"Villa Romana’s space is what you’d expect at an Italian restaurant: white tablecloths and waiters in button-downs. And while the Italian food is good, the menu’s Romanian options are the reason to come. For starters, try the zacusca, a zesty eggplant spread with peppers, garlic, and other seasonings. Our favorite entree is the tochitura dobrogeana, a party 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." - ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino, carlos c olaechea