Restaurant review: Via Emilia

THE WOODLANDS, Texas –– Market Street. The Waterway. The Woodlands Mall.

All wonderful parts of the community with a wealth of scrumptous restaurants from which to choose, frequented by residents and visitors alike.

I’ve recently eaten at a restaurant that resembles a bistro that someone would find around Market Street or the Waterway, but being further inside the Woodlands though means it feels more close to home and there are a lot less crowds.

Via Emilia Italian Restaurant is located in the Indian Springs shopping center. According to its website, it has been serving authentic Italian food in the Houston area for more than 13 years. The owners Elda and Carlos Orioli are originally from Ravenna, which is in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. They love Italian cuisine and have been in the business for more than 50 years. Their authenticity and experience shows in the food and the atmosphere.

Via Emilia is a perfect representation of a family-owned, Italian restaurant. My family and I wanted a nice place to take my mom for her 51st birthday and our neighbors recommended Via Emilia. It was a perfect choice for Mom. Our waiter was a “walking-menu,” according to my grandma; he was funny and friendly but at the same time very professional.

The food was excellent. Most Italian places I eat at give me large quantities for each entrée, which I’m never able to finish. But Via Emilia gave me a perfect amount of my dish, a Northern Italian culinary trait and it was still great quality for the price.

Some of the food was pricey though, but it was worth it. I had Spaghetti con Salsiccia, or spaghetti with sausage, and it was the best I’ve had. It had the perfect amount of spice, and the pasta wasn’t too much to handle.

Quick history fact: Via Emilia is named after the ancient Roman road built in the second century B.C, which runs from Rimini to Piacenza. The restaurant was also recently ranked by KHOU 11 as the third best Italian restaurant in the greater Houston area.

But wait, it gets better. Via Emilia also had live music in the form of a pianist who played excellent pieces, and made the atmosphere warm and inviting. I felt like I was in beautiful Italy.

The fact that Via Emilia is within The Woodlands makes the restaurant the resident’s place to go, not a mere tourist spot. I find that appealing, and I think a lot of people will enjoy the closeness that Via Emilia has to offer, and the great food and atmosphere it has to offer as well. Via Emilia has the same atmosphere someone would find in the mall area, but it is closer, and more confined to The Woodlands residents.

I recommend Via Emilia to anyone who wants a great place to go out on a nice date, celebration or night out without having to fight the crowds in Market Street or The Waterway. It is also family-friendly and during my dining experience there were kids enjoying dishes from a kid's menu. There is also outdoor seating available for those cooler afternoons or evenings when the heat isn't so unbearable. Five out of five stars, for sure.

Via Emilia is located at 10700 Kuykendahl Road near Woodlands Parkway.