Last month I took a trip to Beverly Hills to celebrate my birthday and to meet my role model Lisa Vanderpump.I have to say, it really is as beautiful as it looks on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Clipped from: www.villablancarestaurant.com (share this clip)

And unlike in the series, I did not run into Lisa Vanderpump answering the phone at the front desk or fluffing flowers. Sigh… I didn’t see her at all. She must have been doing dishes in the back or taking out the trash.

I made the mistake of sitting on the patio so I could people watch. The REAL reason to go to Villa Blanca is to enjoy the ambiance. It’s gorgeous inside, as their website puts it, “Lisa Vanderpump has created a St. Tropez-like restaurant with a large patio and wonderous décor.” You go, girl.

Oh well. Maybe next time. Above, at left, I ordered a “lobster crisp” appetizer (I think they serve four), $14. To the right is the gratis bread and olive spread they serve – delicious. BTW, I was there during brunch hours.

I also washed it down with a glass of sangria (maybe $10), and later, I ordered a mojito ($15).

I’m a hamburger connoisseur–so I HAD to order their signature “Villa Blanca Burger,” $15, it came with fries and a dry salad. That nasty-looking item to the side is their savory onion mix–it tastes a lot better than it looks (insert dirty joke here).  The fries were very disappointing, I think it came out of a bag of frozen fries. Yuck. But I will say the highlight of the burger dish was the bun–it was surprisingly sweet, soft and tasty.

My friend ordered their “flatbread pizza,” $14. And this actually tastes like it looks-awful! It should be removed from the menu, then slay the chef.

The question on your mind: What does the bathroom look like? Just like that. There you go. No glamor in the can, sorry to break it to you. The restroom is surprisingly low budget. I wish I could tell you what the woman’s room looks like, but I haven’t had that operation yet.

And there you have it. I think my portion of the bill, after splitting it with my friend, then drinks at the bar, was around $65-$70.  That includes half an appetizer, a glass of sangria, a mojito for myself and mojito for my friend (my treat), and the burger plate. And now, I’ll leave you with a quote from their website: “Because of the continuing recession, Villa Blanca™ has decided to reduce its PRICES and is now not only the prettiest restaurant in L.A. and Beverly Hills but it is also one of the most affordable.”

You can view the menu here.