They are so kind and wonderful here! I hosted my birthday party at Dolly's and am so glad that I did. It is a really cozy spot and Dolly and her partner took great care of us. I've also visited a few times for a date night or a drink with friends. Foodwise, I'm a fan of the salad with shrimp and the meatballs. For my birthday party we ordered a cheeseboard and a platter of desserts for the group to share and all were delicious. read more

I have always looked forward to Parmesan cheese wheel pasta only in SoCal, so I was super excited and proud to meet this resto, which is in the East Bay, at the Gold Yelp event on Treasure Island recently! I finally found an opportunity to go in person this week. I find the resto very accessible and casual, which is great for a quick bite. Conveniently located on the main street of San Pablo not far from the freeway, and has its own parking lot. You sit at a small counter while you watch them prepare the cheese wheel pasta right in front of you. Servings are generous, and the wine list is vast! Because I love the dish, and it's now to easy to get, I will be back! read more

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First time at Dolly's tonight to celebrate my mom's birthday, and wow... they understood the assignment. From the jump, the first server let us taste an assortment of reds until we found the bottle. Instant hospitality points. We went all in: charcuterie board, brusetta caprese salad, mista salad, Caesar salad, meatballs. Then got into our main courses. Classic fettuccine, fettuccine with salmon, fettuccine with prosciutto, mushroom & pesto ravioli... and yes, we still had room for dessert. Tiramisu, coppa mascarpone, and affogato. Zero regrets. They surprised my mom with a non-alcoholic wine, and at the end, gave all of us a taste of Port. The main man was Shendal. He was friendly, chatting with everyone, and even came out with a slice of their chocolate cheesecake and a candle for my mom. The cheese-wheel pasta show? So fun to watch, even yummier to eat. Overall: cozy vibe, yummy food, big heart. Already planning my return trip for that crab & shrimp ravioli I missed. Dolly's, you'll be seeing me again soon read more

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Such a fun experience, especially for El Cerrito and the surrounding East Bay Area. If you're looking for something unique, Dolly's has an extremely special Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheel pasta dish. Outside of the Fettuccine Alfredo, you can top the dish with smoked salmon or prosciutto for an added flare and price. Other pasta dishes on the menu are crab and shrimp raviolis and spaghetti and meatballs (they have a meatball Monday special too!) From the menu there are also yummy starters and salads, as well as imported Italian desserts. The interior is small and cozy, perfect to saddle up for a solo date or with a friend to try one of Dolly's wines or a beautiful varietal from the menu, and enjoy conversation, community, and the lovely staff. The milkshakes are a fun surprise and sweet post-dinner treat as well. Located in the Peppermint Tree Plaza, parking is available but not ample. Dolly's is such a great addition to this area, bringing life and a lovely time out for those near & far. Word is traveling fast, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly :)) read more

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I'm so thrilled my Yelp search brought me to Dolly's! As someone who loves supporting local gems, I was excited to try something new in the neighborhood. Dolly's has such an amazing variety of wine and food options! I went for the beet salad, fettuccine Alfredo (which they make fresh in a Parmesan cheese wheel!), and a triple-chocolate mousse dessert. Everything was so good! The Pinot Noir and espresso were the perfect pair with my meal, too. The space is a bit cozy (not the best for large groups), but it has such a warm and inviting vibe--it's super clean and comfortable! Dolly herself is just the sweetest; she truly has a beautiful soul. The service was top-notch, and I can't wait to come back soon! read more

Dolly's - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Food: 3 stars Ambiance: 3 stars Value: 3 stars Service : 4 stars We decided to give the place a try after our last unfortunate experience (see original review) and were pleased it was open. The restaurant is tiny with two or three two-top tables and mainly counter seating. I'm not sure what the capacity is but probably 15 - 20 people. We sat at the counter which gave us a good view of the small open kitchen space. The wine menu is pretty extensive but the dinner menu is quite limited. The patron was nice enough to let us try their branded house wine which wasn't to our liking. We ordered a different bottle of wine, a caprese salad to share, and two variations of the fettuccini alfredo - one with smoked salmon and another with prosciutto. I was tempted to order the meatballs which looked big and appetizing but passed in favor of the alfredo, mainly because the tomato sauce comes from a can (not from scratch). The Caprese salad came with a nice ball of Mozerella (Burrata?), three slices of tomato, balsamic reduction, lots of olive oil but only two basil leaves. What are two people to do with three pieces of tomato and two leaves of basil? Aside from the ratios being off, the salad lacked seasoning. We were really looking forward to the cheese wheel experience but was pretty disappointed by the process which was more smoke and mirrors than authentic. The pasta was al dente and they were generous with the smoked salmon and prosciutto. On a less positive note, the pasta was precooked then heated in a hot water bath before being placed in the cheese wheel, rolled around a little bit and then topped with a bechamel-ish sauce that was quite bland on its own. Its blandness was a saving grace because the smoked salmon was VERY salty and difficult to eat without tempering it down with the bland sauce. The restaurant attempts to create a niche experience with the cheese wheel alfredo but I'm sorry to say they miss the mark on this. With some minor adjustments to their technique and ingredients, they could have something special. I wish them luck. read more

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I absolutely love this restaurant. My friends brought me here for my birthday. It is a small but mighty place with a relaxing, clean, and welcoming ambiance. The couple who owns this restaurant is so sweet, amazing, and super cute. The wife is the chef and creator of Dolly. Well, hello Dolly, I love their fresh pasta made in the Parmesan wheel; it's crazy delicious. I finally got to have the pasta made in the giant Parmesan wheel, I also had their Caesar salad with a huge slice of prosciutto on the top. I've never had it that way, but I absolutely want it that way from now on delicious! And a fresh made tiramisu cake for me so yummm and of course, we ordered a bottle of bubbly, hung out with my besties, a great way to spend my birthday, plus watching the Parmesan pasta it was just so cool and let me tell you I couldn't eat it all, It's just as good the next day too. I loved it so much that I can not explain how the cheese is literally everything. If you're in the area, you must stop in. It's so delicious, and I'll be back. Oh yeah, it's too good not to. Cheers, my friends SYOY 09/30/25 read more

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Listen, if you have not been here??. You need to get there. Food is absolutely delicious homemade sauces and meatballs that are so flavorful. My wife had ravioli and she loved it with a pesto sauce and the owner gave us a cheese sauce that they have from a wheel of cheese. I've only seeing that on food Network...service is great, parking is fine,we went on a Friday and it was well worth the drive to this location. The owner is super friendly and very helpful with anything we needed to know for sauce and flavors. We will definitely go back. October 2025 is their 2nd anniversary. Follow them on Instagram.. ambiance quiet and easy to speak with your date, and with the owner. Great place.. read more

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I have been wanting to try this spot since I saw a review for it. Why? The fettuccine Alfredo in the Parmesan pasta wheel and it did not disappoint. We started with a bottle of bubbles to celebrate a special birthday. For appetizers we had the Caesar salad and meatballs. The owner Shenal was extremely nice and told us at about how they started out. It's a small spot but oh so good. The fettuccine Alfredo with prosciutto was amazing!!! They also provide you with red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese and oregano to sprinkle at your leisure. Honestly the best pasta I've had in a while. Large portions and hot. They brought out the tiramisu which they import from Italy and it was awesome. I would highly recommend this spot but be aware not a ton of seating but well worth it. read more

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The other one star reviews of this "restaurant" are totally correct so I don't feel the need to repeat all that they said. The food was awful. The place unclean. The presentation cheap. The place does not have a kitchen so how can the food be fresh! I'm leaving this review because people like myself spend their hard earned dollars to go out to dinner and people deserve much better than this. The folks who run Dolly's seems to be well intentioned but since they've been in business two and a half years at this point and have taken none of these reviews to heart I feel they are deliberately negligent. Don't eat here! read more

Does it get more decadent than this? I would say stick to small portions. It's all heavy cream and cheese. Not complaining... read more

Dolly's - Pasta in a cheese wheel - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

The owner is so kind. I enjoyed the crab and shrimp ravioli and latte, and would come again :) The ambiance is more relaxed and casual, which I prefer read more

Dolly's - Latte - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I didn't realize how small this place was! My kids wanted to try the cheese wheel for their birthdays so we traveled from Concord to come here. They were not disappointed and loved it. Note though we sat at the counter - 8 of us fit snugly across the lower bar in front of the cheese wheel. Service was great and they were super nice. They don't take reservations technically but they were expecting us and we had a great time. We hope they grow and expand near us! read more

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Omg this review for me has definitely been long over do it's a must must must try I don't think I ever want to go to another place for fettuccine Alfredo ever again and just writing this review is reminding me of all the other stuff we got to try and omg everything was delicious best part I got to take my kids and enjoy a really nice meal and let's say I brought the whole family never have felt such at home. Service was 5/5 especially with dinning out with smaller kids and a group of friends great service. The ambiance in the place just feels super homie perfect when you want some Italian food . Check out the pics you will see how much my kids truly enjoyed this place! read more

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Thank you Dolly's for preparing the delicious lunch for the staff. The food was top-notch and the best Italian food in town. read more

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Food was yummy! Friendly owners, regulars and atmosphere. A little cramped at the lower counter if they're busy, so get there early to get a good spot. read more

Food is 4 stars. Ambiance is 1 star. Plus, it's super expensive for what you get (cheesy pasta). Cheesy pasta is fairly good. Nothing above average as far as fettucine alfredo goes, but it wasn't bad either. I ordered anchovies as a side and they smothered it. Anchovies are super rich, so there should just be a sprinkling of them. I had to remove 80% of them sadly. The tomato / cheese salad was adequate as well. Unfortunately, they serve food on plastic dishes and water in plastic glasses. One of their interior signs was dirty and the place was super warm. Unfortunately the ambiance said "inferior wannabe" to me. That's a shame because it's in our neighborhood and we wanted to love it. Hopefully they get real glassware and real dishes to match their premier prices. Maybe even get cloth napkins! And get air conditioning. Either do that, or lower the prices to match what you pay for. read more

Dolly's - Cheesy pasta with anchovies. - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

What a cool experience eating Fettuccine Alfredo with melted cheese from a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheel! It was delicious, unlike any other Fettuccine Alfredo I've ever had. The ambience is quite small but cozy. The co-owner Chanel is a true gentleman. He came and chatted us up while we had dessert and wine. We had a wonderful time. Shout out to Tashi who made our pasta. My oldest son said he could eat it everyday. We will be back. read more

Dolly's - Fettuccini Alfredo - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Such a great neighborhood gem! The Fettuccine Alfredo is lovely. This time we got to sit at the counter in front of the cheese! Shanal, the owner, was friendly and attentive, making sure we had what we needed. We'll be back every time we get the craving for cheese wheel pasta. read more

Dolly's - Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Good service and yummy food! Friendly owner who described how he prepares the cheese wheel

Located in a strip mall on San Pablo Ave., Dolly's is amazing. It's a small restaurant with a couple outdoor tables. There are six pasta dishes, and some simple appetizers. We had the Parmesan wheel pasta and spaghetti and meatballs. Both were incredible. Dolly's concept is pretty simple. They offer six pasta dishes with impeccable ingredients that are prepared perfectly. The appetizers and salads are simple and again with wonderful ingredients. We had two desserts, the tiramisu, and I can't remember the other one. Again, both were stellar and they are imported. I was celebrating my birthday in the server who I suspect might also be the owner put a candle on the cake and gave us the dessert at a deep discount. Incredible experience, definitely family run, and definitely worth the visit. The Parmesan wheel pasta was delicious and always knows how to do this dish the right way. Nothing fancy just some good cooking. And really nice staff that make you feel like you're at home. read more

I'm kinda surprised this place gets such good reviews on Yelp. The staff is incredibly friendly but the food could have used a lot more flavor. read more

Dolly's - Spaghetti & meatballs - not enough sauce - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This place is great! Cozy, small space with friendly service, good wine options, and delicious food. read more

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Hmm.. I wasn't sure what to expect, I just saw all the great reviews online. I came here for dinner and it was really lovely. First of all, the owner is so sweet. Like, wow. Secondly, I wasn't sure what the cheese wheel pasta was all about but holy Parmesan! It was so good, yummy and fresh. I plan to come back and bring my kids because they'll enjoy watching the pasta being tossed in the cheese wheel. I also ordered the burrata and meatballs to start. Delicious, delicious meatballs... my eyes were bigger than my stomach because I was almost full by the time I got my fettuccine. I will totally be back. It is small inside with limited seating, but I enjoyed sitting at the bar and having a convo. read more

Dolly's - Burrata - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Came back with friends and tried a few other dishes. Another amazing experience! At this point, everyone is coming here for the Cheese Wheel Pasta, so I'll just plug a few other things: Dolly's started off and is still a wine bar. We had a really nice Riesling with our meal. We like all the pasta dishes, but the Grantortellone Con Funghi Porcini Pesto + Burrata is a fun taste experience between the warm firm and slightly chewy pasta and cool creamy burrata. Not to mention the pesto flavor sensation. Got to try the desserts this time around and they are fantastic. I've always been "meh" on flan, so I had low expectations for the Panna Cotta. But it completely changed my mind. Super creamy and indulgent. Plus the mango purée flavor is on point. We went during a less busy time, so we were able to chat a little with Dolly. She's a wonderful host. We were seated around the bar as she was finishing the dishes and it felt like we were at the chef's table. We'll be back as long as our waistlines can handle it! read more

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Toni M chose this delightful restaurant for our monthly lunch. Unfortunately, Lori could not join us. The restaurant is small with just a few tables. There are several other restaurants in this strip mall, and there is parking, but it is usually full. Dolly, the owner is warm and friendly. I ordered a lot of food. I started with a small Caesar salad, the dressing was delicious. I mentioned I like anchovies and Dolly added some extra for me. I was getting full so I put it aside I wanted to enjoy my main course, the parmesano Regiano cheese wheel pasta. The hot pasta is swirled in the cheese wheel. The pasta was al dente and covered with the cheese. I enjoyed it, however when I come back I will order something else, I like more saucy pasta. Some of the plates that went past the table looked intriguing. Even though I could not finish the pasta, I had to try one of the imported desserts. I wanted them all but decided on the LemonCello to go. This was a sorbet in a hollowed-out lemon. I enjoyed this treat. I had a lot of leftovers. read more

Dolly's - Caesar salad - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Dolly was warm and welcoming. Service was wonderful. Portions were genwrous and fillimg. We had: Meatball app 5/5. Large portions and the san marzino marinara was super yum; Burrata 5/5. Good quality buratta and balsamic would order again; Salmon and shrimp salad 5/5. Shrimp in a cream dressing with salmon on a bed of romaine dressed in a caper vinegarette; Antpasto milano 5/5. Good amout ofnhigh quality meats place on a wonderful vingarette romaine salad; and Cacio e pepe 5+/5. Cheese and pasta no need to say more and watching it being made in cheese wheel was even better. We will be back to try more of Dolly's wonderful menu. read more

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Dolly's in El Cerrito is a cozy Italian spot with modern charm and a must-try specialty: cheese wheel pasta. Fresh pasta is tossed in a giant wheel of Parmesan imported from Parma--served plain or with salmon or prosciutto--and it's as fun to watch as it is to eat. Pair it with a beet salad, meatballs, and a glass of wine, then don't skip dessert (the tiramisu is unforgettable). Friendly owners Dolly and Shenal make the experience warm and welcoming. read more

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We had a great time coming to Dolly's for happy hour on a Monday. The owner is so personable and offered excellent hospitality!

At first glance, I didn't expect the owner to have the chops to have serious cred in Italian cuisine. However, it turned out she had spent years under the tutelage of chef Ruggero Milano at Milano Ristorante in Tiburon. Unfortunately he passed away during the pandemic, but Dolly saw it as an opportunity to open her own spot in the Peppermint Tree Plaza in El Cerrito. I told her that she picked a prime spot because there are three spots I really like in the same strip mall: Nori Roll (review: https://yelp.to/Lm9s2gqQgv), Larb Thai (review: https://yelp.to/5ESjBYUBVJ), and Banh Mi Ba Le (review: https://yelp.to/FHnBMsfB8q). Fortunately she can be assured she is contributing to the positive reputation of this unassuming shopping center. It was obvious from the still-developing menu that she knows Italian, and it starts with her extensive wine list. Three huge whiteboards were covered with various wine choices. Feeling effervescent, I ended up ordering a $10 single serving bottle of bubbly Lamarca Prosecco (photo: https://yelp.to/V2hZ00ZPts). I went for the $5.95 Small Caesar Salad as a starter, and she assembled it with large parmesan shavings and freshly toasted croutons (photo: https://yelp.to/D0YBBps6oO). I was hoping for fresh anchovies but didn't see any. I also had ordered the creamy $12.95 Burrata which came with three thick slices of slightly underripe heirloom tomatoes and drizzled with balsamic (photo: https://yelp.to/79VxJ9YKSq). I was impressed that Dolly was handling all the responsibilities herself, and she clearly used fresh ingredients in her dishes. She's adding pasta dishes, so Jamie W. and I are definitely coming back. FOOD - 5 stars...fresh ingredients and Donna's know-how made the difference AMBIANCE - 5 stars...a compact space but the marble counter lent class SERVICE - 5 stars...Dolly gives it her all TOTAL - 5 stars...yet another great eatery at the Peppermint Tree Plaza RELATED - Exploring El Cerrito? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18 read more

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It amazes me how much good reviews this restaurant gets. I've been here twice, once to to-go spaghetti and meatballs, and a second time for fettucini alfredo with prosciutto in person. Both experiences were incredibly disappointing. First, let me start off that the staff are incredibly friendly. However, I was very weirded out when I was dining in person and the staff asked if I wanted more sauce for my dish. Shouldn't the staff know how much sauce to add? It was a good thing they asked though because the alfredo was flavlorless and adding more sauce sort of helped (emphasis on sort of - the sauce itself was extemely bland). Similarly, when I to-go'ed my spaghetti, there was barely any sauce and again, the entire dish was extrmely bland. It's so disappointing because I was hoping to find a good local italian restaurant without having to drive to Berkeley, but this place keeps disappointing. I wonder why so many other people are giving them great reviews.. is it because it's a small business and we should support local small businesses? Surely they must think the pasta dishes are bland too right? Idk, it's just bewildering to me how bland and disappointing this place is. I highly recommend the staff to flavor their sauces more and for futurr patrons to take others' postive reveiws with a grain of salt. read more

Nina and I have been planning a visit to Dolly's for months now. We made a date for Wednesday then discovered they were only open Thursday-Sunday for lunch when Nina got back from the East Coast. Then Nina checked and discovered they were only open for lunch Friday to Sunday so we changed our date to today. We arrived about the same time. I got the blue space and Nina parked a block or two away. Dolly's husband was working. I asked where Dolly was and he told me they had taken a family trip to Sri Lanka. He said she had stayed behind and would be back in 2 weeks. When Nina joined me I had some recommendations, namely that we share a small appetizer of meatballs and an order of the cheese wheel pasta. I had thought about sharing a salad as well, but that seemed like too much. We also both wanted black tea w/ milk and stevia for me, raw sugar and milk for Nina. Chintal, Dolly's husband, gave us each two teabags and explained that this was Sri Lankan tea and that he usually uses 3 tea bags. Nina used two and I used three. I have Sri Lankan bulk tea at home and love it. First we got the meatballs, which were delicious as usual. Then Chintal divided the pasta into two portions. Neither of us could finish it so we got to go boxes. I heard another customer mention limoncello, which reminded me of the delicious sorbet in a lemon shell I had had some time ago so I ordered some. Nina had a taste and I took the rest to go. We paid and walked to my car, where we loaded stuff and Nina headed off to a mani-pedi appointment and I went to Solano to the Stone Room. read more

Great pasta! Probably the only place at Berkeley with wheel cheese. Amazing customer service. And food was delicious.

Wow!! This is amazing place to have a cheese wheel pasta.. I love this place with a simple menu read more

Recommended! The ambiance is excellent, with modern decor and appointments. The waitstaff is attentive and provides great service. But the food is the star. You must try the Fettuccine Alfredo, it's amazing. Rich, peppery, clean and creamy: it's the best Alfredo I can remember. The Marianara is great too! read more

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The pasta is reheated in front of you in old hot water in a pot. The pesto tastes like packaged bulk sauce. The service is slow. I have no idea how they have such good reviews. read more

The owner is super nice and attentive to all his customers. The best thing on the menu is their meatballs!! Some of the best meatballs I have had! Well seasoned, moist, and the sauce was delicious! The past from the cheese ball is great, a bit under seasoned but the saltiness of the prosciutto added that saltiness and balanced! They have a good wine selection. It was our first time here, and will definitely be returning and telling our friends! It's a small place, super cozy. I definitely recommend it! read more

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Great dinner spot to check out! Very clean and cozy interior, with a lovely menu and expansive wine collection. The owners were so friendly and fun to chat with, got to learn a lot about the history of the cheese they're using and the restaurant as a whole. Definitely recommend this for the family or as a date spot. read more

Dolly's - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Definitely a hidden gem and definitely coming back. We started with the meatballs. A great combination of beef and pork with the perfect marinara sauce. Then we had their famous Alfredo pasta they cook in a Parmesan cheese wheel. Delicious!! My husband had crab and shrimp ravioli. Amazing!! Some of the best Alfredo and ravioli I've had in a long time. We ended the meal with of their Ghirardelli's milkshake. Great selection of wine and other beverages. The owner was gracious, kind, and knowledgeable of all the wine. Thank you Mr. Dolly for a great experience, see you soon!!! read more

Who starts with 1x tiramisu plus 1x lemon cello in an Italian restaurant specialized in wine and cheese? Why not? And, just to be upfront, I don't drink nor cheese is my thing. Owner is super sweet and an ex professional ruby player from Sri Lanka. Both the desserts are great. They work really hard for this lovely neighborhood restaurant so I would highly recommend you try it. read more