Dolci

Many people are familiar with the Elmwood Ave location, which also bakes fresh breads, pizzas, and cannolis. But if you want the best possible gelato in Buffalo, then head a few blocks west to where it's actually made in the Grant Street location.

Yes, you read correctly. Grant Street. If you associate the location with urban blight, then you would be mostly correct, except that it is pretty fair compared to many other Buffalo neighborhoods. However, in only the last two years, a renewed interest from committed neighbors and organizations (many seen on the West Buffalo episode of "Extreme Makeover") have put time, effort, and finances into the street's business district. In addition to the long-standing Guerico & Sons Produce and Lorigo's Meating Place, the street now has a neighborhood-owned thrift store, a bike repair shop, a homemade soap shop, an art co-op, a yuppie boutique, a yoga studio within an old, glorious bank building (complete with multi-ton steel safe), an Asian grocery store, and most notably, an independently owned and operated coffee house. Dolci is only one of the more recent additions.

As mentioned before, all the gelato for the business (including the Elmwood Ave store) is now made here. A great deal of their business is through local fine dining establishments (most prominently Ristorante Lombardo on Hertel Ave) so chances are any fine Buffalo restaurant that serves gelato has it shipped from Dolce. But still, the only way to get the freshest gelato possible would be to visit the actual Grant Street location.

And by fresh, it is FRESH. No artificial ingredients whatsoever, or coloring. If you are eating a fruit flavor, it came from the actual fruit. One taste and you will forever think of supermarket ice cream as half-@$$. I chose the Concord Grape gelato, and the flavor literally bursted in my mouth in a way that no artificial flavors could ever manage to do. The owner even explained how how literally took bushels of grapes and squeezed and pitted them. If there was anything that caused more joy than the flavor of the product, it was the nature of the store itself. During most of the week, it is simply staffed and managed by the owner, his wife, and their three children. A true family business, seldom seen anymore and therefore even more greatly appreciated.

I was actually lucky to have visited this place. As part of my Honors College qualifications at UB, my particular colloquium was handed random service-learning projects, and mine was to work with West Side Ministries to help further redevelop the Grant Street area. Like most of the Buffalo population, I acknowledged the area to be one of urban despair, but also like most of the Buffalo population, I was completely oblivious to the efforts that have been commenced to revitalize the area. With my fellow service-learners, I was given a tour of the Grant Street area, and a stop at Dolce was how I first found out about this wondrous business. I was given a free sample for this visit, but seeing how I will be returning to the area for service weekly until December, I will undoubtedly return and give the place my business on occasion. $2-$3 gelato is not bad at all, and it will most definitely be worth every penny at this place.

I encourage people to pay a visit not just to Dolci but to Grant Street itself. While it still has a long, LONG way to go, the potential most definitely exists. Many of the business owners have chosen the location because they want the success model of Elmwood Ave and Allen St to extend here too, but that can only really happen if people invest their time and go to see it.

Dolci is a neighborhood bakery that is simply fabulous. For a very short time the gelati went away but now it is back! For my money Dolci is one of the unique and interesting bakeries in all of Buffalo; definitely one of the best and a great little stop on your walk through EV.

First things first - the cakes. Dolci produces some of the finest mini-cakes you've ever seen in your life, in flavors that are always changing. I wish I could describe them in words but they are beautiful to look at, and totally and sinfully delicious. Dense, rich cakes that are very appealing to the eye - in the store they are on the left hand side of the case.

Other baked goods - tarts, biscotti, vegan cupcakes, cookies - all dynamite. They also bake fresh bread in a few different varieties, my favorite of which is the seeded batard loaf.

Gelato and italian ice - by the scoop or in pints. There are usually 2-3 flavors of each dessert. Everything is homemade and the frozen stuff seems to be really popular, especially amongst the employees in there. Only a few weeks without gelato; when I visited today I laughed at how the relief was palpable when it returned!

Seriously though, go check it out. I like to buy the mini-cakes as gifts - you won't find a better $10-$12 gift for someone with a sweet tooth. Not much seating - a few seats inside and a couple chairs and tables outside.

My review is pretty biased b/c I have some really high standards for ice cream but Dolci's does a pretty good job for Buffalo expectations. The flavors have potential but the textures were too inconsistent. The burnt caramel gelato was melted and I had to race to down it before it would have become a soup. I also tried the lemon curd which was good but like w/ the burnt caramel, the flavors were just a little too intense - either too sweet or too lemony.

I am fairly certain that the Supreme Being, Lord Almighty Him/Herself could not create a finer chocolate cake. I am a fiend for all things carbohydrate and sugar-laden, throw some chocolate in there and I'll melt like butter in a frying pan (I like butter too... mmm...) I love that they have the smaller sizes because buying and subsequently consuming an entire full-sized cake by yourself is pretty shameful, although that's never stopped me from trying. Their gelato is seriously tasty as well, and the bread is worth a try too. I was there at closing one night and they let me and my friend take home a couple of leftover loaves.

There are hardly any words for this place they make the most amazing... well everything! and now they make gelato - oh my!! their flavor combinations are out of this world. beautiful cakes and also available in small sizes (looks like a top of a wedding cake! tarts - beautiful and flavorful using fresh in the season produce. and italian cookies - well the name is dolci do i really have to explain?! :-) they have a great location right on elmwood and personally way better than delish --- you need to visit and sample some gelato in the least!