Dolce Vita Ristorante

"Visiting Dolce Vita feels like a journey to the heart of Italian dining, thanks to the owner, Franco. He charmingly insists, "You don't need a menu," and instead recommends a dish based on your current mood. This personal touch transforms each visit into a unique culinary adventure. The ambiance is just as delightful, adaptable for romantic evenings, family meals, or casual dining. What truly makes Dolce Vita stand out is the inviting atmosphere, reminiscent of a cozy corner in Italy. Franco and his team's warm hospitality ensure that every visit is not just a meal, but a memorable experience."

"We have been to this restaurant a few times. It is a special occasion restaurant for us since prices are a bit high (entrees $25 to 40). The owner is almost always there. He regularly goes out to greet people browsing the menu outside and convinces them to come in. Once you are at your table, he will ask you what you feel like having and make suggestions. Beware his suggestions often appear on the bill as a "custom" dish and so price may reflect that. He embraces an old world charm of acclimating the customers, making his rounds to check in on you, suggest wine and dessert. We have found the food consistently great. The experience has been great as well. The service has always been attentive. Make sure to go early. We go between 3pm to 4pm. Most recently we went on a Thursday at 4. By the time we were done at about 6:30 it was bustling with activity. The bar was full, tables mostly filled. The wine list is more than enough to get you started (our bottle was $150). The dessert menu is pretty great with the essentials. I had the cream puffs and loved them. The pasta, seafood, meat, sauce are always delicious. We ordered the grilled octopus for an appetizer. It was so delicious and tender. Would definitely order again. There is a single bathroom near the bar and it is meh. Not terrible but definitely not awesome. Consider both the busyness of the restaurant (aka having to wait) and your comfort with cleanliness. It is hard to believe this is a gem on Hanover because it is so early on the block you may feel like there is a lot more to consider --and there is!-- But, it is worth a try and then you can walk off some of the dinner by walking around the neighborhood to see the other restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, bars, souvenir shops. It is an amazing neighborhood. (Word to the wise- many places only take cash, yes I know...) This restaurant does accept credit cards so no worries there. Our bill was over $400, which I don't expect is all that unusual. Pictures attached."

"I had a nice dinner here with my family. We ordered tortellini soup, eggplant, veal with vegetables, lobster ravioli, and pasta bolognese. The food was tasty, and the ambiance was fine. However, the servers were a bit rude to us. They asked us to move around multiple times and rushed us out the door. We decided not to order dessert. The line for the restroom was also too long."

"Visiting Boston's North side will get you into the Italian section of town which is filled with Italian restaurants and bars! We chose Dolce Vita Ristorante for it's cool atmosphere but little did we know everything else would be so great! The food was the best with plenty of original choices from spaghetti and meatballs to lobster you name it! There were Italian singers that went from table to table singing your favorites! The best part was the service the waiters were completely taking care of you! Drinks, food, atmosphere and service what's not to like! My family loved it!"

"Me and my family had an AMAZING experience at this restaurant, which was highly recommended by a friend. Service was excellent and attentiveness was absolutely on point! The food by far some of best Italian we’ve ever had. Franco, the owner, personally checked on us several times throughout our visit and made us feel like family. We were serenaded by a gentleman playing the accordion—WOW! Next time we visit Boston, we WILL definitely eat here again. But don’t take my word for it—go experience it yourself!"