La Dolce Vita

Last night we had ladies night out at La Dolce Vita. This was my first time visiting even though I live in the neighborhood. It was a busy Saturday night but you couldn’t tell because everything ran so smoothly. I had the most pleasant experience! Our waiter, Oliver, was so knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. The owner, Terry, came over to our table to greet us and bring us samples. We all agreed that the food was very tasty and flavorful and drinks were delicious. We tried the Polenta with roasted carrots and the Fresh fruit with ricotta. For the entree, I had the Cacio E Pepe with chicken and the Lemoncello Blue cocktail. The other two ladies had the Eggplant Parmesan. We’ll definitely be going back soon. If you’re visiting Little Italy, you must visit them! You’ll be happy you did!

Everything was delicious. The trio appetizer was amazing. The red sauce was so light and flavorfull. We even got a small taste of bootie pasta while we were waiting on our food. It was a great surprise and so was the dessert which we didn't order but was wonderful.

The food was exceptional with good vegetarian options, and the service was A1. The ambiance is very unusual, but it adds a lot of character and quirkiness to the spot. The chef came around with a big bowl of pasta for us to taste and was delicious. It's a must visit for sure!

Located in the Little Italy neighborhood in Cleveland, this establishment served pasta that offered great flavor and an abundant amount of meat. My partner and I were very satisfied with the food quality, and my rating of 4 would mostly be referring to a few other factors outside food quality, which by itself would be closer to 4.5 in my opinion. First, I have to say that the scallops were amazing, as they had flavorful crust on the outside and were very easy to cut to get to the soft texture on the inside, and still remained flavorful. It wouldn't be exaggeration for me to say that those scallops might have been some of the best I have ever had. Along with veggies and polenta, the entire special dish was a very good experience. Then the other special dish, lobster linguini, had a good amount of lobster, to the point that at certain times, it felt like the pasta wasn't the main star, which I was fine with. The sauce had a lot of flavor, but because it was a bit liquidy, it didn't really mesh with the pasta, and I think that was its only area of improvement. The cacio e pepe was different from what I have had before, as it used farfelle. For that dish, I wasn't sure if it had Parmigiano reggiano cheese, as I could only taste pecorino romano cheese, and it didn't contain a lot of liquid texture. The cheese was there, and they definitely didn't overcook the dish to the point of cheese becoming strings, but the texture still felt a bit like just pasta with cheese, rather than specifically cacio e pepe, if that makes sense. We ordered the spumoni bomba for dessert, which was a pretty classic Italian gelato dessert, and it tasted as good as we had expected. The amount of chocolate, and how it posed a textural juxtaposition with the gelato, made it a very pleasurable experience. My feedback about the special dishes is not about the food but about price transparency. When our server introduced the special dishes, we were not told about their prices, so knowing what the prices looked like on the regular menu, we assumed the special dishes would have similar price ranges, if not a bit more, but not to the point of costing $50 (scallops polenta) and $45 (lobster linguini), and as much as I knew that if we had asked, we would be given the price, I don't think I would be the only one relying on my assumption, and maybe letting other customers know about the prices, especially because of how drastically different they were from the dishes on the menu, would be nice. So overall, special dishes were fire, the cacio e pepe had some room of improvement, the spumoni bomba was fire, and I would definitely recommend people visiting this restaurant if they visit Cleveland, and specifically Little Italy. My partner and I also talked about coming back here in the future, and I look forward to trying more of their dishes by then.

I came here with my friends to celebrate a birthday on a Saturday evening. The establishment was extremely busy and we had waited about 20 minutes to be seated after our reservation time. The layout of the door and host stand is not particularly great for waiting that long for your table because people are constantly opening the door and needing to get through to leave the restaurant. The service was not great but not horrible, just eh. While waiting for our food someone came around with a huge bowl of pasta and gave everyone samples of the Cacio E Pepe and it was so delicious! The food was good, but not great. The Pesto Omar was really disappointing, the flavor was so flat. After our meal the server brought us a plate of berries & cream and they were so fresh and a perfect way to end our meal. Overall, I am glad I tried this restaurant in little italy. However, I do not need to return.

Cute restaurant with amazing hard working staff!! Terry (maybe the owner, unsure?) came to ask us how the food was. Lovely guy! Loved talking to him. He seems really caring of his customers. They provided some pasta and bread when we got there, which was simple, but yummy. I had the Venizia flatbread. Was just okayyyyy. Maybe a 7/10. Not the best, but not the worst. I'll try a pasta dinner next time since I kept eyeballing peoples dishes and those all looked soooo good lol. My friend got the braised short rib and that was really tender and full of flavor, 10/10! That was pricey though! I can't remember what drinks we had, but they were mocktails with ginger beer and lime and some other stuff and they were really good!! I'd go back just for those. Before we left, they provided a small plate of fresh fruit with a sweet cream. Perfect way to end our meal! What a lovely little place! I'd go back just to support their awesome staff and.....try another mocktail...and pasta this time:)

Amazing food and an inviting atmosphere. The Veal Parmesan was delicious 😋 Service was great too, everyone was so friendly 👍👍

Fantastic food (that scallops, shrimp linguine dish, to die for) and very warm staff. Owner went around dishing out polenta for us and that really made our group feel at home. A birthday well spent!

Take the Red Line to Little Italy and walk down the road for a few blocks, and you will find a neighborhood of shops and restaurants. La Dolce Vita took reservations on Father's Day. The place provides a very authentic Italian neighborhood experience, complete with Christian icons and images. The service was great. While we waited for food, a man with a bowl of bowtie pasta came by and scooped a pile on our plates. We ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana and Abruzze. My eggplant was a 7, while my friend's Abruzze was an 8.

Currently at Sunday afternoon opera dinner. Very very disappointed. My daughter and I took off time this weekend for this event and were told at the last minute it was switched to American show tunes. We drove all the way from Rochester for this. It is insufferably hot and we were seated outside without notice. Had I known it was outside, I would not have reserved. We have been sitting here for 2 1/2 hours and still no entree. Busboys are circulating and filling our glasses half way with lukewarm water. Why not leave a pitcher of ice water on each table? Do they not have more than two pitchers in which to serve water ? I am so hot and thirsty. Event start time listed as 1:30 and did not start serving any food until 2:30 (?? To make sure we spend money on drinks??). Did they sit us outside in the glaring sun to keep more tables open for non-event patrons inside to make more $$? Waitstaff are circulating with eggplant, tomato salad and farfalle and have put a tablespoon of each of my plate separated by 30 min each. We should be able to choose what to eat and how much we want. I like to eat all my food at once (or at least know what I will be served). I am still hungry for waiting. Restaurant owner came out and told us "he didn't know why everyone was complaining about the heat -it's not that hot " but then saw him sitting in the shade around the corner. Don't minimize my experience! I actually went into the restaurant bar and got two glasses of ice as servers were spread so thin and I was starting to feel sick. There were small umbrellas that did not provide enough coverage from the sun. Chicken "piccata" finally came and was not good. Slimy without capers and could not taste any lemon. Cut our losses after THREE HOURS" and weren't even at dessert yet. Table of six next to us left as well. Horrible horrible experience. I am in hell listening to show tunes when I signed up for opera. So hot and forced to sit in the sun because we already prepaid. I felt uncared for and like they weren't prepared for this event. Do NOT do this. You have been warned.

My son and I were there over Mothers Day weekend for a 5ish reservation. The service was horrible. After waiting for 1.5 hours , the waiter coming every 15 min or so saying the food would be out momentarily. I finally told him at 6:45 we had theater tickets and needed to leave soon. The food arrived 5-10 min later and was wrong. My son is a vegetarian and his pasta dish had chicken all through it. Needless to say, we couldn't send it back due to a time crunch. Our bread was never refilled, even though we asked for more, our drinks were never refreshed . We didn't order complicated things, just 2 dishes of pasta. The whole experience was just bad. I feel the meal should have been comped for such a long wait. Others that came in after us were served in a reasonable time and gone before we even got our food. I can say, I will not go back to this restaurant.

We visited Little Italy yesterday from Pittsburgh and decided to stop at La Dolce Vita for dinner before a concert at Severance Hall. Upon being seated we were immediately given water, and someone followed up right behind with fresh bread and butter. I ordered the Pesto Omar and my husband ordered the Abruzze. We both had a bowl of wedding soup. The wedding soup was warm, light and really well done. The egg was fluffy, I wish I saved my bread to dip some into the broth! Our entree arrived and the Pesto Omar was easily one of the best pesto cream sauces I have ever had! My husband enjoyed his dish as well. The atmosphere here feels very much like we are somewhere else beside Cleveland Ohio. My husband and I said we felt like we were at an Italian Nonna's house somewhere in south Florida! We saw the owner a few times buzzing around tending to tables which is always appreciated! We declined dessert because we were stopping at Presti's after dinner before our concert, but we were given a complimentary plate of fresh berries & mascarpone which was a perfect touch to end our meal! The only reason I gave 4/5 stars was after we had eaten we saw a waiter walking around offering freshly grated cheese, and that would have been such a nice compliment to both of our meals! We definitely know to wait for that until next time! We will absolutely plan to come back the next time we visit Cleveland!

Last night we had ladies night out at La Dolce Vita. This was my first time visiting even though I live in the neighborhood. It was a busy Saturday night but you couldn't tell because everything ran so smoothly. I had the most pleasant experience! Our waiter, Oliver, was so knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. The owner, Terry, came over to our table to greet us and bring us samples. We all agreed that the food was very tasty and flavorful and drinks were delicious. We tried the Polenta with roasted carrots and the Fresh fruit with ricotta. For the entree, I had the Cacio E Pepe with chicken and the Lemoncello Blue cocktail. The other two ladies had the Eggplant Parmesan. We'll definitely be going back soon. If you're visiting Little Italy, you must visit them! You'll be happy you did!

First restaurant I tried in Little Italy and it was a good experience. We were sitting outside so the ambiance was great, we went on a thursday night so there were a good amount of people walking around. We went close to closing, so I will say that the service wasn't too great. Our waiter only came by a few times, and when we needed water and pepper flakes we had to get up and ask. However, what made this up for us, was that we got complimentary bread and desert which was great! Ordered the chocolate martini which was strongg but good. Also got the artichoke flatbread, pesto pasta, and the red sauce pasta which were all great. Good portions as well. If you're in Little Italy I would recommend trying this place out!

Food was good. Just very hot inside, especially on a hot day. Service was slow and waited for the check for a good while, as we were both baking and ready to get the hell out. Over all good experience, but would recommend going in the winter time.

Located in the Little Italy neighborhood in Cleveland, this establishment served pasta that offered great flavor and an abundant amount of meat. My partner and I were very satisfied with the food quality, and my rating of 4 would mostly be referring to a few other factors outside food quality, which by itself would be closer to 4.5 in my opinion. First, I have to say that the scallops were amazing, as they had flavorful crust on the outside and were very easy to cut to get to the soft texture on the inside, and still remained flavorful. It wouldn't be exaggeration for me to say that those scallops might have been some of the best I have ever had. Along with veggies and polenta, the entire special dish was a very good experience. Then the other special dish, lobster linguini, had a good amount of lobster, to the point that at certain times, it felt like the pasta wasn't the main star, which I was fine with. The sauce had a lot of flavor, but because it was a bit liquidy, it didn't really mesh with the pasta, and I think that was its only area of improvement. The cacio e pepe was different from what I have had before, as it used farfelle. For that dish, I wasn't sure if it had Parmigiano reggiano cheese, as I could only taste pecorino romano cheese, and it didn't contain a lot of liquid texture. The cheese was there, and they definitely didn't overcook the dish to the point of cheese becoming strings, but the texture still felt a bit like just pasta with cheese, rather than specifically cacio e pepe, if that makes sense. We ordered the spumoni bomba for dessert, which was a pretty classic Italian gelato dessert, and it tasted as good as we had expected. The amount of chocolate, and how it posed a textural juxtaposition with the gelato, made it a very pleasurable experience. My feedback about the special dishes is not about the food but about price transparency. When our server introduced the special dishes, we were not told about their prices, so knowing what the prices looked like on the regular menu, we assumed the special dishes would have similar price ranges, if not a bit more, but not to the point of costing $50 (scallops polenta) and $45 (lobster linguini), and as much as I knew that if we had asked, we would be given the price, I don't think I would be the only one relying on my assumption, and maybe letting other customers know about the prices, especially because of how drastically different they were from the dishes on the menu, would be nice. So overall, special dishes were fire, the cacio e pepe had some room of improvement, the spumoni bomba was fire, and I would definitely recommend people visiting this restaurant if they visit Cleveland, and specifically Little Italy. My partner and I also talked about coming back here in the future, and I look forward to trying more of their dishes by then.

La Dolce Vita had a lot of seating options and a very casual atmosphere. A staff member, who I presume was the owner, was handing out free samples of cacio e pepe pasta. It was unfortunately salty. This pasta, along with the hard complimentary bread made for a rocky start to our night. I ordered the Rasta pasta with an addition of pancetta. The dish came with a variety of vegetables and had a rich, savory flavor. In hindsight, I didn't need to add pancetta because the vegetables were filling enough. While I enjoyed the flavor and how the pasta was cooked, there was no sauce as my pasta was instead drowned in a soup. To my knowledge, Rasta pasta is a Jamaican dish that is supposed to be creamy, so this base was disappointing. It could've been clearer on the menu that the pasta would be served with more of a soup than a sauce. My friend ordered the Abruzze that was on the saltier side. At first we thought we could overlook this, but it was hard not to as we continued eating it. My friend ended up giving me a lot of her dish since it was too salty for her. Overall, the dishes at La Dolce Vita were a bit too salty and disappointing for the steep prices. Though I would give this restaurant another chance and try different dishes, I would definitely hesitate to do so.

Service and ambiance were great. Casual vibe inside. Received bread and cacio e pepe as a complimentary appetizer, and fruit with cream as a complimentary dessert. Servers were attentive and provided helpful suggestions. The seafood pasta and gnocchi were both tasty. We also ordered the Sweet Life Trio appetizer. It was good, but I don't think we would order it again (although we did really enjoy the meatball!) This is a good casual date night spot, and we recommend making a reservation for sure!

Overall Experience: 8.3/10 Another mainstay in Cleveland' little Italy, they are one of the most active and bustling restaurants in little Italy. A decorative interior that focuses in Italian history it feels like you are transported to a busy restaurant in Italy, or what I would think what Italy would be like from a person who has never been. Food: I had the sweet life trio and pesto omar. Although the photos are taken at different dates, they both serve a great representation of what to expect in portion sizes currently. The food tasted really good, in my opinion not game changing and life altering, but something that feels so much like home. The meatball is flavorful and juicy, the eggplant parm is still crispy and soaks up a perfect amount of fresh tomato sauce, and the Hungarian hot is a little spicy, but meaty and delicious. They give complementary bread and butter, and an amazing fruit dessert at the end included in the meal too. Marks: The pesto omar was a little low on flavor, it seems a little watered down. I really enjoyed the other pasta in the photo which my girlfriend ordered. In addition the service is a little understaffed, and it was more difficult to get the attention of the servers or workers. Although they were nice and accommodating, it took a large sum of time to get their attention and multiple inquiries to get what we needed. Overall: An amazing restaurant in Little Italy and still one of my favorites. Beautiful and delicious pastas and appetizers + amazing service for a fair price. I would come here if Im too tired to cook for myself and or taking someone/ group out.

We had a great dinner here! Complimentary bread was ok, but the appetizers were solid. Meatballs weren't the best I've had in Cleveland area but not bad, the ricotta on top was great. Caprese salad was very good and fresh. We also got a free sample of the cacio e Pepe that was very delicious My entree was the gnocchi with the pink sauce and a meatball added. The gnocchi was good, sauce was very flavorful. I've had better gnocchi dishes and would've loved some mushrooms or other veggies in there but not bad. My companions all enjoyed their meals Service was absolutely great, it was the birthday of one of our party and they brought out complimentary fruit and tiramisu. Waitress was very attentive and helpful. Vibes inside were great too, very lively and fun without being too loud

Little Italy's most charming restaurant (as voted by me). I love the mix of furnishings and wall hangings. In some places in some hands it just works, and at La Dolce Vita it works. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, but it could also suit a special occasion. The service has always been friendly. Terry, the owner, frequently circulates with a bowl of cacio pepe and will stick around to chat if you're amenable to it (on our last visit we learned that the walls were painted green by the Russo brothers when they filmed their 2021 movie Cherry there). He's a charismatic guy. The rest of the staff is also very helpful and accommodating (and didn't roll their eyes when my boyfriend's mother asked to move to a more reasonably sized table for our group post-bread and water service). On my last visit, two people at our table ordered specials - the lobster linguine and braised short rib. They're not there all the time, but if they are go for it. They have a menu of set pasta dishes plus the option to order the pasta and sauce combo you prefer. They also have small plates, salads, flatbreads and a few entrees. We had the Hungarian hots to start and they were SO good. My brother - picky eater - went so far as to remark much later in the evening how good they were. Monday night is Opera Night, which you have to reserve in advance. I went to one and it was a charming experience. It's a prix fixe menu, I really enjoyed most of it outside of the chicken entree (I don't typically go for chicken). In the summers Opera Night is outside on the patio, I'm excited to check that out.

No no no. I'm Italian and I was very disappointed with this restaurant. The hostess was in a crop top and should not have been. When you sit down and order, prepare for all the dishes to be salt forward and I mean salty like inedible salty. Ugh! However, the lemon polenta appetizer was delicious..... it took 1.45 hrs to eat and get check. There were 3 of us. Our server was nice.

My wife and I went here May 2025 based on its reputation. We were very disappointed. The ambiance was ruined by the fact that it was cold and when I asked about the temperature I was told it was an old building. It did not help that we were seated next to a door to the basement which was left partly open some of the time, allowing a cold musty draft to come to me. The food was not well seasoned. It was bland. My wife had the Fettuccine Fellini. It was lacking in seasoning. I had the Marinara Dolce Vita. Again, the marinara sauce was lacking. We both had a meatball with our dishes. These were large but bland as well. We also were given a taste of bowtie pasta for which the restaurant is famous. We were unimpressed with this as well. The service was sub-par. We were not offered parmesan or pepper when our entrees were brought out. All in all, we were disappointed and do not plan to go back.

i don't usually leave bad reviews but there's no AC on a 90 degree day and the service is bare minimum. the food was good but i woukdnt pay for the cacio e pepe given it was dry and overcooked. the fellini sauce is good though!

I look for Cacio e Pepe wherever I go. So when visiting Cleveland my search sent me here. I'm glad it did. Along with the caprese salad, appetizer trio and gnocchi in pink sauce. We were very happy. The service was excellent and everyone was really friendly. The complimentary berries and cream was a nice added bonus.

A place past its prime. Very outdated with food to match. The only thing it has going for it is location. Otherwise, you can find much better Italian restaurants nearby.

The atmosphere of this restaurant is really cozy, almost like you're having dinner in someone's living room. The dishes are made home-style as well, as if someone's grandmother is cooking for you. I loved both these things and about La Dolce Vita but sadly the food we ordered was not up to par. A few of the dishes like the Chicken Marsala were too aggressively seasoned with salt. Another dish that was marketed as a daily special, a linguine with scallops, shrimp and clams, was drenched in a sauce that was way too thick, making the dish so rich that it bordered on being inedible. Finally, the service was quite slow as the waiter would disappear for periods of time. I wanted to love this restaurant and had fond memories of eating here as a kid but frankly we were a bit disappointed with the food here. Maybe we came on a bad night or ordered the wrong things on the menu but I can't, in good conscious, give this place more than 3 stars.

Server was really kind and fast. We spontaneously decided to grab dinner Monday night in little Italy and was shocked and how busy the place was. The abruzze came out super hot and I loved it. It may seem plain but the flavor of the sauce tasted complex. Chicken parm was fine, a little dry. Overall enjoyed the restaurant for a casual but nice dinner.

Thoroughly enjoyed my meal here. Granted seating is a bit tight and service could have been a little better , the food was definitely worth it. The pasta, sauce , meat, drinks all delicious ! Highly recommend

Maybe my expectations were high going into this place but yeah it was okay. Cacio e pepe was a bit dry and bland. Ravioli was good but wasn't oozing with flavour, a bit too salty. They were packed, the service was excellent. Sat outside which I thought would be nice but because of traffic it was blah!

It took a while when we sat down to get someone other than the guy with water to come by our table, but it was Friday night and there were more than a few large parties and we were in no hurry. We ordered the Calamari- not fried, and the sausage stuffed peppers for apps. Very good on both. Dinner was Veal Parm, the beef short rib special, and the Abruzze pasta, all fantastic. Dessert was a cannoli, good, and then a plate of whipped ricotta and fresh macerated berries, perfect. Ambiance was a busy neighborhood Italian place on a Friday, very comfortable and not too bright. Service was great after the original delay. Our best dining experience during our weekend trip.

Food was very good and very family friendly atmosphere. Feel like you spend all day there with the staff being so friendly and accommodating. Everyone loved all their food

We're slowly checking off all the restaurants in little Italy as we visit our daughter at Case Western. This trip it was La Dolce Vita. A quaint restaurant with a lot more space than it appears. Outside seating as well. Service was great; from the water guys to our waitress. And a guy that I think was the owner was walking around with a giant bowl of some kind of pasta that was DELICIOUS. My wife wished she had that as her entree. We started with the mussels, which were delicious and flavorful. The bread was crispy and hot. I ordered the gnocchi with the abruzze sauce and a meatball. It was excellent. Meatball was very good. My son got the pepperoni pizza which was solid. My daughter had the seafood pasta which I thought was very good. Everything in it was great. My wife's cachio e Pepe which was really the only disappointing dish. Somewhat one dimensional for her taste. Red peppers helped but had to ask for them. Wine selection was good. We were surprised with a bonus dessert of strawberry's, peaches and cream. Not sure why, as everything from service to food was excellent but it is greatly appreciated nonetheless. We'll definitely return for more!

A beautiful restaurant with great food! The staff is accommodating and knows how to handle a rush. The food is delicious, and my entire family was very satisfied with their meals. The food is worth the price. On top of that, the restaurant itself is aesthetically beautiful and a nice comfortable place to gather with friends and family.

Absolutely delicious! Everything was good. From the bread to the sangria, to all the diff pastas we tried. We got the seafood one, pesto and the chicken parmigiana. The service was good and highly recommend!

This place is awful. Take the worst wedding food you've had and somehow make it worse. We were seated in the second room and you could see the guy that served the bread take a bunch of frozen rolls out of bag and place them in the toaster oven in the next room. He didn't use gloves either when handling any of the bread. Ordered the Abruzze and it was bland and used pasta that came from a box. Skip this place and go literally anywhere else in Little Italy.

The food 3.6/5 : pesto and chicken parm + bread service Pesto: very goodings Chick parm: chicken was good, sauce needed to be simmered longer, pasta was under al dente . Very undercooked. Bread: mid Service 4/5: cool chic

I reviewed this restaurant years ago, and my review is gone. In the heart of Little Italy, it opened in 1914. The chefs of Dolce Vita have gone on to other little Italy restaurants. This is a great restaurant, with nice outdoor seating during warmer months. Terry is your host, and he takes good pride in hospitality and food quality. He might stop by and give you a little taste of Cacio Pepe. The sangria is made to order, loaded with fruit and amazing. The food is wonderful: The Hungarian hots, the caprese, homemade sauces, pasta, and ravioli are all spectacular. Ask for the daily specials. I had the lobster sherry reduction tossed in linguine, which was exceptional. Try the tiramisu for dessert with a cappuccino.

I consider myself a person who doesn't 'love' Italian food. My wife and I love this place. The pasta is fresh and the sauces are tasty and interesting. We also enjoy eating outside whenever the weather allows.

Delicious - wonderful pasta and Italian wedding soup. Their bread is fantastic but they do suffer with the olive oil dippings in my opinion

This is a "to go" order review only. We have eaten in and everything was great. Now fast forward. We really wanted to try the meat sauce. I ordered it to go and it was $20/plate. No bread, salad and literally 15 pieces of rigatoni per box. That's over a buck a noodle. GTFOOH.

Maybe the best restaurant in Little Italy. The food is authentic & Terry (Tarrantino the owner) is legendary. The drinks are great & the staff is soooo friendly! The dining room & bar bring you to a cafe in Italy. Just a great place for after work or a fun date nite!

Cleveland's Little Italy is always a treat, desserts, festivals and great restaurants. We had the opportunity to sit outside on a Friday Night at La Dolce Vita and it was fantastic. We started with soup and salad, fresh hot rolls and a little pasta on the side. Yes s little bow tie pasta, the owner walked around plating tasting plates of fresh made pasta...just a little something up tide you over. The minestrone was hot and full of flavor and the pizza was delicious too. So much we weren't sure we could eat our entrees. Of course that feeling passed when plates full of beef, shrimp, and pasta made its way to our table. Everything was great, made to order and the service was impeccable. Ummm did I mention the cocktails were delicious too and a bit heavy handed. No complaints here.

We had a pleasant meal. The wait staff was nice and patient. We were considering a dish when a member of staff became aware and provided a sample for us to try. My wife ordered the halibut dish, which was excellent. I ordered a more traditional Italian dish which was very good, as well. After dinner (no dessert said our full tummies) the waiter brought a light dish of cream and fruit. A nice end to a nice meal. The restaurant felt like a homey aged Italian establishment we visited in NYC little Italy some years ago. A nice experience.

I knew it was gonna be good when the surly, cantankerous owner came out with a bowl and was handing out his own little concoction of a bow tie pasta dish! He was hilarious! Food was delish, though meats could have used a little more seasoning. Very laid back environment. Would absolutely come back!

While the ambiance is great, the food is simply average. We did veal parm, chicken parm and gnocchi, along with apps (meatballs, stuffed hot peppers and caprese salad). Everything was OK, but not really that good. The place was packed and I wonder if the volume impacted the quality? It reminded me of the food we get each year at a Columbus Day Italian buffet at our local club. Perhaps we'll give the place across the street a shot next time we visit.

Had a quick dinner here last night with my sister prior to going to see Funny Girl at Playhouse Square. We were pleasantly surprised to receive a sample of the Cacio e Pepe upon arrival. It was what I had planned to order, but something about it did not agree with my palette. We started with a glass of wine each (I had the Montepulciano, which was so smooth!) and we split a Terry T's Tomato Salad. The salad was very good. For entrees, she had the Fettuccine Fellini with Chicken and I had the gnocchi with abruzze sauce. We both loved our entrees. She had been craving pasta and her meal perfectly hit the spot. The abruzze sauce was heaven. Perfectly flavored with just the right amount of meat - I couldn't stop inhaling and savoring it. I decided against dessert, but my sister had the tiramisu (delicious!). The server also brought a plate of fruit, drizzled lightly with chocolate,.surrounding a scoop of sweet ricotta. This was a pleasant surprise, and we devoured it. The table was comfortable, the room was not noisy at all, and our server was lovely. I've been to La Dolce Vita several times and this was by far my best visit.

I went to an opera night. It was absolutely wonderful. The food was fabulous too. Highly recommend this experience.

Great food. Great service when the restaurant was packed with large parties on a cold Saturday night. We had a cozy table in the main room where despite the crowd we could hear each other talk. To start we had the calamari and the Hot Peppers; the second one was our favorite. Blistered with a slight breading and filled with Italian Sausage. Yum! Caprese was large; lots of fresh mozzarella and firm tomatoes. Of the 3 entrees the Abruzze Pasta and Chicken Marsala were both outstanding. The veal ragu on the Abruzze was so delicious! The Fruit de Mare seafood was perfectly cooked but the ratio of pasta to sauce was a bit off, a quibble really. Chocolate cake, cannoli and espresso all wonderful. Highly recommend this fun and funky spot. Use the valet service who brought our card to the door when we left!

I came with a large group for dinner on a weekday, and we had a lovely time wining and dining at La Dolce Vita. It is clear the pride and joy the owner has for his restaurant, as he personally welcomed us and invited us to taste some of his specialties. Our group shared a vide variety of appetizers, including the calamari and eggplant parm which were my favorite. Drinks were also flowing and I had a glass of Malbec, which went perfectly with my entree. I had the halibut special, which came with risotto and plenty of veggies. The halibut was cooked well, and the veggies had the perfect amount of bite left to them - highly recommend! The group also ordered a variety of desserts, but I just had a latte and ate a bit from the fresh fruit platter they gave us. It was very refreshing! Overall, we had a nice candlelit Italian dinner with very personable staff and a friendly owner. La Dolce Vita would be a great option for any group gathering and especially date night!

To start, wow, the SERVICE WAS INCREDIBLE!!! SO SO FRIENDLY. We arrived and got seated immediately (had a reservation). Seemed pretty quiet as we arrived on a Tuesday night. Someone came up to us (kind of seemed like he could be the owner? had that sort of vibe) and asked if we had questions on the menu. We asked for his favorite pastas and he recommended a few. Then, before we could order, he exclaimed "WAIT!! Let me make you something to taste" and scurried off into the kitchen. He came back with a giant bowl of Cacio e Pepe and gave all of us a nice serving. He then roamed around the restaurant giving a serving to everyone who wanted one. THIS WAS SO DELICIOUS!! We then ordered, based off his recommendations, the quattro formaggi flatbread (decent), seafood di mare pasta (AMAZING!!!!) and the Fettucini Fellini (also amazing). Bellini was simple and nice! Everything was delicious but you couldn't beat the friendly and warm atmosphere. It was our first time visiting and we were treated like regulars / family. At the end of the meal, they brought out this delicious fruits and cream!!! Almost tasted like mascarpone/ricotta or even a cannoli filling? Couldn't quite put my finger on it but it was SO GOOD. 10/10. Will be back soon!!!!

My girlfriends and I came here on a Monday evening in July and sat on the back patio. La Dolce Vita has ample seating both indoors and outside with a large patio and sidewalk seating as well. The owner and his staff went above and beyond to make sure we got the table we wanted and put up umbrella to block the sun from shining in our eyes. He welcomed us with a free sample of homemade cacio e Pepe pasta which was outstanding (as good as any I had in Rome). Sam was our waitress and she was quick to check on us and attentive throughout the meal. The menu is large and has some unique items like a Gorgonzola and tomato cream sauce. I ordered the meatball appetizer for my meal (two large meatballs) and my friends ordered the ravioli di summer with the marinara sauce and the sweet life trio (meatball, eggplant Parm, and a stuffed pepper). All three dishes were outstanding. Very flavorful, large portions. Wait time wasn't long and the free bread and butter was also delicious. When our check came, they brought fresh strawberries and watermelon with homemade whipped cream out for us to share for free. The prices were on point for other restaurants in the area and the service was excellent. You could really tell they cared about their customers and giving them an excellent experience. The restaurant accepts reservations online but outdoor seating is first come first serve, although they do try their best to accommodate. Parking is tough to find, as is everywhere in the neighborhood, but valet is available and a metered lot is about a quarter mile down the road. Every other Monday night, the restaurant holds an opera night for those who enjoy live music. I've already made reservations to come back. Highly recommended.

Truly a wonderful meal! We asked for an outdoor table which did not disappoint, as this place is in the main street corner of Little Italy. The interior is lush with plants. The staff were very kind and knowledgeable about the menu and spent their time with us; did not act like they were rushing off to other people. The Pesto Omar was soooo creamy with juicy chunks of pancetta. The pagoda-shaped pasta collects all of the sauce. The tomatoes were maybe undercooked but overall, highly recommended. The Chicken Parmesan also hit the spot with! Didn't try dessert but regardless you are given some fresh fruit with cannoli cream. We really enjoyed our meal, and the only other thing to improve on would be giving the bread on time -- we received it with our entrees and would have liked it earlier.

Took a larger group for dinner. Food was great and service friendly and personalized. Only down side is no AC in dining room so a bit warm on a hot summer day. We will definitely be back tho!

My favorite restaurant in Little Italy! The service, the food, and drinks are consistently outstanding! I love the vibe and the decor, it's lovely and unpretentious. The owner typically stops by the table and gives a little taste of something, sometimes pasta or salad of some sort. One time it was cacio en Pepe, this last visit it was a delicious salad of tomato, shredded carrot, onion, basil, cheese, and olive oil. The olive oil they use is high quality and flavorful, matter of fact, all of their ingredients are but the olive oil feels worth mentioning. Each wine I've tasted has been delicious, and it's been fun trying different varieties. My favorites are the Roman Chariot salad, the unfried calamari appetizer, and the meatballs!!!

We held our son and his fiancée's wedding rehearsal dinner at La Dolce Vita. We really enjoyed the back patio, where we were able to get up and mingle. The food was delicious. We were served fresh hot bread, Terry's tomato salad named after owner Terry Tarantino, eggplant parmesan, and a pesto pasta as our first two courses. While I've never been a real fan of eggplant parmesan, Terry's eggplant parmesan made a convert out of me, so yummy! For our main course, we offered our guests a choice of short rib with mushroom risotto or chicken parmesan with pasta marina, both came with a salad. It would be impossible to pick a favorite out from all the courses, they were all excellent. I do have to say the beef short rib was the best I have ever had! We finished off with the fresh fruit and homemade whipped ricotta, the perfect ending to a delicious meal. There was a full bar available to us with a great selection of wine and beer and some innovative mixed drink suggestions. The servers were friendly, efficient, and did a great job with the flow of bringing out the courses. We had gone for a tasting during the planning since we are from out of town and had not eaten there prior. Terry told us how some of his menu changes daily based on what the freshest produce and fish is that he can find at the market. That was especially apparent in the tomatoes in the tomato salad and the fruit in the dessert. His attention to detail shows in the taste of the food. He also stopped in during the event. It is nice to see such a hands on owner. Parking is an issue for the restaurants in Little Italy. We knew this ahead and recommended Uber and/or the valet parking for our guests and that worked great. I would highly recommend La Dolce Vita for a dinner any night of the week, and also for anyone planning an event. Working with owner Terry and Event Planner Laura made planning our son's rehearsal dinner so easy and stress free. Thank you both and also the other staff who helped make it such a special evening.

Always a must try for Cleveland! Owner walks around and throws food on your plate if they have extras! Feels like you are at your Italian grandmas house