"Longtime Valley residents will remember the Villa, an expansive restaurant and events space on the corner of Ventury and San Feliciano. Now, the children of the original owners have taken over the restaurant, transforming it into the Mediterranean-inspired Casaléna. The upscale indoor dining room, complete with a statement chandelier overhead and oversized art on the walls, is complemented by a verdant outdoor patio. The menu blends Mediterranean and Italian influences with dishes like stracciatella with spicy honey and pistachio, fried squash blossoms, and sweet corn agnolotti. During the weekend, Casalena serves a brunch of Benedicts, shakshuka, smoked salmon toast, and French toast. A separate menu is available at the bar with casual bites like a crispy chicken sandwich, hamachi crudo, and truffle fries." - Rebecca Roland, Mona Holmes, Matthew Kang
