"On arrival we were warmly welcomed with a huge smile. A lovely lady who single handedly commandeered the restaurants busy front of house. Her effortless charismatic control over the entire establishment oozed experience and was impressive to say the least. Her ability to acknowledge and strengthen relationships with regulars as well as build rapport with newcomers created a relaxed atmosphere that immediately put us at ease. I knew from being surrounded by people having a good time that we were in good hands. We ordered the Calamari Fritti (to share A true test! As all Calamari lovers know, this is a dish that annoyingly varies significantly from restaurant to restaurant and can often result in a small portion of expensive greasy let down. The Calamari Fritti at La Dolce Vita did not disappoint! It was generous in portion size, had great taste and texture (not rubbery The batter was wonderfully light and not greasy, and quite frankly it was delicious! The only thing that could’ve made it better is to have eaten it by the sea on a hot summers day, but that’s not their fault, I definitely booked a table at 8pm in October! I personally would’ve preferred an aioli or tartare sauce rather than the sweet chilli sauce it came with but that’s my preferential taste and I’m sure if I would’ve asked, they would’ve accommodated my request as they serve tartare sauce with their Whitebait. Ok, so despite being advised on multiple occasions to try their steak we thought we’d do pizza’s this time and conquer pastas next time (Nothing to do with a current promotion or anything lol! I had the Diavlo, an Italian equivalent to perhaps the more commonly known ‘American Hot’ that you may find at a takeaway dedicated franchise. The pizza was a good size and more than enough for 1 person (I’d say the size of a dinner plate it had a thin, crispy base and a wonderfully raised crunchy crust. Although this particular choice of pizza only has a few toppings, they were generously spread and of a very high quality. The meat was similar to a rich spicy smoked Calabrian pork sausage or Chorizo/Nduja and the onions and chillis were crunchy and fresh. The additional chilli oil placed on the table was a nice touch and I’d welcome the option of a garlic oil or garlic dip for the crusts. I also tried my wifes vegetarian Calzone which was like a big hug on a plate, a generously filled Italian pastry pillow. Definitely a cosy winter warmer and a great veggie option. We opted for the New Zealand Marlborough, a Sauvignon blanc which was clean, crisp and fresh, with hints of passionfruit, lychee, and gooseberry. The high acidity was perfect for cutting through the richness of the pizza cheese and the Calamari batter. The wine glasses were clean and the wine was served nice and cold. We were too full for dessert however the options looked enticing (almost as enticing as the Limoncello the table opposite were having! We also appreciated the classics such as ‘Tiramisu’ being on the dessert menu. Why on earth did we wait 2 years to try La Dolce Vita?! From it’s buzzing atmosphere overshadowing it’s humble decor to it’s wonderful food and friendly staff. La Dolce Vita is a restaurant run with passion and skill, celebrating the beauty of classic Italian simplicity delivered through high quality ingredients, traditional methods and efficient service. it’s safe to say we’ll be coming back. We’ve heard the steaks are amazing and we’re also tempted by the Linguine Marinara. The fact they’re always busy would imply that they are uncompromising in their standards which has resulted in a consistency that their customers have not only come to rely on but keep coming back for. Good food, good wine, good company, you can’t get any more Italian than that! Well-done guys, or should I say ‘Bravo!’ PS: I booked a table (as advised by leaving a voicemail on their landline. Their recorded message is clear and concise and there were no issues with my reservation. I do however feel a booking confirmation text would've been reassuring."
Tagliatelle Carbonara
