La Dolce Vita Cucina - Chicago

DOG FRIENDLY!!! Main reason we stopped by was that I could bring my Dog....what a hidden gem!! The food was very very tasty, the atmosphere inviting, Rodrigo was friendly and accommodating. They have not rolled out their puppy menu yet but he made something special for her. Sorry the spaghetti was delicious and forgot to take a picture beforehand...a must try. Don't do like we did passing up this restaurant for months - it's definitely so worth a visit. It will not disappoint!

We had a truly wonderful first visit to this Italian gem, and thanks to Roberto—attentive, friendly, and effortlessly funny—we felt like regulars the moment we walked in. His warm hospitality set the tone for a memorable evening. The food delivered in both flavor and presentation. A warm bread basket, featuring a mix of breads and focaccia, was a thoughtful touch to start. The meatballs with polenta appetizer was outstanding—rich, comforting, and generously portioned enough to pass as a main. For mains, I had the Alaskan Halibut Filet with spring vegetables and a pea purée. The halibut was slightly overcooked, but the vegetables were perfectly prepared and the sauce tied everything together beautifully. My son ordered the Frutti di Mare, which was exceptional—the seafood was fresh, and the sauce struck a perfect balance, enhancing the dish without overwhelming it. We sampled all three Negronis (the perks of living just around the corner) and unanimously voted for the Classico. Each version was well crafted and added to the evening’s charm. The space itself is lovely—simple yet warm, with classic booths and lots of wood, a welcoming ambiance. It’s the kind of place that works just as well for a casual dinner with friends as it does for a celebratory gathering. Overall, a fantastic neighborhood spot with excellent service, flavorful food, and a cozy atmosphere. We’ll definitely be back.

First time here, and wow—it was incredible! We tried a variety of dishes, including a few off-menu specials, and everything exceeded expectations. To start, the calamari was hands-down the best we’ve ever had—lightly fried to perfection, with a mix of seafood that added great texture and flavor. Next up, the thin-crust Margherita pizza was a standout. The crust was perfectly crisp, with a balanced blend of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil that let each ingredient shine. For my entrée, I had the lemon chicken with capers over linguine, tossed in a light olive oil and garlic sauce. Every bite was bursting with bright, savory flavor—zesty, rich, and deeply satisfying. The atmosphere deserves its own mention: cozy yet stylish, ideal for a romantic dinner or catching up with friends at the bar. The layout felt intentional and welcoming, making the whole experience even better. Already looking forward to coming back—this place is a gem!

We ordered the gnocchi and spaghetti. It was phenomenal , what more stood out for us is that the restaurant was dog friendly and very accommodating. The staff was very polite and helpful. Overall this is a very underrated restaurant and deserves more recognition.

My husband and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary at La Dolce Vita Cucina, and it was truly a memorable experience. The service was exceptional—attentive, professional, and warm. From the moment we walked in and down to the very end we felt seen, appreciated, and celebrated, which made our special occasion even more meaningful. The cuisine was impressive, with flavors and freshness that transported us back to our time in Italy. The dessert was the perfect finishing touch—well-balanced and absolutely delicious. La Dolce Vita Cucina stands out as a gem in the area, offering not only outstanding food but also a level of service that makes you feel valued.

Our team was thrilled to have been invited to finely dine at this beautiful Italian Restaurant. We loved the atmosphere, delicious food, attentive service and live music. We’re excited to invite our friends and family!

This place is such a hidden gem. The food is delicious with pastas, sausage, bread, even ice cream made in house. They don’t skimp on truffle in truffle pastas. The service is always friendly and very accommodating. If more people knew about this place, the line would be out the door. We always bring out of town guests here and they always agree.

I definitely recommend this place . Is delicious. You need to try Rigatone bolognese, the drinks are super good as well. The service is incredible

New neighborhood spot, Highly recommend ! I tried this restaurant last night with a group of girlfriends. It was fantastic. The service was spot on , great martinis , food was delicious, cozy ambiance. The beet salad is amazing and all our pastas were delicious. The orecchiette pasta with the peas and sausage was a crowd favorite as well as the risotto that was on special for the night. But honestly all 5 pasta dishes we tried were . Only thing i didn't think was as great as everything else was the tuna tartare was sort of bland but loved the concept of being on a potato chip. Creme brulee for dessert was a great choice & they did that amazing as well I'm so excited for this to be in our neighborhood and will definitely be back!!

Owner/Manager/ Bartender Robert is fantastic. I had the meatball appetizer. They were about the size of a cheery tomato and buried in sauce. The taste was underwhelming. I've had better meatballs from a package. Would have been nice to see 3 large ones with less sauce. My friend said his salmon entree was underwhelming. Atmosphere is great. I hope the place has great success as this neighborhood needs a place like this.

So excited about this new addition to our neighborhood! Loved their fried calamari and frutti di mare. Beautiful ambiance, great service, and delicious food.

Excellent addition to the Portage Park / Old Irving / Six Corners community. We've eaten here 3 or 4 times since they opened and have enjoyed every meal. All the pastas are homemade and you can tell - they are delicious. Cocktails are great and they have a really interesting selection of wines by the glass. Service is friendly and efficient.

I went here in late Oct. We had drinks and they were good. We ordered spaghetti amd salmon. We did not like meatballs. They were wierd color and did not taste homemade. The salmon better. The portions are small. We met one of the owners. We enjoyed are time with him.. I hope they improve .. i want and need a great italian restaraunt near us

Great Food and atmosphere!! The food was delicious and the service was excellent! A great date spot! We are happy to see this addition to the neighborhood!!

Great ambience, good food and great service. This Italian restaurant in Portage Park has yummy menu items as well as compelling specials. Don't miss the crème brûlée for dessert.

Love La dolce vita cucina. Food is great and everyone is so friendly High recommended

Excellent for large parties!! We had a group of about 19 people to celebrate a birthday and the seating in their back room was perfect. The service was excellent and our server was incredibly attentive and professional. The food was great, we had multiple apps for the table and everyone ordered an entree and commented how much they enjoyed their dish. I highly recommend this restaurant if you have a large party.

We were hopeful this would be good as it just opened down the street from us. They did not disappoint! Wow, such an amazing staff. The service was a 12 out of 10. The food was very delicious and we tried 8 different dishes and all of them were amazing. We tried 2 of the specials and 4 pastas. Everything was so good. Bravo! Also, fabulous martinis ;) We've now been back 3 times...Love the off menu options, talented chef back there! Appetizer size pastas, great idea!

the food, service and cocktails were excellent! it's exciting to finally have a "nice" restaurant in the neighborhood besides community tavern. my only suggestions are: maybe no large televisions during saturday dinner service because it gives a sports bar vibe and instead of soft jazz which can make you feel like you're in a doctor's office, try real jazz! mingus, coltrane, montgomery, etc all in all can't wait to return!

Excellent! Food, service, vale. We had a 6:30 resv on a recent Friday night and the place was immaculate. Was able to park very close. We learned that they have been open about 3 mths thus far so all is shiny and tasteful. Has a city vibe without the hassle. Nice bar set up and many dining tables and booths. Authentic delicious Italian. We learned that the owners are the chefs. We also learned that the balsamic vinnegar that is provided along with olive oil on the table is 15 year old aged. Was delicious with the home made 2 different types of bread provided. The spices and flavors of our meals were spot on. Zander, our server, was top shelf and very friendly. Definitely going back!

Was in the neighborhood and found this place on Yelp. Great food, very friendly service, great atmosphere. Highly recommend!

We got the spaghetti and meatballs and the fish stew - portions were small. The espresso martini was delicious. Good seating and good atmosphere, wait staff very friendly. Apparently there are off menu items and specials which we were not told about.