Villa Harlequin

Born from the merger of two storied Lake Charles dining institutions — The Harlequin Steaks & Seafood, established in 1956 by the Hunter family, and The Italian Villa, established in 1986 by the Sperandeo family — Villa Harlequin carries forward decades of local culinary heritage under one roof on Pujo Street in downtown Lake Charles. Set in a historic building, the restaurant blends classic Italian cuisine with inventive New American signatures, complemented by craft cocktails and a curated wine program. The kitchen's approach draws equally from tradition and modern culinary sensibility, resulting in a dinner menu served Tuesday through Saturday and a Sunday brunch that rounds out the week.

Table reservations are available, reflecting the sit-down, full-service nature of the dining experience. Lunch service runs Wednesday through Friday, making it a destination for both midday meals and evening dining in the heart of the city. With a 4.7-star rating across more than 430 Google reviews, the restaurant has built a consistent following among locals and visitors alike. Owners Nic Hunter and Blakelee Kibodeaux continue the legacy their families helped establish, maintaining the same standards of thoughtfully prepared food and attentive service that defined each predecessor restaurant across multiple generations of Lake Charles dining.