Welcome to Mediterraneo
Located between its very own private lake and authentic working vineyard, Mediterraneo brings the culinary excellence and stylish atmosphere of a European bistro to beautiful Westlake Village.
Inspired by Chef Alberto Vasquez’s passion for fresh, seasonal cuisine that showcases the best of local produce, the Mediterraneo menu tantalizes guests with classic and contemporary favorites fusing sunny Mediterranean and Californian influences.
With spectacular wines and cocktails and warm, personal service, Mediterraneo promises unforgettable quality, style and value. Its breathtaking lakeside patio and spacious private dining room make it the perfect setting for special events year round.
Alberto Vasquez
Culinary Director
Chef Alberto Vasquez, a native of Santa Barbara, California, became inspired by the culinary arts by working alongside his parents at an early age. His mother, an avid cook, taught him how to select the freshest ingredients for the family recipes and showed him basic culinary techniques, such as roasting and sautéing.
His father, a chef at Santa Barbara's landmark Harry's Plaza Cafe, helped him hone his skills by taking him along to work at age 15. Each night, Alberto would dazzle diners with his culinary show staged from within the cafe's exhibition kitchen. This proved to be great training for the aspiring chef whose talents took him across the United States with Registry Hotels as part of a strategic culinary team, as well as behind the kitchen door of Shutters on the Beach, a five-star property located in Santa Monica, California.
Chef Vazquez most recently spent six years at the exclusive Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, as executive chef before his appointment as Culinary Director for Westlake Village Inn where he oversees all gastronomic operations for the 17-acre property, including the inn's signature restaurant Mediterraneo.
Lisa Biondi
Chef De Cuisine
Chef Lisa Biondi was destined to enjoy a life in culinary arts. The daughter of two chefs, she spent many happy childhood hours in her family’s Italian restaurant, Piero’s, where her father created memorable Italian dishes using her mother’s handmade pastas. Lisa’s culinary skills ripened with her tenure at the prestigious California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, and it’s there that she blossomed under the tutelage of such venerable chefs as Luciano Pellegrini and Hans Rockenwagner. Returning home to the family restaurant, she was promptly voted Chef of the Year by the Los Angeles Restaurant Writers Association. Lisa eventually moved on to the prestigious Sherwood Country Club, where her inspired menus featuring family favorites with authentic, homestyle flavors quickly won the favor of the members. Today, Lisa and Chef Alberto have combined their considerable efforts at Mediterraneo – and the rest they say is history!
Eric Vawda
General Manager
The newest member of the Mediterraneo team combines a twelve year background in the restaurant industry together with a profound dedication to integrity in service to bring our guests a unique and memorable dining experience. From Morton’s of Chicago to The Palm Steakhouse in Boston, Eric developed a foundation for ensuring guest satisfaction. His career took flight both literally and figuratively when he accepted the Cheesecake Factory’s call to join their team in Honolulu; recognizing his entrepreneurial talent, he was transferred back to Los Angeles to assist in the opening of their new concept restaurant, Rock Sugar. As WSET certified intermediate sommelier, Eric plans to share his love of fine wines by developing an educational dinner program showcasing Mediterraneo’s fabulous food alongside various new wines and the vintners who produce them. We’re excited and proud to be able to share Eric’s extensive wine knowledge, operational expertise and passion for service with our guests here at Mediterraneo.