Check any of the top brunch restaurant lists in the city of Dallas and you’re bound to find Villa-O. A longtime staple on Dallas’ brunch scene, if it’s been awhile since you’ve been or if you’ve never had a chance to visit, there have been some recent changes to their brunch experience that Brunchlust discovered on a recent visit.
Villa-O is one of the more vibrant places you’ll find in the city for brunch. Offering sidewalk, covered patio or indoor dining, Villa-O is a great spot to either ride out a storm or enjoy a beautiful day.
On a recent visit for my birthday brunch, I arrived at the restaurant and noticed that it wasn’t as crowded as it normally is. When you make a reservation, the restaurant will wait to seat you until everyone in your party has arrived. As the first to check in, I headed to the bar to start on their bottomless bellinis…which are one of the best that the city has to offer.
Or so I thought…
When I headed to the bar, I was informed that the restaurant has nixed its bottomless brunch cocktails. This is where you cue the shock and awe face. Villa-O used to offer bottomless mimosas, bellinis, bloody marys and frozen sfuzzis, with a loosely enforced two-hour time limit, for $10 per person and purchase of an entrée. Now the cocktails are offered by the carafe or glass. $16 per bellini carafe and either $4-5 per glass. Well, that was a shocker. And also might explain the lighter crowds.
After being seated with the birthday brunch squad, the menu offers brunch favorites with a twist, pasta, pizza, salads and burgers. After an insane week of indulging in rich birthday dinners, I opted to go light with a chicken caesar salad. It comes with white anchovy and polenta croutons. Pretty standard fare here, but the chicken was flavorful and juicy. Others at the table opted for the frittata and ricotta blueberry pancakes. Service was spot on, as it is on most of the visits we have had here.
Even without the bottomless brunch cocktails, Villa-O continues to earn its place amongst the best of Dallas brunch restaurants with its atmosphere, food and cocktail offerings. Villa-O even offers brunch on a daily basis…which is, of course, Brunchlust approved! Parking in the Knox-Henderson area can be a drag so street parking is normally full, but you can valet or use the Travis Walk parking garage for free.
Brunchlust Rating: A. You just can’t go wrong with Villa-O. Reservations highly recommended.
4514 Travis St #132
Dallas, TX 75205
