If you are like me, occasionally it takes a little time to decide where you want to dine. You consider price, location, the company you are with, and most of all, what type cuisine are you in the mood for?

The economy is down, gas prices are up and the money in our wallet is becoming more precious.

Just like the time and consideration that we give to deciding what will be for lunch or dinner, The Villaggio Grille gives time to making sure whatever we order is just right.

As soon as you open the door to one of The Wharf’s most prized restaurants, operating since August 2007, you know you are in for something special. The aroma coming form the 7,000-pound wood-burning oven not only makes your mouth water, it adds a special character that you just don’t see and most places.

“The oven is right there where everybody can see it,” says owner Lane Gilbert. “People sit at the chef bar and interact with whichever chef is behind the line, and it is a great opportunity for everyone to see what goes on in our kitchen.”

Unlike many restaurants, the special design of the Villaggio Grille allows the public to see employees make the bread, make the desserts, butcher the meat, basically anything the is going on in the kitchen is in clear view.

As I mentioned above, just as you take care in selecting the place you want to dine, executive chef John Odom takes special care in making sure that whatever you select from the menu will be made from the freshest ingredients, is cooked from products bought from local farmers, that there is a wide variety of choices for anyone and everyone, and most of all, that price is not an issue when it comes to your selection.

“We have selections from $8 to $12,” said Gilbert, “then you have your entrees from $16 up to $28.”

Harry, KellyLee and I started our adventure off with calamari, oysters Rockefeller, and crab bruschetta, a popular item on Villaggio’s menu. In addition, we sampled the Prince Edward Island mussels in a white wine sauce, seared scallops, and grilled shrimp.

After sampling all of those excellent choices (yes we were hungry), we had to taste one of the Villaggio Grille flats. We chose the chicken pesto that included wood-fired chicken, basil pesto, roasted tomatoes, provolone mushrooms and mozzarella. Other menu choices for flats are “the Villaggio” which is made with sausage, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, olives and mozzarella, the shrimp and crawfish flat, the shrimp pesto flat, farm egg pizza and the Margherita.

Because we had enjoyed such a large variety of samplings up to this point, the three of us decided to share an entrée, suggested by our very knowledgeable waiter Chris Wilson, and our selection was the bone-in pork chop.

Let me just say that, in my more than two years of writing Adventures in Dining, nothing I have tried has had such an immediate positive impact on me as the tenderness, texture and taste of this amazing dish. This grilled pork chop, served with pancetta macaroni and cheese is amazing.

Other selections from the entrée menu include pan seared sea scallops, creamy seafood lasagna, oven roasted chicken, veal piccata, a wood-grilled beef filet, and rabbit and wild mushroom.

If you visit the Villaggio Grille for lunch, you might want to try one of their sandwiches such as the Italian club, Villaggio melt, Villaggio burger or a portabella on focaccia.

 For lovers of fine wine, Villaggio Grille offers a wine dinner on the third Wednesday of each month. The special event includes selections from the extensive Villaggio wine list, paired with cuisine prepared by Chef John Odom.

It inside and enjoy the elegant atmosphere, or sit outside in the new, comfortable patio furniture. Celebrate your anniversary in style or come island casual, it really doesn’t matter. Located at the heart of The Wharf just off of Canal Road in Orange Beach, let me warn you, once you visit the Villaggio Grille, you will return again, and again, and again.

Villaggio Grille, 2490 Wharf Parkway, Orange .Beach, (251) 224-6510.