La Dolce Vita - Cleveland

Name: La Dolce Vita - Cleveland
Address: 12112 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, OH, United States, 44106
Telephone: (216) 721-8155
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.6

4.6

1271 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Top Tags:

Welcome to La Dolce Vita Bistro - “The Sweet Life,” a restaurant and bistro created to recapture the bell-époque charm of “The Italian Drug,” opened here by Dr. Anthony Caruso in 1914. In the tradition of the great European bistros, La Dolce Vita is devoted to providing a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for everything from eight course dinners to coffee and Calvino. We strive to prepare the perfect meal, or the perfect cappuccino, and let you enjoy it at your leisure. Our pasta is cooked fresh to order, our sauces and dressing are painstakingly prepared using only the finest ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, the freshest vegetables, imported whole tomatoes, fresh basil and Italian parsley... and your table is reserved for the evening.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–8:00 pm
Phone number
(216) 721-8155
Website
http://www.ladolcevitacle.com/
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Terry Tarantino
Private party contact
Jamaa Ajabli: (216) 721-8155

Location
12112 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Neighborhood
Little Italy
Parking details
Valet parking available on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Street Parking also available.
Public transit
RTA bus stop in front of restaurant.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

Molto Meatballs$16.00
veal blended with angus beef, pecorino and eggs, topped with fresh ricotta
Hungarian Hots$15.00
banana peppers stuffed with italian pork sausage, arborio rice and pecorino
The Eggplant Parm$14.00
an original family recipe, topped with ricotta
Unfried Calamari$16.00
wild caught, sauteed with zucchini in a tomato white wine broth and served with toasted bread
Sweet Life Trio$20.00
sample our house favorites: one meatball, one hungarian hot and eggplant parm
Opera Polenta$20.00
italian chicken sausage, roasted red peppers and onions
Paparazzi Polenta$18.00
gluten free and vegan, seasonal veggies and polenta

Salads

Leafy Greens$10.00
mixed greens, shaved carrots & imported sheep's milk feta
Vine Ripe Caprese$15.00
vine ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, kalamata olives & basil oil
Terry T's Tomato Salad$16.00
house favorite with vine ripe tomatoes, shaved carrots, sliced red onion and imported sheep's milk feta in basil oil
The Roman Chariot$15.00
imported italian artichoke, arugula, olives and seasonal cheese

Soups

Tuscan Lentil Soup$7.00
carrots, seasonal vegetables and brown lentils
Wedding Soup di Avellino$7.00
chicken broth, meatballs, escarole and egg drop

Flatbreads

Greco$14.00
fresh spinach, artichokes, imported sheeps milk feta and mozzarella
Venizia$15.00
fresh spinach, italian chicken sausage, roasted red peppers and fontina
Quattro Formaggi$13.00
with spinach or tomato sauce (choose one) imported sheep's milk feta, fontinella, pecorino romano and mozzarella
Americana$13.00
tomato sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella
Mediterraneo$14.00
tomato sauce, eggplant, zucchini, roasted red peppers and mozzarella
Magic Mushroom$14.00
tomato sauce, portobello mushrooms, mozzarella and pecorino romano

Pasta

Sauces: house marinara, abruzze, pesto, fellini (gorgonzola tomato cream). Gluten free pasta $2, pancetta $3, meatball $8, chicken $10, shrimp $13

Marinara Dolce Vita$16.00
premium, hand-crushed plum tomatoes, basil and extra virgin olive oil
Abruzze$19.00
ground veal blended with angus beef in a Southern Italian soffritto with hand-crushed plum tomatoes
Pesto Omar$19.00
basil, parmesan, garlic and cream...an errorless dish
Fettuccine Fellini$19.00
gorgonzola & tomato cream sauce, director's cut fresh pasta
Cacio e Pepe$17.00
a Roman recipe transported to Cleveland...bowtie pasta tossed with pecorino romano cheese and fresh-cracked black pepper
Rasta Pasta$18.00
inspired from the cliffs of Negril...pasta with a medley of fresh, seasonal vegetables / yes, all vegan!
Seafood di Mare$32.00
calamari, shrimp and mussels (when available) sauteed in a light tomato white wine sauce served over fresh linguini
Gnocchi Dolce Vita$19.00
potato gnocchi, choice of sauce
Ravioli di Summer$19.00
four-cheese filling, choice of sauce

Entrees

Chicken Parmesan$26.00
Lightly breaded and oven-baked, topped with fresh mozzarella and served with marinara pasta. Our chicken and veal are natural raised with no antibiotics or steroids
- Eggplant Parmesan$24.00
- Veal Parmesan$34.00
Chicken Marsala$27.00
chicken breast, portobello mushrooms sauteed in marsala wine, served over risotto
Butternut Squash Risotto
roasted butternut squash and zucchini
- Portobello Mushroom$30.00
- Chicken$30.00
- Shrimp$32.00
Fish of the Day
Served with risotto. Seafood selections always sustainably sourced and wild caught
- Market Price

What 1,271 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.4Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Cleveland
Neighborhood gem

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OT
OpenTable Diner
Cleveland
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience3
Good overall dining experience in Cleveland’s Little Italy.
JA
JALE
Jackson Hole
58 reviews
vip
5.0
58 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server was perfect! Food was superb and we loved the charming decor . We’re visiting Cleveland and we loved the city, especially the great restaurants like La Dolce Vita!
a
ahaa
Cleveland
24 reviews
vip
5.0
24 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
Always a wonderful meal and evening! The food is delicious, the portions are generous and the service is super friendly. We always feel like family and we can’t wait to return!
JJ
JoeJ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great time, great food, great atmosphere. Valet parking is available right across mayfield rd also.
CM
CherylM
Cleveland
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband and I had a wonderful experience here. Food and service was exceptional, and nowadays that is very hard to find. Also loved the atmosphere! Can't wait to go back!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Cleveland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Excellent service
SH
ShakerHeightsResident
Cleveland
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 25, 2023
overall2food4service2ambience2
The food was great. But let's be honest, how hard is it to find good Italian food in Little Italy. We definitely overpaid for our experience. The server was curt and unhelpful with questions about the menu. The restaurant was dirty - we got there early, before the dinner crowd, and the floor had clearly not been cleaned from the night before. The ceiling looks to be caving-in in one of the rooms, and the paint on the walls and ceiling are painting. Given all the options in the neighborhood, we are not inclined to go back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Cleveland
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was fantastic, as always. It was a big family Sunday afternoon dinner after the Disney Immersive Experience. Our meal was terrific, and everyone was happy, from our Italian Wedding Soup to our Chicken Parm to the super yummy desserts.
JE
JessE
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall2food4service3ambience1
Had a reservation and table was not ready. after waiting 10-15 they squeezed us at the table directly by the door which was for 4 people and they put a 5th chair on the end which really didn't have enough room. every time the door opening we had gusts of cold air hit us. It took well over 10 minutes before anyone greeted us - when server did come over he was wonderful - got all of our orders in immediately but never really checked on us again until he dropped checks. we were celebrating a huge birthday for a family member and she never got to take off her coat bc of the drafty table. pretty disappointed.
A
Acura
Cleveland
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food was excellent, service was outstanding
JP
JamesP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
great food and atmosphere. Definitely would return for another meal.
A
Anne
Cleveland
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience5
Great ambiance, welcoming atmosphere. It's been 20 years since my last visit but it will be only weeks before I'm back again.
N
Nick
Cleveland
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Had 7:30 reservations. We were seated right when we arrived. Very fast service, super friendly and engaging service. Highly recommend
F
Farmer
Cleveland
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We often frequent La Dolce Vita quite often, making our rounds through Little Italy. As always, the food, service, and atmosphere were excellent. This time the Wedding Soup was extraordinary this time. (Always good but this was even better.) Which is why we go to privately owned restaurants. That added human touch.
CL
ChristopherL
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was amazing. If you have never been here for dinner, you’re missing out!
r
reff
Cleveland
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on January 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went out for my daughters birthday. We’ve been to LDV several times and always has a great meal. Service is very good. Print and friendly. We’ll be back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Columbus
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were visiting from Columbus and a friend recommended this to us. So glad they did! Such a great vibe, perfect date night and the food was AMAZING!!
JI
JodyIndy
Indiana
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Excellent service and atmosphere! Great food and drinks with a nice array of menu options. We had great shareable appetizers and a variety of pastas, a vegetarian dish, and the special scallops. All were delicious, and the staff made it a memorable experience with their attention and fun spirit. A cozy ambience on a cold, dreary evening. We would definitely return!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on January 5, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience3
The waitress was inattentive. The bread was flavorless. The pasta was not to bad.
AM
AngelaM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely restaurant, service wonderful, food fantastic!
RS
RichardS69
Cleveland
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
It was New Year's eve. Help was slow, food was good. Not a huge selection of food product. Bread was brought with 1 triangle of butter. rinks were slow.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Cleveland
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
We had a great time service was great food was amazing
N
Nicole
Cleveland
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
Restaurant was busy for New Year Eve. Took about 15-20 mins before anyone even acknowledged us at our table. Food was mediocre at best. Vegetables overcooked, seafood over seasoned and salty. Nothing was notable other than the tiramisu for the price.
MC
MicheleC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went for New Year’s Eve dinner, they were busy but to be expected. Meatballs appetizer is fantastic! Great cosmopolitan! Veal & chicken were delicious! We will be back.
g
greenidgurl
Cleveland
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Other than the rude young unwelcomeing, no smile at all hostsess seating us, just rude. Bartender was amazing as ever, friendly, he was extremely welcoming. Our server Bella was super amazing and so awesome! We will be back! We loved it! Food was top notch!
SW
StephanieW
Cleveland
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
An amazing experience from start to finish for my family of three. Our sever was so nice and fun and the food was fantastic. Light yet flavorful. The wedding soup was the best I’ve ever had. We can’t wait to go back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on December 27, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience3
I wanted to treat my mom and sister to an early dinner. It was 4:30pm on a week day and they had plenty of reservations available so we just walked in. The host basically acted disgusted that we’d think that was okay (mind you, I’ve walked in several times) and told us they were fully booked. I was confused so I made a reservation on the app and walk back in. The host then scolded me for not saying we had a reservation in the first place? It was not a fun interaction. She then sat us in a nearly empty restaurant and then proceeded to whisper and point at us to other staff. La Dolce Vita is a good restaurant, but it’s certainly not a place that can get away with treating folks like that. I’m put off by that experience and will probably try some other places for a while.
PF
PollyF
Cleveland
1 review
vip
2.0
1 review
Dined on December 26, 2022
overall2food3service1ambience2
Service was very slow. They were out of two out of three bottles of wine we tried to order. Appetizers took over an hour to arrive. Once they did they were good and hot Food in general was good although the person in our party that ordered the Chicken parmigiana did not like it at all. Have been to this restaurants several times and always liked it. This time was lacking in many ways.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Nice local spot with great food and service!
MN
McNear
Cleveland
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food was great as usual! Nicely decorated for the holidays. It was odd that our table was the only one without a white tablecloth. The owner was welcoming as always!
BR
BobR
Cleveland
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on December 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fun place and food was fantastic!
CS
CharleneS
Cleveland
9 reviews
vip
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on December 21, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
We had a table for two in front and they plugged in a space heater which was great! Downside was parking was a nightmare- had to park in RTA lot.
EP
EduardP
Cleveland
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 20, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
This was the second time there, and the food was excellent! Try unfried calamari starter (can count as a main dish!) and risotto.
GS
GaryS
Columbus
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Seven of us had dinner reservations after the Cleveland Orchestra Christmas Concert. We had a great experience at La Dolce Vita. Outstanding food and excellent service. We will be back.
LM
LisaM
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 18, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience5
Our experience was wonderful: great service, prompt seating, delicious food, and the best wine! The only problem last night was that both bathrooms (men and women) were broken and they said "a plumber was on the way." This is problematic.
EL
ELizN
Cleveland
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a fabulous dinner at LaDolce Vita. The food, service, ambiance was exceptional. Love this great restaurant. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
A
Apple
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Very good food, amazing staff, just a little loud.
CL
CrystalL
Cleveland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great experience! Love that the owner visits every table with a starter. Busy but the server handled it well.
PV
PaulV
Cleveland
15 reviews
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience3
The food was very good, the service was a bit slow because they were very busy, and therefore the noice level was very high.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on December 14, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience4
Foods overpriced for the quality, service was slow. Restaurant decorations are good.

FAQs

La Dolce Vita - Cleveland is rated 4.6 stars by 1271 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 26 times today

Google Map for La Dolce Vita - Cleveland

12112 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106

Additional information

Neighborhood
Little Italy
Hours of operation
Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–8:00 pm
Cuisines
Italian, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Valet parking available on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Street Parking also available.
Public transit
RTA bus stop in front of restaurant.
Executive chef
Terry Tarantino
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.ladolcevitacle.com/
Phone number
(216) 721-8155
Private party contact
Jamaa Ajabli: (216) 721-8155

La Dolce Vita - Cleveland

Make a reservation

Additional information

91 Cleveland / Akron / Canton Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

The Best Pizza in Cleveland

Rasta Pasta

Tiramisu

Limoncello Tiramisu

Starters

Molto Meatballs$16.00

Hungarian Hots$15.00

The Eggplant Parm$14.00

Unfried Calamari$16.00

Sweet Life Trio$20.00

Opera Polenta$20.00

Paparazzi Polenta$18.00

Salads

Leafy Greens$10.00

Vine Ripe Caprese$15.00

Terry T's Tomato Salad$16.00

The Roman Chariot$15.00

Soups

Tuscan Lentil Soup$7.00

Wedding Soup di Avellino$7.00

Flatbreads

Greco$14.00

Venizia$15.00

Quattro Formaggi$13.00

Americana$13.00

Mediterraneo$14.00

Magic Mushroom$14.00

Pasta

Marinara Dolce Vita$16.00

Abruzze$19.00

Pesto Omar$19.00

Fettuccine Fellini$19.00

Cacio e Pepe$17.00

Rasta Pasta$18.00

Seafood di Mare$32.00

Gnocchi Dolce Vita$19.00

Ravioli di Summer$19.00

Entrees

Chicken Parmesan$26.00

Chicken Marsala$27.00

Butternut Squash Risotto

Fish of the Day

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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How is La Dolce Vita - Cleveland restaurant rated?

Is La Dolce Vita - Cleveland currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

91 Cleveland / Akron / Canton Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

The Best Pizza in Cleveland