Dolce Vita

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NOTE: This restaurant has closed.

Mmmmm, gelato. Not only does it taste good, but it's got about half the fat of most ice creams. This café makes new flavors daily, so the hard part is deciding which ones to get!

I think the name says it all for this café: Dolce Vita, "Sweet Life." They have espresso & other coffee based drinks, but I really like their hot chocolate - it's made with three kinds of Guittard chocolate & comes with a Guittard gold foil 64% cacao wafer. If that doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, they have biscotti, homemade cookies, and the gelato, which includes non-dairy sorbets. You can get from 1 up to 4 scoops in a cute plastic cup, and they also sell pints (which they can split into 2 flavors if you want). They also make sundaes, Thomas Kempter Root Beer floats, and milkshakes. Whipped cream is available on top of the milkshakes, although I prefer it without. You're also welcome to mix flavors or add a shot of espresso, if you're looking for a bit of a kick in your milkshake.

If you're looking for something more substantial, for lunch and dinner they have a few Panini sandwiches to choose from, and one is always vegetarian, and can be made vegan. I've had the Vegetariani, which has roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, tapenade, mozzarella, fontina, & romano cheeses on focaccia. It's good, but not quite filling enough, which does leave room for dessert.

The atmosphere is definitely a neighborhood European café, with wooden chairs, tables, and a fireplace. The feel of the small space leans more to cozy than cramped, which is nice. The staff is very friendly, letting you take as many tastes of the different gelato flavors that you want. Plus, they're always coming up with new creations, which the owner Jim encourages. If Jim is around, he's always willing to come out and talk to customers to answer any questions, find out if they have any suggestions, or to just ask about your family.