Italian mainstays go fancy

Creating a successful dynasty is difficult, unless of course you hire British actress Joan Collins as Blake Carrington's scheming first wife, right at the beginning of season two. For a new Italian eatery from a crew who've been in the resto game for at least nine seasons, check out La Villa.

From a self-professed "wine hog" and her two Italian-focused partners, Villa is the latest addition to their Trulli/ Buon Appetito/ Sogno DiVino empire, featuring a transparent-shelved wraparound bar running interference between the indoor dining room and the first alfresco area, a second mural-scrawled outdoor eating space in the back, and a standalone kitchen, which houses a 12-seat chef's table. The farm-to-table peasant food changes daily but expect starters like tomato confit-loaded lamb meatballs, housemade pastas like pappardelle with milk-braised goat/ mushrooms/ asparagus, and pizzaiolo-tossed personals like the red onion, scallion, and cream Speck Burrata, but not the Spock Burrata since they're doing local stuff and getting that is kind of a Trek. If you have an urge to get meaty, entrees include Rabbit Two Ways (w/ beluga lentils, rapini, and rabbit reduction), and the pork chop, pork belly, pig's head, apple, fennel puree in Niman Ranch Pork Three Ways -- shaming those Rabbits, who apparently don't eff like bunnies.

They're currently offering ~100 bottles of vino and five worldly taps to help moisten the palate, while the small-batch-stocked full bar churns out twisted classics like the Roman Mule toned down by Campari bitters, which aren't quite as bitter as Joan Collins in the season three finale, when her plan to lure Krystle to Steven's cabin fails dramatically as both are trapped inside!!!