Took 14 minutes after being seated for my order to be taken. My frustration with the very slow service on a Sunday night was relieved by the owner coming around with free garlicky olive oil bow tie pasta samples. My Godfather amaretti scotch cocktail was good. I can't really complain about the bread since it was free but wow was it super hard. It broke open with a thousand splinters everywhere and was overall just a way to pass the excessive amount of time between my courses. The terry's tomato salad was huge. Tons of tomatoes, carrot shreds, so much garlic it was almost spicy in a painful way but overall would be a great "salad" to share. The calamari had a flavorful garlic broth but was otherwise unremarkable. It came with two pita slices. The Fellini gnocchi with meatball was good. Moist juicy beef meatball atop creamy Gorgonzola tomato sauce and delicate squishy tasty gnocchi. Other than slow service not a bad meal. read more

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Finally made it to Little Italy in Cleveland after multiple visits to the city, really hoping this time I'd find a good mealbut unfortunately, still no luck. The service at La Dolce Vita was good, which I appreciated. I ordered the veal with pasta. The veal itself was disappointing the breaded cutlet wasn't hot enough, so the cheese just sat on top instead of melting properly, which affected both the texture and overall flavor. The pasta (Pellegrino/Pellipe) was just okay, nothing particularly memorable.They did bring out a complimentary fruit plate at the end, which was a nice gesture.Overall, while the service was solid, the food didn't meet expectations. I'm still searching for a truly enjoyable dining experience in Cleveland. read more

La Dolce Vita - Menu - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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I love this place for so many years. The best Little Italy restaurant. The food is amazing. The service is exceptional. Cannot wait to keep coming back. Grazie!!! read more

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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. read more

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What a great restaurant!! First and foremost, make reservations, especially on the weekend! If you think you're going to walk up for dinner and just get a table, even at 5:30, you're mistaken. Don't risk it! There is valet parking, it's a little steep but also worth it when parking is so limited. Prepare to wait on both ends, drop off and pick up. With the warm weather, there is outdoor seating, first come first serve, otherwise it's inside at tables or the bar. When it's busy, it's crazy hot inside and also extremely loud. Our table of four had a hard time hearing one another over the hustle & bustle of the restaurant. The menu selection is wonderful. Just when you think you know what you want, the server comes over to tell you the specials and you're now completely torn on what you're having. The trio platter was amazing as an appetizer, but honestly, would make a great meal too. Two plates of seared scallops on polenta, rigatoni with marinara and a seafood fettuccini were all enjoyed. While we didn't order dessert, we were treated to a complimentary plate of mascarpone and fresh fruit. It was all wonderful and we left stuffed! I'd definitely go back again... I'd like to try their Chicken Marsala, which is what I was going to have until I changed my mind and went for scallops! read more

Went on a Friday night and to our surprise there was not a wait. They do offer valet parking and there is street parking available but it can be difficult to find. We were seated quickly and our server came to introduce themselves to us and tell us the specials for the day. The lighting was dim but not too dark. It was busy but not too loud so we could hear each other talk which was nice. We had some cocktails from the menu that were good. They brought out some bread rolls and butter that were nice. Our food came out pretty quickly. The scallop special I got was so good! The scallops were a nice size and it came with 4-5 of them. My husband and cousin both got the chicken parm which was huge and reported very good as well. The owner at one point came around with a bowl of a pasta dish he whipped up and gave everyone a sample which was cool to see. We look forward to coming back! read more

La Dolce Vita - Scallop special - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Cool old building but the decor inside is big time lacking. Nice to have outdoor seating which is a plus. Very loud inside. Not the restaurants fault but whoever was the entertainment for the night was finished but having a very intense and loud conversation with multiple people for 20 plus minutes. Made it uncomfortable for those just wanting a nice evening. Seated right away but were forgotten for over 10 minutes. Had to ask for our server or we would most likely never been recognized. Food was average at best. Rolls were from what I could buy from a grocery store. My chicken parm had pasta that was undercooked and the sauce was very watery. The chicken itself lacked seasoning. Other dishes were okay but nothing to write home about. Decent sized portions. Price wise, it was fine. Three of us with one drink each and it was 91 dollars. Not too bad. A plus surprise was an extra small plate of pasta brought out and shared with the tables, as well as a small fruit plate we didn't know we were getting after dinner. While not the best, we are glad we went and tried somewhere new we usually don't get a chance to visit. read more

I misunderstood the menu on Toast, I think. I wanted Butternut Squash Risotto with chicken in it. I clicked on "Chicken Risotto" which had Butternut squash and zucchini written underneath. But there was no butternut squash at all, just tomatoes, red onions and a few pieces of zucchini (not diced, but in large round slices). It was creamy but very bland and under seasoned and hard to taste the cheese or the wine sauce (if there was wine in it at all). And believe it or not, I felt like the ratio of chicken (which was dry and chewy) to rice was off--not enough rice to balance the chicken strips that were added in. (For $30, I expected bread and burger, but nope.) read more

Amazing experience at La Dolce Vita! The inside is beautiful and cozy, with tons of greenery, funky decor, and live music that adds to the lively, buzzing atmosphere. It's definitely a popular spot - very crowded - but we managed to grab a last-minute reservation just before closing. The owner was incredibly warm and welcoming, walking around the restaurant and even bringing out extra food like little salads and pasta for free. You can really tell they put the customer first and want you to have a great time. The menu has so many great options. I asked for the ravioli but served with pesto, which was rich and perfectly cooked, while my boyfriend's shrimp scampi was a bit al dente for my taste but still good. We also got a complimentary dessert that was unexpected and delicious. If you're looking for a lively, cozy spot with fantastic food and an owner who genuinely cares, La Dolce Vita is definitely worth a visit! read more

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The place needs an overhaul! Sonoran down inside. Food was average and small portions. Was not welcoming.

Food is fantastic! Pasta, fish, salad all worth the money. Attentive owner constantly ensuring everything is going well. Classic cozy space inside, with nice bar seating too. Sidewalk patio is ideal when the awesome Cleveland weather cooperates. Highly recommended. read more

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. read more

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Loved this place. Free fresh baked bread. Huge portions. The gnocchi was heavenly. The service felt like part of a big Italian family (one of the owners was even passing out free Cacio d Pepe!). Ambience was classy yet casual, a truly no frills Italian restaurant. 5/5, can't wait to come back read more

La Dolce Vita - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Was there with a group of about 40 women. The opera music was very good and enjoyable. I really enjoyed the eggplant parm, it was amazing - and I don't even typically like eggplant parm. Since I was there with a large group the menu options were chosen for us, so I would like to try it my own choices. The service was a little iffy at times, but again, our group was quite large. The owner was super nice. read more

Before arriving make sure you have a reservation!! Weekends are super busy even on Sunday nights. The restaurant itself is semi-dressy. The decor is cute and fitting. The food itself wasn't overwhelming amazing but it was good. The meatball appetizer was a 9/10. super delicious and moist. the gnocchi and pesto were ok 6/10. i was overwhelmed by the amount of sauce but the pesto itself was not overwhelming. the seafood pasta was also a 6/10. I was most looking forward to dessert. at $16 the banana dolce vita is a little expensive for no tableside flambé but it was ultimately delicious and not too sweet. the service was bare minimum and there were many times were we thirsty and needing things but our waitress was no where around. read more

La Dolce Vita - Banana Dolce Vita - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

La Dolce Vita - Sweet Life Trio - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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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! read more

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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 read more

Awesome quality of food (great taste and big potions). If you are looking for traditional Italian food and atmosphere, this is it! The owner (Terry) is great and makes you feel welcome. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

La Dolce Vita - Abruzze - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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 read more

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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! read more

La Dolce Vita - Seafood Pasta & Gnocchi Dolce Vita - Italian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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! read more

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Great atmosphere! True Italian family dining. The owner shared a special pasta sampling with all customers. My girlfriend said it was the best Chicken Marsala she has ever had and I felt the same about my Chicken Parmesean. Can't wait to go back! Excellent service read more

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! read more

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Service poor. Drinks watered down. Food undercooked. How can you screw up Aperol Spritz. How can you only serve half the table? How can you undercook chicken Parmesan and pasta marina? Manager leaving dirty bowls on tables. Hostess said it was my fault. read more

Had the best time out with friends at La Doce Vita in little Italy! Great service, fun atmosphere and the food was outstanding! Terry Tarandtino owner never disappoints! And we were entertained by opera singing! Was extra special! I highly recommend and will be going back. read more

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The service was excellent. Went above and beyond for all the customers. The owner went out of his way to make sure everyone was beyond happy. The only issue was the food wasn't seasoned that much. Other than that, it was great. read more

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! read more

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. read more

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