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: 4.8

4.8

1357 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

Jun 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 14 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 1,357 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent! Everyone there is so nice and the food is amazing
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience5
La Dolce Vita was a wonderful experience. We have eaten here many times. We were celebrating two birthdays. The owner stopped by our table and wished happy birthday. The food was phenomenal even though it was busy. Our food came in a timely manner. We will definitely go again.
MB
MartyB
Cleveland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful al fresco dining so you can enjoy all that Little Italy had to offer. Complementary appetizer and dessert from the owner who was extremely personable. Fresh, homemade food - an absolute gem.
k
kannibal
Cincinnati
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always love this place, the relaxed ambiance complements the food so well.
J
Jody
Louisville
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic Apps/Entrees. GET the banana peppers stuffed with sausage!! Main courses were abso delicious. Atmosphere was scintillating. Highly recommend this establishment.
B
Bri225
Charlotte
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Coming in from out of town had a reservation. Had to wait a short time upon arrival which was fine. The server seemed rushed and kept apologizing for the food delays. Which was good that she was communicating. The noise level was very high. At one point my son stated we should’ve sat outside instead because of all the competing noise. The food was amazing and I would highly recommend base off of that alone.
FF
FoodieFromConcord
Cleveland
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
The food was very good. We had a party of 10 and the service was very slow. Some of us waited 20 minutes longer than the first person that was served. It was a bit noisy inside and we will try to get the outside patio. We will go back back because the food was so good
RJ
RobertandJean
Cleveland
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We always have a delicious meal and this time was no different. Great job by the entire staff.
AK
AlexK
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service and food were outstanding! Highly recommended for anyone visiting Little Italy.
d
dinnerwith5friends
Cleveland
61 reviews
vip
2.0
61 reviews
Dined on May 26, 2023
overall2food1service3ambience3
I was hoping for so much more. Chicken Parm send over cooked or reheated. Pasta was not cooked properly
OT
OpenTable Diner
Cleveland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 25, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience5
It was lovely and the owner, Terry is very attentive to the guests
m
matt
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Finally found a quality authentic Italian restaurant. The food was cooked perfect and I felt like I was back in Italy!! This is the go to from now on for our Italian fix! The Spritz drink was perfect and authentic! 5 stars plus
t
teresam
Cleveland
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 22, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Loved it!! However, extremely disappointed that we were not told the Opera Performance was limited to one dining room only. If I had known, I would have requested the room where the singing was. Open Table didn't point out the limitations. Otherwise, lovely evening. Please change this reservation site to include the stipulation regarding the Opera Night seating.
LB
LourdesB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We visited La Dolce Vita after my son's graduation. Not being familiar with the CIeveland area restaurants, I selected this restaurant based on reviews. I wanted a restaurant that would have fantastic food and a happy feeling while were celebrating. I took a chance and reserved here. Glad I did! I reserved a table for 6 and it was ready when we got there. The food was delicious! We ordered appetizers to get started and then moved on to some outstanding entrees.... Abruzze, Fettuccine Fellini, Seafood Di Mare, and Chicken Parmesan. All were fantastic!! Our waitress took our order without writing anything down and made sure we always had what we needed. Other customers were seemed to be enjoying a pleasant Sunday afternoon too!! So glad that our graduation celebration was complete by having our dinner at La Dolce Vita!
D
Daniel
Chicago
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is a neighborhood gem! Great atmosphere, great staff and excellent food, what more could you ask for? Oh and the owner walks around with a bowl of pasta service pasta to people waiting for their orders.
F
Foodiepie
Philadelphia
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great place to go for Italian food. You are treated like family when you come here.
J
Jill
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall3food5service3ambience4
Great food and place. Unfortunately had to wait 45 minutes after our reservation time to get our table. Serving staff were very friendly though.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
LOVE this place. Amazing service they made my moms birthday so special!
LC
LuisC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very authentic food delusion, best place to eat I love it, Visited from Chicago 😋
M
Marketingpro
Cleveland
17 reviews
vip
3.0
17 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience2
Very busy night for the restaurant on top of ot being a beautiful night with tonsnof folks out to eat it was alsonProm Night for many local school. Thus it was very busy, noisy and an understaffed server team. It shows. Three times asking for more bread, wine and extra sauce. They wouldn't split the check by couples and the restaurant was packed. Not what we were hoping for.
LO
LorieO
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We sat on the sidewalk and enjoyed every single minute! The food was delicious as always, the service impeccable, and the atmosphere pure Little Italy.
SC
SusanC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went last night, Saturday, to celebrate Mother's Day early. Sat at our favorite spot at the bar. The bartender made *PERFECT* martinis, and was cheerful, attentive, energetic, and knew what he was doing. The food, as always was delicious. We had scallops with risotto and veggies, and pesto gnocchis. We had the Hungarian Hots as appetizer, peppers filled with a delicious meat mixture. Fresh hot bread with a slab of real butter, and olive oil on the side. Everything was great. It was bustling and servers were everywhere. We like a lively atmosphere. The adjacent rooms were much quieter, and we were going to take a table but preferred the lively, noisy bar area. Enjoyed the similar company of our fellow bar mates. Made friends and had a ball. We have eaten here a lot and will continue to do so. Bravo!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Richmond
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We absolutely love this place, feels like you’re eating at a friend’s house! The food is spectacular, the service is on point! My go to place when in Cleveland! Plus they make a fantastic martini!! 🍸
SH
SHOEDT1
Detroit
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Fantastic food and great service!!! Exceeded expectations once again.
AJ
AJ2716
Toledo
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My wife and I have wanted good Italian food for a while now. The menu was diverse enough that we both had plenty to choose from. I had the seared scallop risotto, she had the pesto pasta. Both very good. A healthy wine list will ensure you have something good to drink. The wait staff was incredible. 10/10 would recommend.
C
Corby
Cleveland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best spot in Little Italy, top tier service and food. Always feel like family when dining at La Dolce Vita.
K
Kathy
Cleveland
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service was excellent. We were celebrating two birthdays and the staff was extra attentive providing us with a pasta appetizer and two tiramisus with candles for the birthdays. Really nice!
SV
ShellyV
Cleveland
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful birthday dinner! The food was incredible!! The chef came around & gave sample dishes! The check came with a complimentary dessert!! We were given the VIP experience at no extra cost. Looking forward to our return ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
KZ
KarenZ
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
We were visiting our niece at the university. Took her for dinner at La Dolce Vita. The restaurant was busy and lively. The waiter was charming and attentive. We started with the Caprese salad and Wedding soup. Dinner was Fettuccine Fellini with pancetta, Cacio E Pepe with pancetta and Chicken Marsala. All the food was delicious! Will definitely go there again the next time we visit our niece.
AH
AmyH
Pittsburgh
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Ava was a great server! Food was delicious and everyone enjoyed their meals! Lemon sorbet and gelato finished off a wonderful dining experience
DH
DaveH
Cleveland
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and ambiance were fantastic! Can’t wait to go back!
DG
DaveG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The bow tie pasta with the delicious light sauce was an amazing appetizer surprise. My friend, who is Italian, said the entrees reminded him of his mom’s cooking. Then, another delicious surprise when the fresh pineapple and grapes with whipped dip arrived for our dessert. What a wonderful dinner!
MH
MarciaH
Cleveland
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a lovely time and were treated like royalty. The food was perfect. I had the Eggplant it was delightful. Soup, salads, and desserts were right on. The drinks were good too. We had a party of 8 and everything went very well. The owner stopped by to say hello and bought us all a shot of Lemon Chello. Will be back soon.
AJ
AlyJobs
Cleveland
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best restaurant in Little Italy. Atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable and there’s never the feeling you’re being rushed. Food is outstanding and authentically Italian. The owner, Terry T., always makes an appearance with a bowl of bow tie pasta and cheese to sample. It’s delicious!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
First time here. Linguine with clams was absolutely fantastic. Excellent service, wonderful slightly eclectic ambience. We will be back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful birthday gathering had at La Dolce Vita. Food, service and ambiance were perfect. It felt very refreshing to dine in a place where so much pride in providing the best experience is evident. Will return for future occasions!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Caribbean
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
always a plessure coming here; get the bardolini wine! chef very kind, and Bella out waitress was phenomenal!!
AB
AmandaB
Louisville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our family enjoyed dinner here on a weekend getaway. Excellent value for price and amount of food which came to the table. Highly suggest the meatball appetizer and eggplant parmigiana. We didn’t have room for dessert but the fresh fruit after dinner was quite refreshing and a nice touch. Our waitress was fantastic along with the other staff.
DS
DavidS
Los Angeles
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a wonderful place to spend an evening. The ambience made us feel like we were having a meal in Italy. The food was delicious and original, the service was sensational and we can’t wait to go back and enjoy the freshest and tastiest pasta this side of Venice!
TK
ThomK
Cleveland
29 reviews
4.0
29 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
This is one of the two Little Italy restaurants that I have no qualms about recommending to people. More than your average experience.

FAQs

La Dolce Vita - Cleveland is rated 4.8 stars by 1357 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

Jun 5, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 14 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

The Eggplant Parm

Fettuccine Fellini

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

Sort by

FAQs

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