La Dolce Vita

 

2

14

Kolby C.

Seattle, WA

Everything about this place is great. The food, the service, and the atmosphere. I like the location because it's almost in the middle of lower Queen Anne and Belltown so parking is less hectic. You can either have a casual dinner or a nice one. Either way, I would recommend sitting at a booth with a group of three or more since the tables are very close to each other. It's rather uncomfortable if you want to keep your conversations private. Italian food tastes better when you share it with everyone at the table anyway.

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0

2

Greg Y.

Seattle, WA

I liked my meal here...but I am also a guy who "likes" just about everyting if meat and any combination of bread, wine or cheese is involved.  But there is a wide difference between the 3-star liked vs. the 5-star loved.

Based on the 5-star reviews, I was looking forward to a culinary experience, a mind-blowing meal that would have me speechless and eager to share.  The service I recieved was very good, the atmosphere was nice and the room wasn't too crowded or noisy..but the food was just OK.

I had the wild boar tenderloin w/ smoked bing cherry demi glaze and my wife had pan seared duck breast with pancetta & orange sauce.  Both were a bit overcooked and plated on the same tuscan looking  plates, with carrots and broccoli sprinkled w/ chopped parsley.  Not the unique look, vegetable combination or plating I had expected.

So...good food and most folks seem to enjoy it very much...I would recommend at least dropping by to check out the menu and possibly grabbing a bite.

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0

4

Eileen K.

Seattle, WA

I forgot the name of the pasta I ordered, but it was a spinach linguine dish with tomato, crab, and shrimp... and it was delicious! There was just the right amount of sauce- rich, but not too overbearing. I also had the Caprese and Bruschetta for appetizers, which both tasted very fresh. For the Brushcetta, it came with three pieces of bread- one with the tomato/basil/garlic combination, one with some olive mix, and the other some bean/lentil-like paste. I've always been used to the classic tomato/basil/garlic Brushcettas, so I was surprised when I saw the other two topped with foreign ingredients. Perhaps this is how authentic Bruschetta is made? Or maybe this was La Dolce Vita's own creative twist on the appetizer. Whatever the case- the ingredients were fresh, and the presentation was good. The entree portions at this place are also very generous. You get complimentary bread with oil+vinegar when you get seated, and the it's a great (and cozy!) place to take someone for a date.

The server was very polite, and even gave my boyfriend a complimentary birthday dessert- and he got to pick it! Usually at restaurants, they don't let you pick (usually it's an ice cream of some sort), but here, my boyfriend and I decided on the Tiramisu (which was A+) and it was only until our check came where our waiter told us that the dessert was on him tonight :)

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Elite '08

83

259

Victoria L.

Seattle, WA

We were greeted warmly and seated immediately.

The service was impeccable.  The wine list was prolific.  And the food was superb.

I expected the cozy restaurant to be packed and claustrophobic but it was not.  The staff was attentive to each table but didn't hover.

I ordered the special (Halibut with Steamed clams) and was just happy as a clam with my meal.

Hubby ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo.  The sauce was delightful and the pasta cooked to perfection.

We will be back.

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Elite '08

73

307

Gavin N.

Bellevue, WA

Went to eat dinner here on Saturday night, and left full and happy. Anyway the things we ordered (since my dinner groups always share food), Cesar salad, mushroom risotto, seafood linguine (with mushrooms per my request), Sausage and mushroom penne in tomato cream sauce, and some chicken fettuccine. Anyway all of them were delicious, especially the risotto, and the seafood linguine. The service was top notch from beginning to end, and the pricing was very fair. The $15 corkage fee is very reasonable (and a good way to still have wine with your dinner without breaking the bank). I think all in all the 3 of us spent about $25 each after tax & tip. Couldn't spent more if we got desserts, could've spent less if we skimped on the appetizers and wine, overall very reasonable.

The rosemary bread with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar is a nice plus. The restaurant is quite small, but there was no wait for a table, and I was able to set up my reservation through opentable. The environment is also quite cozy, so you could come in casual or dressed up and either way you'd fit in.

The next time I'm in Seattle craving pasta, I know where I'm stopping in.

~G

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Elite '08

58

131

Alix H.

Redmond, WA

What a gem of a place?  It's cozy inside and the service is terrific.  There are a lot of different selections to choose from and I chose the Duck with orange glaze.  It was superb - I couldn't stop eating even though I was full.  Then to finish off the meal, my friend and I shared a Teramisu (sp?).  Wow - probably one of the best teramisu I've ever had.  It came sitting on a bed of yummy sauce of some sort.  If no one was looking I would have licked the plate... it was THAT good.

I will definitely go back and try the other menu items.

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4

22

Angela B.

Bellevue, WA

Want to impress a date or your love with a low key romantic evening where you are just one glass of wine away from believing you're in Italy? This is the place.

Chris owns the restaurant and runs it in the truly elegant style it deserves. Lights are dim and the music is just right (and not cheesy Sinatra swooning away).

I love their chicken parm, their salads are great and dessert is always a must. Oh and the appetizers! Yum!

When you leave, blink, take a moment to adjust. Yes, you really just found a little caf in Italy on lower Queen Anne.

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0

21

Crysta L.

Issaquah, WA

Awesome service! Couldn't have asked for a better waiter! Very quaint and have a great wine selection. Waiter was very helpful when we asked for a wine recommendation to go with our dinner. The owner is very involved, working the front and checking in the kitchen -- very nice guy! I started with the Pere and Apple salad which was excellent. For dinner I had the Eggplant Involtini, which was very good! My boyfriend had one of their specials of the night which was a steak and pesto gnocchi. Amazing gnocchi! His steak looked pretty darn good, too! We both really enjoyed our experience at La Dolce Vita, we loved the service and our meals and wine! Decent prices for Seattle, also!

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5

23

A C.

Seattle, WA

This has been a very nice place to go for lunch. It is not exactly out of the way, but it's also not located near the main commercial areas of Queen Anne. This is good, as it is not as hard to find a parking spot in this area. There's also a big parking lot right across the street with plenty of space if you want to drive down there.

If you walk up the hill you can see inside the kitchen which has a window to the street and watch them make the fresh pasta or Luigi stuff the cannelloni. (Ok, i'm kidding about Luigi) The Chef will smile and waive "hi" as you pass if he sees you. There's also a 24hr fitness express up that street, so no excuses.

Though limited in scope, the menu ensures a consistent quality to the dishes. The daily specials have been very well received as well. The portion size is good; therefore it doesn't leave you with a "food coma" as Italian food tends to.The service has always been very good and attentive.

The best dishes IMHO are the salads and daily specials with some great Panini selections. They know how to make a Ceasar Salad, and the Caprese  is a very nice balance of beefsteak tomato, a basil leaf,  and fresh Mozzarella with an untraditional but very tasty balsamic reduction and a little arugula tossed with extra virgin olive oil in the center. Personally, I prefer a little more basil, some salt, and extra virgin olive oil over the mozzarella & tomatoes. The Steak Panini is excellent. I tried the spaghetti con vongole once and it was a little watery but not bad. I've yet to try their Pappardelle alla Bolognese, but I can't wait.

I'm not crazy about the bread they bring to the table before the meal, but otherwise they are a very good pasta place that I've been lucky to go to, I am stoked that I can make pretty much everything on the menu myself but it's too much work for lunch.

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3

23

Patricia F.

San Francisco, CA

If you like Northern Italian cuisine, this place is wonderful.  The food is fantastic, the wine selection is very good, and I found the service extremely personable.

The lamb is mind-blowing.  And it ties in to my very positive service experiences....
* One night I stopped by and asked if they would do take-out.  Despite being a "fancy" restaurant they said no problem, and I walked out of there with a wonderful rack of lamb (which, sad person that I am, I ate by myself with my laptop open in front of me ... which, self-conscious person that I am, I prefer to do in private)
* Having had such a great experience, I decided to take two clients there.  When making the reservation I mentioned in passing that I had really enjoyed the lamb and was looking forward to having it again.  When I got there, I found out they had gone out specially and bought three servings of lamb -- they don't normally offer the lamb every day, but they figured my guests and I might want it.  Wow!

The decor is, in my opinion, not quite up to the standard of the food.  But it's good enough not to keep me from giving this place five stars.  I'm all about the food.

I'd agree with the other reviewer that it's generally better suited for an older crowd, both from price and atmosphere.  However, regardless of age, if you enjoy serious food and wine, you'll be right at home.

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0

21

Jared R.

Seattle, WA

I ate at La Dolce Vita on the 18th of August at about 6:00.  It was a Friday afternoon.  I will break the review up like this.

Atmosphere: The dining room is relatively small with a very high ceilings and white table cloth tables.  The room was a warm yellow with maroon trim with Italian paintings on the wall and carpet on the floor.  The noise level was very low and conversations could be had without raising voices.

Food:  The food was delicious and plentiful.  The flavors of powerful cheeses, garlic, basil, and herbs dominated the dishes.  The menu was a bit limited but contained dishes for every ones liking.

Service:  The service was a little slow and a bit awkward, but very knowledgeable about the dishes.

Value:  The dishes are slightly more expensive then other Italian restaurants around Seattle but worth the extra expense for the quality of food.  Dinner was $80 for two glasses of wine, two appetizers, and two dinners.  

Who should go and when:  This is a great restaurant for older people and young adults with their parents.  When my parents come into town this will be one of the restaurants I take them to because of the quality of food and the lack of excessive ambient noise.

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0

6

Andreea R.

Seattle, WA

First off I'd like to say that I am not a big yelper however when I experience a product or service that is extraordinary or horrible I just have to write about it.

La Dolce Vita is amazing! The restaurant is small and quaint but very nicely done. It almost makes you feel more important than normal because you know your one of the very few people in the city eating this wonderful food at that time. As described by others the restaurant probably holds about 30 people and it is an atmosphere where one can talk while dining without shouting. The atmosphere is perfect. The decor is very nice as are the bathrooms.

The owner Christopher Frost is wonderful. He is a very nice man who clearly cares about one thing and that's that you have a wonderful experience at his restaurant.  You can tell that allot of attention is paid to the food to ensure it will be perfect by the time it reaches your table. What makes LA Dolce Vita so unique is that Chris is always out front with the customers. He is very personable and likes to make sure that the customer is enjoying their experience.

Now, let's get to what really counts, the FOOD! Oh my god! This place is amazing. I had mushroom ravioli and my husband had a salmon dish with a white whine, lemon and caper sauce. They were both so delicious we had to finish the generous portions that were brought to us. Words alone cannot describe how delicious the food was. I noticed that some reviews have mentioned that the prices are moderately high. I strongly disagree. Considering that you are getting 4-5 star Italian food, the prices are very reasonable. I guess one of the things that I love about it is that the food makes you think top of the line fancy restaurant but Chris creates an atmosphere in his restaurant where one can have a fancy night out or a nice night out with friends and family.  Both atmospheres seem to blend in so well and with Chris' hospitality, the extraordinary food and great wine selection I can't see how any one could miss this experience.

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