La Dolce Vita

Recommends

kjmhereiam

Joined 4 years ago

a wonderful place. I am going to guess the majority of these people complaining are 20 somethings with disgusting manners and no patience. The ffod was SUPERB, the service was wonderful, they know how to please a woman. My suggestion is that the GenXer's get a clue and go to McDonalds' if they need to eat quick. After 6 pm you should not take young children to this type of restraunt, get a sitter and let the rest of us that have been there done that enjoy our meals

Doesn't Recommend

anti

Joined 4 years ago

VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!!!. I'm Itaiian and usually have never had a bad comment to say about going to the north end to eat, however since I had a baby 3 years ago I have not been able to go out to eat much. I decided to take my out of town guests to the dolce vita and was very disapponted. The food was lousy and expensive not to mention the bread was hard like a rock!! Poor service. I will never go there again

Doesn't Recommend

RachelinBoston

Joined 4 years ago

Disgusted. I have eaten at Dolce Vita and though I was a bigger fan of the old (quieter) location, I always enjoyed the food and thought the owner's bravado was a fun part of the experience. I have recommended the place time and time again to tourists and Bostonians alike.

However - I will never be able to do so again and I am outraged and horrified by what I learned yesterday evening.

I encountered two women talking on the sidewalk in the area and they were very upset (one crying). I overheard a tidbit and had to ask what restaurant they were talking about - after I heard the story I had the *victim* walk me to the restaurant and she pointed specifically to Franco as having pulled her aside after the group's meal.

He advised her that he could reduce their bill if she would oblige to performing a specific (not much imagination needed here folks) inappropriate act for him! This young girl from a small town in the midwest was horrified that this person, an elder (her word) to her, someone in a position of authority who had gained her trust by playing the robust Italian charmer with his "Bella!" and all - he propositioned her this way.

Absolutely disgusting. I call for a boycott. I told her she should make a complaint with the police department. I hope she does. I am so outraged and saddened... I wish there were some way to hold him accountable for being such a despicable cad. All I have is my knowledge and the ability to take my business elsewhere - please join me and spread the word.

Doesn't Recommend

pamcamp

Joined 4 years ago

A long-time patron who will not be returning..... Over the past several years I have been to Dolce Vita many times, returning primarily because of the fun atmosphere and the food. When I had friends visiting from out of town to celebrate my birthday, I made a reservation for a party of 15 in a private room on Saturday night.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I was floored by how horribly I was treated by the owner, Frank. When I attempted to let him know we had arrived, he immediately snapped at me and told me to go in the line with the other customers. He then came over and yelled at the entire line of patrons. Then he came up to me several additional times, first telling me that I was late (we were right on time; he had the wrong time for our arrival). He then was angry with me when I informed him that 2 of our guests had cancelled last minute. Well, the 2 guests who cancelled actually did end up joining us, but that made him even angrier. I was humiliated by him yelling at me in front of all the other customers, and I was so upset by the way he treated me (at my birthday celebration no less), that I began crying.

At the end of our dinner, Frank came to our private room to see how our dinner was. I was feeling more courageous at this point and stood up for myself, telling him how upset I had been by the way he treated me in line earlier. Rather than apologizing, he made excuses for his actions stating he had done nothing wrong and that he was simply "busy." I then told him I had never been treated so horribly or been so humiliated in a restaurant in my life. I stated I would never come back to the restaurant again. When we got our bill to the tune of $810, nothing had been comped and no concessions made for my treatment.

As I said, Dolce Vita had actually been one of my favorite restaurants; the food is good and the atmosphere is fun, especially when the accordian player is there. If you decide to go (which I do not recommend), just know that you are running the risk of this owner picking you as his victim/scapegoat for the evening, leaving you humiliated and hurt, with not so much as an "I'm sorry" for the unjustifably horrific treatment.

Doesn't Recommend

guernelli

Joined 4 years ago

Bring a Small Apetitie and a Large Amount of Cash. Hi Everyone, here is the straight story on Dolce Vita. If you know Italian food, are Italian, have been to Italy or know how to read a basic Italian cook book you should probably go elsewhere. Very cheesy from the loud owner greeting you ( like you just got to the Disney Italian Restaurant ride in Orlando) to the included bread which was just as tasty as toasted Italian Bread from Shaw's. Orders were overpriced (an understatement) and under delivered as far as taste and quality. A small step above (possibly) The Olive Garden. Bring a large wallet and a small appetite. If you have several hundred dollars to spend go to a local supermarket pick up a 40$ bottle of Italian wine (maybe 2 ) then make your own Italian dinner. Not one entree ordered made the cut. The ravioli (for our children) were definitely frozen as were the gnocchi (side dish 9.95). The eggplant parm was marginal, small and non memorable. The veal chop dry and tasteless how about that for 34.95$?!

You are paying for the North End overhead and getting fast food Americanized Italian at its worst. The quality would rank close to the worst in Italy, inedible by a native Italian. Several chain Italian restaurants in the Northeast are far better at much less cost....

Not sure what to recommend except to stay away and save your money for an Italian vacation! Beware the positive reviews (look at their last name)

Recommends

ColetteCooper

Joined 5 years ago

Perfect.. Perfect! Fantastic food, wonderful atmosphere, great service. Everything was fresh, authentic, and delicious. Will come back often.

Recommends

visitorathome

Joined 5 years ago

Shhh.... We've been to Roma. This is as close as you get - food (small bites make it last), service (prego!), and atmosphere, especially on a beautiful late April night with the front windows open. We happily waited 10 mins after a reserved time with good bar service. Enjoyed a leisurely meal on a busy night. Hanover St. is full of authenticity, and Dolce Vita is a perfect example.

Recommends

Driverinmyhead

Joined 5 years ago

An experience in and of itself!. RESERVATIONS?

This review serves to give folks a heads up! Dolce Vita doesn't take reservations. Good LUCK! If you know the owner, they MIGHT hold a table "Goodfella's" style!

Otherwise, it's first come.....first served.

I have frequented this place for close to 7 years now. The first time I believe, was at the old location. It just keeps getting better! The olives, bread, oil and vinegar.... the atmosphere, it's second to NONE.

I am originally from Detroit and lived in New England for several years. You come to expect certain things from Italian joints in big Eastern cities. Seedy neighborhoods, no parking, high prices and unreliable service.

Dolce Vita has ANY place I've eaten in New York, Jersey or any big Eastern city BEAT, hands down. The prices are very reasonable, and the food is GREAT. The neighborhood is VERY safe (allowing you to walk off the 5 pounds of culinary bliss), and just up the street from Mike's Pastry!

Yeah, I have had better service, cheaper prices and MAYBE even a better dish....... But NOTHING compares overall to Franco's place: Dolce Vita.

Stroll in EARLY. Take a seat, munch on some bread and olives while you decide what to eat. You might even be lucky enough to catch Franco singing "Volare" or "O Sole Mio".

Take it all with a grain of salt!

When you are at "Dolce Vita", you are at one of those places. The kind of place where if you open yourself to new experiences and the romance of a man who TRULY cares about his patrons.... you will realize that after you've eaten there , you are a part of the family.

Doesn't Recommend

cash1

Joined 6 years ago

Worst service ever!!!. My friends and I had a sat/9pm dinner reservation. We got there at 8:30 so we could be ready to sit down when our table was ready. We were not seated until 11:15pm. The waiter asked one member of the group if she would like an appetizer. He took the liberty to give us 3 orders even though no one else wanted or ordered an appetizer. The dinner took forever and was average at best. When the bill came, we were shocked. The waiter had added and extra dollar or two for every item on the bill including the 3 orders of bruschetta. When we let the waiter know and showed him the different prices on the menu and our bill he said we were wrong and too bad we have to pay it. This was a very horrible experience. I will never go back.

Doesn't Recommend

redmnbvcxz

Joined 6 years ago

Worst reservation experience ever!. Owner DOES NOT honor reservations! Arrived 20 minutes early--we were never asked our name, he has no reservation book. Told to wait, and we did for almost an hour to no avail. He gives the SAME story to every person walking thru the door. Place is noisy and resembles a cafeteria. Please read other reviews similar to this one-- it is all true- i wish that i had known--the owner gives no consideration to your dining experience. We left and never even bothered to wait any longer--I would not give this place a second thought. This was a Saturday night experience--i do not know how it is during the week.