Welcome to La Dolce Vita Bistro - “The Sweet Life,” a restaurant and bistro created to recapture the bell-époque charm of “The Italian Drug,” opened here by Dr. Anthony Caruso in 1914. In the tradition of the great European bistros, La Dolce Vita is devoted to providing a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for everything from eight course dinners to coffee and Calvino. We strive to prepare the perfect meal, or the perfect cappuccino, and let you enjoy it at your leisure. Our pasta is cooked fresh to order, our sauces and dressing are painstakingly prepared using only the finest ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, the freshest vegetables, imported whole tomatoes, fresh basil and Italian parsley... and your table is reserved for the evening.
"Overall poor experience. Late getting seated, nearly 30 minutes until we were served bread and water( in paper cups) and when food arrived after more than an hour after ordering, items were substituted without telling us because they had run out of items, certain vegetables, and italian bread."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Great dining experience! Recently visited for Mother's Day.
Food was very good and the service was very good overall.....Menu provides good variety and so does their wine list. Location and ambiance are very nice....Would be back....Wife was happy!!
AGF"
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, notable wine list, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I have always wanted to go to La Dolce Vita. Little Italy is such a hotspot for restaurants and La dolce Vita is one of the reasons Little Italy is so popular! Genuine Italian food, good wine and a fine ambience! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. You can't go wrong!"
Dined on 4/29/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"pasta dishes were quite good, reasonable portions, larger plates and meat dishes leave a little to be desired. Good place for a hearty pasta dinner with nice flavor."
Dined on 04/19/2013
2008
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Afert all of the rave reviews we had heard from friends, we could not wait ti try La Dolce Vita. Unfortunately we did not have a great experience. We were seated at a nice table far from the door and noise, which was nice. My husband and I both had entrees that included risotto which was very undercooked. I had asked fro a glass of wine before dinner and the sever never came back to ask if I wanted a second glass (which I did) to finish the meal."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2011
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"food was good but not fabulous. Best: freshly baked bread with high quality butter. I had asked to be away from traffic, which we got, but had a straight view of the kitchen with the door opening and shutting, opening and shutting; had asked to be away from kitchen. Waiter was good but when he realized we weren't ordering any more drinks, he did not even ask if we would like to have dessert. We ordered Tiramisu. While good, it was made with buttercream and not mascarpone. That was disappointing. Nice touch on the fruit 'courtesy of the establishment'."
Dined on 04/12/2013
2012
Special Features: neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"It may be charming to have a waiter with an accent, but not if he can't understand English well enough to understand your repeated requests for a particular menu item, even when you point to it directly in the menu and still get something you didn't order. For example, the menu lists the following item: "GNOCCHI DOLCE VITA ... select your favorite sauce." So I ordered the gnocchi with the primavera sauce ("PRIMAVERA ... a sauce of roasted red peppers, tomatoes and carrots with fresh seasonal vegetables"). But despite my repeated attempts to clarify that I wanted the primavera sauce, he brought me a marinara sauce, boring and bland and nary a vegetable in sight. Very disappointing."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2008
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I had and entree off the specials menu. Not only was it delicious but it was the perfect size! I love an Italian restaurant that exercises portion control."
Dined on 04/12/2013
2006
Special Features: neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I love their fried mozzarella. And even though it is no longer on their menu, the manager asked the chefs to prepare it with what they had. Fabulous service every time Im there. Lifelong customer for sure."
Dined on 03/26/2013
2010
Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"What a wonderful place to celebrate a birthday with out of towners. Food and wine were so good and Terry (the owner) made sure everyone was well taken care of. Great neighborhood, great time. Highly recommended."
Dined on 03/22/2013
2007
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Pretty expensive overall. The food was good, but 19 dollars for a veggie platter? The ambiance was romantic and the service good. Wine and dessert were amazing. If I go again I will split an appetizer and have wine. Overall it was a nice experience!"
Dined on 03/06/2013
2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"My $18 pasta dish didn't come with salad - just a medium bowl of pasta. This dish had sausage which actually was boney pieces that had to be spit into my napkin. Friend's dinner wasn't better.
Waiter kept disappearing so kept asking other waiter to get him (um, can we have dessert menu?)
Total price of $77 for 2 pasta, 1 dessert, 2 soft drinks. Knowing I never have to return PRICELESS."
Dined on 03/04/2013
2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We received our wine and appetizer promptly. Had to wait over thirty minutes for our entrees. Our waitress checked in on us only after the appetizer and entree arrived to our table. The bus boy was great with the water refill. We won't be going back to this establishment for a long time. This was not our first or second experience there."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2010
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"As a first-time visitor, I was disappointed in the food at this venerable restaurant. My girlfriend's Fettuccine Fellini was tasty but $18?! My chicken parm was so-so at best, with the marinara being too acidic for my taste; $22 and not even a salad included!
I've had much better at a number of Italian places in Bainbridge and Macedonia at half the price. Again, the food is not bad, just way overpriced, especially for the quality."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2010
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"La Dolce Vita is one of my favorite restaurants in Cleveland. It is charming and low key. I am a vegetarian, and they are exceptionally willing to accommodate that preference by adapting dishes. Service is excellent. Delicious salads, pizzas and pastas."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I asked for a romantic table, and a very romantic table is what I got! The crab stuffed trout was absolutely amazing!! And our server, with his sexy accent definitely added to the ambiance! We will definitely be back.....again....and again.....and again!!!"
Dined on 03/01/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, late-night find, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Great food and great waiter. We were delighted to learn we were there on opera night and the opera performance was wonderful. First time there...can't wait to go back!"
Dined on 02/18/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, late-night find, neighborhood gem, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"we had an early sat. nite reservation. The restaurant was just beginning to fill. The manager and waiter checked on us frequently. Both my husband and I had veal dishes and they were outstanding, tender with a great sauce. Wedding soup contained the egg drop, which I am not too fond of. Great evening."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"cold night and every time some one came in or left it was freezing. Came down with a cold from the chill. They need to correct having the door open into the restaurant. Waiter was okay...not very personable but efficient."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2006
Special Features: notable wine list, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Always enjoy getting to Little Italy. Have eaten at LDV on a few occasions. Our table was not ready when we arrived but no big deal. Ordered a bottle of wine at the bar. They did cram the 6 of us into a table better suited for 4, but again no big deal. Waiter was funny and fairly responsive but the place was jammed so there were a few lapses. My fettuccine was good but I was expecting an Alfredo sauce as the description in the menu didn't indicate otherwise. All in all everything was good but nothing standout or stellar. Wine list could be better. The owner should install a temporary vestibule at the front door. It was cold as S*** and every time the door opened we got a blast of of ice cold air. The entire main room was chilly."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2010
Special Features: good for groups
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Enjoyed a Valentines dinner, very attentive service and the food from apps to dessert were top notch ---- also enjoyed a nice Italian red wine that was recommended by the waiter ---- A decent selection of gluten friendly items were available as well …"
Dined on 02/14/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Very nice décor, spotty service, very polite and knowledgeable waiter but disappeared for long periods on an absolutely dead night when there were only 3 other parties there. Food was very good, some of the best pizza I've ever had, but the prices were in my opinion outrageous. Part of 3, we shared 2 8" pizzas, 2 small salads, 2 iced teas,1 cappuccino, a slice of cake and small canolli. With 18% tip it came to $94.00."
Dined on 01/28/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The four of us had reservations for 6:30pm and were promply seated. Unfortunately, that was the highlight of the evening. No wait service after 15 minutes, and I finally had to go get someone. Extremely slow service as we finally were served our main entrees at 7:55pm. Small portions for expensive fare. Our friend ordered the entree 'Risotto Del Giorno' and it was missing the risotto. OMG. We couldn't wait to leave and go across to Prestis. Thank goodness we enjoyed the evening in spite of the restaurant."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2008
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Food was good for a Saturday night we made 5:30 reservations. One of thie first people to get there before the dinner rush hit, unfortunatley service was slow it took the waitress almost 15mins before we got drinks/ to get the ball rolling. As the night got more crowded it seemed the better she worked?? Weird.. Only complaint :( Everyone else was Great!"
Dined on 01/26/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.