava Guerin is Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine’s People Editor and lives in Washington Crossing, PA.