Four Generations Strong, Guzzardo’s Italian Villa Serves Up Local and Visitor Favorites
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Route 66 has always been a major factor for drawing diners to Guzzardo’s Italian Villa, a staple restaurant located on the second floor of a historic Logan County building for 65 years.
“We had a wide variety of people coming through before, before internet and computers, and now you really see all kinds of travelers,” says Nick Guzzardo, whose grandfather opened the restaurant in 1957 and whose two children, 17 and 20, now also work there.
Starting with only four tables, Guzzardo’s has grown over the years into four dining rooms that can accommodate about 180 guests. Though it’s larger, the restaurant has retained its family-friendly atmosphere and charm throughout the years.
“It still looks like an old Italian place,” Guzzardo says.
If You Go
Guzzardo’s Italian Villa
Address: 509 Pulaski St., Lincoln
Hours: 4-9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 4-10 p.m. Saturday
Phone: (217) 732-6370
Website: facebook.com/Guzzardos-Italian-Villa-120155324662220
Among its staple menu items are pizza and pasta. “You can only eat one or two slices,” Guzzardo says of the pizza, noting it has a thick crust piled high with mozzarella.
Diners have fallen in love with a pasta dish called the Villa Special, tossed with a pink sauce that’s a mixture of alfredo and marinara. Lasagna is another filling classic, stacked high with four layers of noodles and four types of cheese.
“Most of our dishes you can’t finish,” Guzzardo says – but large portions simply mean delectable leftovers to enjoy the next day.
On weekends, prime rib on the bone brings in guests from miles around. For something lighter, there’s also grilled chicken and fish.
Aside from the menu, one of the most endearing qualities of Guzzardo’s is its partnership with two other local businesses. With no dessert menu, they direct guests downstairs to Top Hat Creamery, owned by a family friend, that serves a wide variety of homemade scoops. And though Guzzardo’s doesn’t serve alcohol, you can order a refreshing drink from Spirited Republic/Limerick Brewing Co., which shares a patio with the restaurant. In summer especially, this outdoor oasis becomes one of the most popular hangouts in town.
“If your kids want ice cream, Dad wants a beer and Mom wants pizza, you can get it all in one spot,” Guzzardo says. “You’re in small-town Lincoln, but it feels like a big-town atmosphere.”
