It was quite warm on the otherwise lovely patio, so to cool down, my husband had a Peroni and I ordered a diet Coke. Unfortunately, the soda machine was broken, so our sweet and accommodating waitress brought me an imported regular Coke in a glass bottle. So far things were not going so well.
Everything began to look up when our appetizers arrived. We had two: anchovies with peppers and scallions and a special off-menu artichoke stuffed with salami and bread crumbs.
Both of these dishes were real treats. The anchovies were delightfully salty and savory, especially when paired with roasted red peppers and capers. It was kind of like taking a bite out of the ocean (but not in a gross way). The stuffed artichoke was warm, crusty and very filling -- something that should definitely be added to the menu full-time, or at least for the fall and winter. For the summer, however, it might be a bit too heavy to be called an appetizer. It's really big and hearty enough to serve as a meal.
We could (and probably should) have stopped with the apps, but since it is a pizzeria, we caved and ordered the Margarita Pizza, their most popular pie.
Overall this was a successful pizza. Tomato, basil and mozzarella are obviously a crowd-pleasing flavor combination. My husband thought that the crust was too thin and therefore got soggy. I really like a thin crust, however; it's reminiscent of what I grew up with in New York. My only complaint was that the pieces of basil were too big and too few. I think that this dish would be better if the basil was chopped into slightly-smaller pieces, so that you never end up eating a bite of pizza without all three flavors (or end up eating a bite of just basil).
Dolce Vita is a nice little find in the Montrose area. The staff are hardworking and friendly and the food is made with fresh ingredients and authentic recipes. At a place like this, the enjoyability of the experience really comes down to the guest --the more adventurous you are, the more likely you are to have a memorable meal. So go ahead and order a plain old pizza, but get some anchovies too. You'll find that the anchovies probably make the meal.
PS: parking in this area can be tricky, and cars are frequently ticketed/booted/towed. Your best bet is to utilize the low-cost valet service at the restaurant, or to park on Whitney Street, next to the restaurant. Pay very close attention to parking signs, where other cars are parked, and the advice of the restaurant staff. And remember not to block anyone's driveway!
