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    LA Dolce Vita

    4.1 (19 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    LA DOLCE VITA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - LA Dolce Vita

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    Cocktail menu in May 2026
    Tiffany Y.

    La Dolce Vita is a local, upscale-casual restaurant and bar that serves Italian foods and drinks. It is open daily for happy hour and dinner, and it also offers catering. Examples of menu items are appetizers (e.g., burrata, arancini, soups, and salads), entrees (e.g., pizzas, pastas, and chicken piccata), and beverages (e.g., wines, martinis, spritzes, and beers). Prices are reasonable. Through Yelp, I made a reservation for an early dinner for my husband and me. The employees promptly and kindly served us throughout our meal. The restaurant had two floors of indoor seating. Here are my ratings for what we ate: Moscato wine - 5 stars Caesar Salad - 4 stars - I liked that I could order a half size, but I recommend that the kitchen staff mix in the dressing. Meatballs with Garlic Bread - 5 stars Chicken Parmesan - 3.5 stars - On chitarra noodles. I recommend making the breading crispier and tweaking the tomato sauce. Vodka-cream Pizza - 4.5 stars - Tasty sauce, onions, mozzarella, basil, and oregano. Tirasmisu - 4.5 stars - House-made, moist. Lady finger, mascarpone cream, and cocoa powder. We received a small discount during the happy hour. Our total price was about $69 plus a credit-card fee, tax, and tip.

    Chicken gnocchi
    Jennifer Á.

    Pretty good food, got the pomegranate margarita that was also good. Server was very nice. The vibe/decor was very underwhelming. Does not have the vibe of somewhere to go for a special occasion.

    Caesar salad
    David R.

    This is a really lovely Italian restaurant with plentiful seating on two floors. There is also a happy hour with a handful of discounts from 4:00-6:00 on weeknights. The service was super friendly and I enjoyed all the food I had which included meatballs, Caesar salad, and chicken parmigiana. The food was all incredibly fresh and clearly made to order. The pasta is clearly freshly made, and the wine hit the spot. The sauces are tasty, but not overpowering. I think my only critique is that I personally would have liked a touch more garlic in the marinara sauce. Portions are perfectly sized. Definitely recommend.

    Tuscan Sausage Pasta
    Brian H.

    Service was great. Our waitress was attentive and interactive. Food portions were also great and reasonably priced. I enjoyed the Tuscan sausage pasta and would recommend this meal. The cheesecake was super rich and flavorful. I often judge a restaurant on their ability to cook calamari. Here, the calamari wasn't chewy and it was crispy with a flavorful breading, only critique is I'm not sold on the sauce they use for it though. Regardless, positive experience. Their food is great. Wish they had a bit of a bolder marketing tool to let people know where they are. It's pretty hard to find amongst the bright and large signs on the stretch of road. Only learned of it through google searches.

    Truffle pappardelle and chicken Alfredo Wedding soup
    Colleen F.

    Was craving fresh pasta after just being in Italy and La Dolce Vita did not disappoint us. We made reservations and our table was waiting with water poured. It was quaint, clean, quiet. Our server was a sweetheart and had good knowledge of menu. We started with wedding soup and a caprese salad. Soup had a very good broth and salad had fresh mozzarella balls with a nice thick balsamic dressing. Entree's chicken Alfredo and truffle pappardelle. Amazing. Nice to have fresh pasta cooked perfectly. Also just enough to eat. We tried the tiramisu for dessert which was also amazing. Creamy with a definite taste of espresso. Prices are reasonable for a meal almost as good as one in Italy. A new favorite. Compliments to the chef.

    Halie G.

    Checked out a new South Side spot- La Dolce Vita PGH. This is an authentic Italian spot right on East Carson. Street parking is available. Reservations are not needed but recommended- especially on the weekends. All their dishes sounded incredible. Started off with a glass of their Orange Wine and a Hugo Spritz! For the antipasti- it was hard to pick just one, so we shared three- the more the merrier! The Burrata, Bruschetta and Arancini are perfect shareables. Not huge portions but good portions- the perfect amount for 2-3. I love the fact that they offer half and full salads and quite a variety! Had half of the Caprese and half of the Spinach! For the mains- had to pick off their house-made pasta dishes, although their hand-tossed pizza sounded great. We tried both the Caprese Pasta and the Spinach Ravioli. Adding grilled chicken to the spinach ravioli is a master move! Although we were completely stuffed, we had to try their desserts. The Cannoli's are phenomenal and the Chocolate Tuxedo Cake was divine! I highly recommend giving this place a try!

    Cannoli
    Allyson H.

    Amazing food and service. Our entrees and salads came out very soon after each other which wasn't ideal but it was delicious. Apps were so so so good, I think the burrata should've come with bread but it was good. The salads were okay, I'd suggest the spinach over the caprese. Entrees and desserts also amazing. I forgot to take a picture of the entrees but the caprese pasta and spinach ravioli with chicken were so good.

    Pumpkin cheesecake

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    2 months ago

    Food was great. Got the Tuscan sausage pasta and some drinks. The servers were very kind as well.

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    2 months ago

    Fantastic meal from apps to dessert. Tuscan pasta and deconstructed lasagna were outstanding.

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    Ask the Community - LA Dolce Vita

    DiAnoia's Eatery

    DiAnoia's Eatery

    4.4
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    My first restaurant since moving to Pittsburgh! We went on a Friday night and the restaurant was…read morepacked. We waited about an hour for our food which was kind of frustrating but they were absolutely slammed. Our server even brought us a second plate of bread and oil to make up for it (which we appreciated)! The food was worth the wait! Loved heirloom pasta and gnocchi w/ meatballs were delicious as well!! We also got tiramisu for dessert (not pictured) yeah, no. The mascarpone was dense and I believe they used cake instead of the ladyfingers. It genuinely pretty bad and I wouldn't get it again which sucked because tiramisu is my go to dessert (also pretty pricey for the portion we got). At that said, I will be back to try other dishes!

    People really hyped this place up, so I was excited to finally try it. The atmosphere is really…read morecute, and I'm glad I made a reservation because it got super busy, even on a Thursday. Our waitress, Emily, was wonderful and so kind. The bread was good, but I wish it had been served hot. I also wasn't a huge fan of it sitting directly in the olive oil and vinegar like that. The gnocchi was one of the best I've ever had. The texture was incredible. I also got the short rib pasta, which was just okay. The meat was very tender, but the overall flavors didn't really stand out to me. The portions are definitely huge, though! We also got the Caesar salad, and the dressing was really good, but the shishito peppers were almost soggy, which took away from the dish a bit. Really good spot for a date!

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Margherita Calabrese
    Margherita Calabrese
    House Salad with Mixed Greens, Olives, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Cucumbers, and Oregano Vinaigrette

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    House Salad with Mixed Greens, Olives, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Cucumbers, and Oregano Vinaigrette
    Girasole Restaurant

    Girasole Restaurant

    3.9
    (758 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    So this location was only about a 10 minute walk from our hotel and we are so glad that we checked…read moreit out. It is a very cozy Italian restaurant that's serving homemade Italian food like your Nonna would make for you. We showed up on a Tuesday night and it was packed. It was around six or 6:30 in the evening and when we first got there, we were told it would be about a 20 minute wait before a two top was available. But the host came back and asked if we didn't mind sitting by the kitchen they could see us right away. We chose to sit by the kitchen, which honestly was probably the best option because it was actually a little bit quieter because there was a very large party that was celebrating a birthday and they had live music going on so it was hard to hear when you were in the main dining space but back by the kitchen it's a little bit quieter and we could actually hear ourselves talk. My husband got the penne with meatballs and the penny was nicely cooked with a beautiful tomato Bass sauce and the meatballs or some of the best Italian meatball he's ever had. His only complaint was that there were only two in the order and he wished there would've been three. I got the spinach and ricotta, stuffed ravioli, and by far one of the best raviolis I've ever had. The ravioli are large so there's only about five in a dish but they're packed fully and the flavoring and seasoning is absolutely spectacular. It's got a beautiful sauce like accompanies it and the chew you can definitely tell it is handmade pasta/ravioli. Our server, Emma was absolutely spectacular and was so kind. We truly enjoyed our experience here and would highly recommend anybody to check it out if you're in the area. But we also do recommend make your reservations ahead of time. This place gets packed quickly.

    Very, very good Italian spot near Walnut Street, very close by all the top shops. The ambiance is…read morevery nice, both inside and outside. Pretty tight space though. The waitresses are friendly and have great recommendations. I got to try their linguine rustica (essentially the clam pasta dish), a cappuccino, some cherry soda, and soup of the day, as well as complimentary bread. They got that bread out very quickly! Very soft, and served with quite high quality olive oil. The bottle has both olive oil and balsamic! The soup of the day was quite good as well. It was some sort of beef broth, I think may a beef and bean soup. Chickpeas in there as well. Next time, I might try the salad. The salad they have as a side is so good, an amazing portion and seems so fresh and tasty. The mains were excellent. Very good pasta with clam sauce. Lots of clam meat and a flavorful oil based sauce. My friend had some red penne with chicken and enjoyed that as well. Great portions, pretty fair prices. Finally, great drinks as well. Very memorable cherry cola that I believe the company is owned by the owner's son. Real cane sugar, very good. The cappuccino was great as well. Definitely come here!

    Photos
    Penne with sausage
    Penne with sausage
    Beef Tenderloin over Risotto & Spinach
    Beef Tenderloin over Risotto & Spinach
    (Mediocre) spinach and ricotta

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    (Mediocre) spinach and ricotta
    Saint Ravioli

    Saint Ravioli

    5.0
    (6 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    Every year my girlfriend and I find a cooking or baking class that is local in Pittsburgh to do…read moretogether. This year we decided to down our robes and become disciples of Saint Ravioli. Getting a spot in a class is very hard since they are limited to 6-8 people, but if you get the chance I absolutely recommend it. The classes are 2 hours long each and are extremely intimate. Bryan and Justin will meet you at the door and will introduce you to their workshop. There is a spread of antipasto to snack on which was curated very well. Each person gets to make 4 (four!!) dozen raviolis each. The class is extremely informative and fun. I personally haven't ordered any of their ravioli drops before, but from eating the batch I personally made, I know I will in the future. Highly recommend ordering their raviolis online or taking the class if it's available.

    Although it takes some planning to order ahead, then pickup your order, the Ravioli is amazing…read more When you pick up your order, it's frozen. To prepare it, simply drop into boiling water, then after it floats to the top, wait a few minutes. I also ordered the Marinara sauce which was delicious. The owner friendly and helpful. He noticed that this was my first order, so he took some time to explain a few things and answer questions. Parking is on the street, and I had no problems finding a spot. It's a fun experience and I will definitely do it again.

    Photos
    Saint Ravioli
    Wedding soup ravioli
    Wedding soup ravioli
    Saint Ravioli

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    Piccolo Forno

    Piccolo Forno

    4.1
    (678 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Piccolo Forno is a relaxing and tasty neighborhood Italian place with a very…read morefriendly and helpful staff.  The dishes were flavorful and satisfying with generous portions.  We enjoyed the Carrots and Brussels Sprouts and the Stuffed Banana Peppers as appetizers.  Both were delicious and the peppers really maintained their pepper flavor.   In the mood for pasta, we opted for the wheat flour ricotta cavatelli and the tortellini.  We would order both again and were happy to share them around the table.  Dessert was the tiramisu which also had a lot of flavor and was a nice sized portion.  The restaurant is pretty hopping.  We were glad to sit in the back area which was a little quieter.  Piccolo Forno, with its warm staff and even warmer pizza oven makes for a fun place to catch up with friends or sit down and enjoy a meal with family.

    Piccolo Forno was an excellent dining experience from start to finish. We began with the housemade…read morebread and herb butter, which was absolutely delicious. The burrata with asparagus purée, arugula, peas, and golden raisins was heavenly....fresh, creamy, and beautifully balanced. We also shared the Calabrese pizza from the wood fired oven, and the combination of spice and sweet hot honey was perfection. To finish, the meat tortelli was rich, comforting, and outstanding. Service was incredible, and Max took wonderful care of us all evening. Great food, warm atmosphere, and impeccable hospitality. Highly recommend if you're in Pittsburgh!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Seasonal Peach Bruschetta
    Seasonal Peach Bruschetta
    Piccolo Forno

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    Alta Via Market Square

    Alta Via Market Square

    4.3
    (175 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$$

    Great food. Very attentive service. Happy hour menu was perfect. A very welcoming place.read more

    Yet another entry in Big Burrito's generally excellent collection of restaurants, not to be…read moreconfused with Alta Via Pizza in Bakery Square. Same idea, different focus. AVP is excellent, by the way. We have been twice in the last couple of months. Front of House Team was excellent both visits. Our bartender/servers have been gracious and attentive. First visit was carbonara and beet salad; good but not life-changing. Second visit started with Frito Misto. Excellent. Bright, crispy and perfectly finished. The linguine is served with crab meat. I found it to be a glutinous mess. I'm not sure what happened in the kitchen. The mushroom side plate was under seasoned. Our friend who got the spaghetti loved it. Mushroom pasta was excellent with nicely cooked pasta and thorough mushroom taste. Our friends were very pleased with this plate. The chopped salad is perfectly dressed and is completely delicious. It was a treat. My lovely counterpart had the halibut piccata. She commented that it was "slightly overcooked." This is charitable: it was completely hammered. "It had the texture of chicken." The sauce was conspicuous by its sparsity; just not much flavor going on. She also observed that first bite was gritty, as if greens were inadequately cleaned. This dish has enormous potential, but it just wasn't delivered. This dish was palatable only by having the tomatoes on the vine as a side. My lovely counterpart on the Tomatoes on the Vine side: "I didn't love it, but it was necessary." She generally loves this sort of preparation but again, it just wasn't there. Cheesecake was great. Our server was excellent and attentive. Amanda, the assistant manager, was too busy to chat with us even though the house was mostly empty. Our table had two bottles of wine, ordered by the glass instead of by the bottle. The wine pours are staged outside of the bar, so the bartender wasn't involved. We are still at a loss to understand why Amanda was not willing to consider giving us even one of the bottles' worth at the bottle price and why she shut down our waitress when she asked. It seems like a weird hill to plant your flag on, and entirely inconsistent with our more than 30 years experience with Big Burrito. This is the first time we have experienced anything like this in a Big Burrito restaurant; truly bizarre and our poor server was clearly uncomfortable relaying the decision. We hadn't made any observations about the food to her and were having a great time even with kitchen's inconsistency. We might try again at some point: some of the dishes were great and there is clearly potential.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Bread
    Bread
    Chocolate Budino

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    Chocolate Budino
    Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar

    Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar

    4.2
    (365 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Big Jim's is a Pittsburgh institution. It's been 20 years or so since my last visit to Big Jim's…read more My family was headed towards town around dinner time and decided to take advantage of the opportunity and stop by. We arrived around 4:30 on a Friday. We were able to get a parking spot around the back. We were quickly seated and beat the dinner rush by a few minutes. First off, our waitress couldn't have been sweeter. Super friendly and attentive. Very kind, especially to my youngest son. My wife had a small fish sandwich, my oldest son had the baked ziti, my youngest son had chicken parm, and I had gnocchi with meat sauce. Portions were large and tasty. Three of us had cups of wedding soup. Everyone was stuffed and enjoyed their meal. I would highly recommend and will not have a 20 year gap in visits to Big Jim's (in the run).

    A friend told us how good Big Jim's was and we are so glad we decided to go try it…read more We were warmly greeted when we entered. The waitress was also very nice and accommodating the entire time. A man was also very helpful and brought us things we may need. I really enjoyed the super meaty and delicious meatballs on my meatball hoagie. The Marinara was really good. My husband's Italian and absolutely loved the veal cutlet sandwich. It was huge, crunchy and tasty. It made him nostalgic for the veal cutlets his grandmother used to make. The Fresh-cut Fries were good but weren't seasoned well enough. I also wish they were crunchier. We saw a man order the Stromboli and it was ginormous but looked delicious. He was a big guy and only ate about 25% of it. Got my mom a corned beef sandwich and she said it one of the best she had ever had. We're Irish and she loves them. There are lots of great things on the menu and will be back to try other things.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Giant reubens
    Giant reubens
    Exterior

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    Exterior

    LA Dolce Vita - italian - Updated August 2026

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