La Dolce Vita

(310) 278-1845

9785 Santa Monica Blvd (Wilshire Blvd.)
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 34.0673 -118.4092

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Neighborhood: Beverly Hills

Years in business

Established in 1966

Hours:

Mon-Sat 5pm-close

Last updated 7.20.11

Category:

Restaurants

Parking:

Valet

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Travelers Check, Gift Certificate, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Date Spot, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, People Watching, Business Dining, Online Reservations, Non-Smoking, Upscale Casual Dining, Happy Hour, Dine At The Bar, Carry Out, Notable Wine List, Bar Scene, Private Parties

Cuisine:

Italian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About La Dolce Vita

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Not much has changed at this refined dining destination since the Rat Pack made this their red-sauce restaurant of choice. The walls are rustic brick, deep booths boast cushy crimson leather, and old-fashioned lanterns cast a warm glow. Well-dressed clientele swoon on romantic dates or chat-up old friends, while red-coated waiters prepare dishes in copper pans tableside. – – The Food – The menu consists of dozens of hearty Italian classics with traditional ingredients. The finely house chopped salad with radicchio, romaine, salami and veggies is a light…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The wine list is adequate but those with special bottles may consider bringing their own bottle and paying the $20 corkage fee.
Parking:
Utilize the $5 valet to bypass the near-impossible search for street parking.
Know Before You Go:
Picky diners, or those with a hankering for something off-menu are in luck. The kitchen is well-versed at heeding substitution requests and preparation suggestions.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The food, ambience and wait staff are delightful!”
  2. “Tableside preperation is wonderfully romantic.”
  3. “Delicious Italian food, fantastic old Hollywood atmosphere, great service”
  4. “old school charm, veteran waiters, incredibly cozy room, all the classics, clean food, quality from start to finish.”
  5. “Fantastic atmosphere, service and food.”
  6. “We also enjoyed the romantic, candle-lit ambiance, and our waiter was charming too.”
  7. “Amazing food, wonderful and friendly service, great wine, and fun people watching.”
  8. “top italian, the best atmosphere”
  9. “dont mind the high prices, but c'mon, this place is as romantic as league night at a bowling alley in downtown LA.”
  10. “Very cozy place to take friends or family- feeels like someplace you'd find in New York.”
  11. “Went here with my wife over the weekend (Aug 19), took her there because this was 'rated' as the most romantic restaurant, whoever rated this the most romantic restaurant must be on something.”
dessert
50.0% positive
  1. “The dessert, which the waiter recommended "two thumbs up," tasted as it had been in the refrigerator for two days.”
  2. “The dessert for 2 wasn't that great.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The food and drinks were both delicious.”
  2. “Outstanding wine list.”
  3. “Fantastic Italian food and cocktails in a very intimate, yet exciting place.”
  4. “Considering its not a huge restaurant, they have a good amount of waiters and busboys that constantly check on water and drink refills making sure that you are satisfied.”
  5. “Its a great place to meet for an intimate drink, the bar is great and so is the wine list.”
  6. “Amazing food, wonderful and friendly service, great wine, and fun people watching.”
  7. “Ive heard that it is a celebrity hot spot for those who dont want to be seen but would rather have great food and drinks and just chill.”
food quality
90.76000213623047% positive
  1. “The food is excellent.”
  2. “Delicious Italian food, fantastic old Hollywood atmosphere, great service”
  3. “You can have a bad meal anywhere from time to time.”
  4. “Look, food was good, not amazing.”
  5. “Poor service, poor food, high prices.”
  6. “Anyway, I had the Lobster Diavoli and it was great, very simple but the more I ate the more I loved this dish.”
  7. “Amazing food, wonderful and friendly service, great wine, and fun people watching.”
  8. “The food is mediocre and the service is horrible.”
  9. “Fantastic Italian food and cocktails in a very intimate, yet exciting place.”
  10. “Great steak and pasta”
  11. “My boyfriend is a vegetarian, so we were pleased to discover a variety of tasty options for him; Between the two of us, we tried the Caesar Salad and the Mozzarella Marinara appetizer (what a heavenly cheese).”
  12. “The food is always fantastic and the service prompt and friendly.”
  13. “Theyve got many great dishes but my favorite is their eggplant stuffed with pasta, covered with cheese and baked.”
  14. “We went out expecting a yummy dinner and special evening and we got it.”
  15. “took my friend here for his birthday because he loves italian food.”
  16. “After my amazing salad (which was prepared table-side, by the way), when the waiter brought out my steak with vegetables, he also had the chef put three more duck-raviolis on my plate!”
  17. “didn't leave a review when I had a fantastic meal there at La Dolce Vita, ast year.”
  18. “Co Owned by De Niro, Amazing food and Great Music, Great Young Hip Fresh Spot for people in 20's and 30's.”
  19. “Definitely suggest it to anyone looking to celebrate a special evening as we did or simply enjoy a terrific Italian meal.”
  20. “And then on to that terrific chopped salad, that's appearing again all-over.”
  21. “While most of the historic LA restaurants have closed or reinvented themselves, kudos to the owners and staff for maintaining the quality of service and food that made La Dolce Vita famous in the first place.”
  22. “They have a huge selection of pastas and a couple of great salads (try the ceasar salad, it is so good!)”
  23. “After dining at the incredible Cut, and the outstanding Saddle Peak Lodge - maybe it was just too much to ask to have another outstanding meal.”
  24. “The Steak Sinatra was one of the most flavorful and tender steak dishes, as good as any of the now popular steakhouses, I have had anywhere and the linguine and clams was to die for.”
  25. “Just ate there tonight- food was excellent.”
  26. “The food was just like the Zagat guide said, "good" and certainly not "great.”
  27. “The food is great, there isn't a dish on the menu that I wouldn't recommend.”
  28. “They have the best pasta carbonnara I have ever had.”
  29. “My boyfriend and I went to La Dolce Vita a couple of nights ago and had a fabulous time :) First of all, the food was amazing.”
  30. “Warm environment, good food”
  31. “They rushed us to order our food, and were not friendly at the least!”
  32. “Great food, great service in a lovely environment.”
  33. “La Dolce Vita has some amazing Italian food.”
  34. “The food was mediocre at best, if not below average.”
  35. “Best food consistantly.”
  36. “Ive heard that it is a celebrity hot spot for those who dont want to be seen but would rather have great food and drinks and just chill.”
  37. “The food, ambience and wait staff are delightful!”
  38. “The Maitre' D Ruben makes the dining experience an absolute pleasure and that is before even tasting what is hands down the best Italian food in all of LA.”
  39. “Great staff, nice seating but the food is too salty, not innovating.”
  40. “Fantastic atmosphere, service and food.”
  41. “The food and drinks were both delicious.”
  42. “Great Italian food”
  43. “Best Italian food in LA!”
  44. “The menu is delicious, light, unpretentious and full of adventure.”
  45. “Real booths, real waiters and really good food.”
  46. “old school charm, veteran waiters, incredibly cozy room, all the classics, clean food, quality from start to finish.”
menu variety
93.75% positive
  1. “The menu is delicious, light, unpretentious and full of adventure.”
  2. “My boyfriend is a vegetarian, so we were pleased to discover a variety of tasty options for him; Between the two of us, we tried the Caesar Salad and the Mozzarella Marinara appetizer (what a heavenly cheese).”
  3. “The food is great, there isn't a dish on the menu that I wouldn't recommend.”
  4. “They have a huge selection of pastas and a couple of great salads (try the ceasar salad, it is so good!)”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Was this really the best italian restaurant in LA?”
  2. “just left a review for another restaurant and then I got to thinking, "Did I leave a review on that great place I was at last year?”
  3. “Id like to say it isn't good so that you dont go since reservations can be hard to get but I cant lie, this place is great.”
  4. “Its a great place to meet for an intimate drink, the bar is great and so is the wine list.”
service
84.37999725341797% positive
  1. “Amazing food, wonderful and friendly service, great wine, and fun people watching.”
  2. “Great staff, nice seating but the food is too salty, not innovating.”
  3. “old school charm, veteran waiters, incredibly cozy room, all the classics, clean food, quality from start to finish.”
  4. “Co Owned by De Niro, Amazing food and Great Music, Great Young Hip Fresh Spot for people in 20's and 30's.”
  5. “The wait staff was genuinely friendly and never crossed the line into being too pushy or nosey.”
  6. “The staff and service is friendly in this classic Beverly Hills establishment.”
  7. “The food is mediocre and the service is horrible.”
  8. “Even though our waiter was very friendly still had to waive him down for the bill!”
  9. “Real booths, real waiters and really good food.”
  10. “Next, the waiters were so pretentious!”
  11. “The service is always great and the Maitre'd always does his best to accomodate everyone, no matter who you are (it is a good spot for celeb sighting too).”
  12. “There are previous posts stating bad service and quality at LDV.”
  13. “Wait staff was perfect- not all over us, but there when we needed something.”
  14. “While most of the historic LA restaurants have closed or reinvented themselves, kudos to the owners and staff for maintaining the quality of service and food that made La Dolce Vita famous in the first place.”
  15. “They rushed us to order our food, and were not friendly at the least!”
  16. “The wait staff is superfriendly, great customer service.”
  17. “The food, ambience and wait staff are delightful!”
  18. “Considering its not a huge restaurant, they have a good amount of waiters and busboys that constantly check on water and drink refills making sure that you are satisfied.”
  19. “Fantastic atmosphere, service and food.”
  20. “The food is always fantastic and the service prompt and friendly.”
  21. “Thanks to the wonderful bartender (Kim, I think?)”
  22. “Great waiters”
  23. “The waiter was attentive and charming.”
  24. “Great food, great service in a lovely environment.”
  25. “The dessert, which the waiter recommended "two thumbs up," tasted as it had been in the refrigerator for two days.”
  26. “Poor service, poor food, high prices.”
  27. “The most disappointing aspect of the experience though, given how expensive this place is, was the service.”
  28. “Everyone was very friendly.”
  29. “Delicious Italian food, fantastic old Hollywood atmosphere, great service”
  30. “Service was professional yet friendly and responsive.”
  31. “After my amazing salad (which was prepared table-side, by the way), when the waiter brought out my steak with vegetables, he also had the chef put three more duck-raviolis on my plate!”
  32. “We also enjoyed the romantic, candle-lit ambiance, and our waiter was charming too.”
value
71.4300012588501% positive
  1. “Poor service, poor food, high prices.”
  2. “This place is not worth the price with so many great substitutes.”
  3. “Considering its not a huge restaurant, they have a good amount of waiters and busboys that constantly check on water and drink refills making sure that you are satisfied.”
  4. “like big portions so i can eat leftovers for two days!”
  5. “The most disappointing aspect of the experience though, given how expensive this place is, was the service.”
  6. “They have a huge selection of pastas and a couple of great salads (try the ceasar salad, it is so good!)”
  7. “dont mind the high prices, but c'mon, this place is as romantic as league night at a bowling alley in downtown LA.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/16/11

Classy, Cozy, and Delicious

by usestangerines at Citysearch

After driving by this hidden gem in Beverly Hills for a couple of years, I finally was able to check out La Dolce Vita. I had heard good things about it and a lot of lore related to it's stint as a favorite spot of the Rat Pack. It did not disappoint. Its classic Hollywood past would be enough of a reason to stop in for a visit, but don't be fooled - this is a lovely spot to dine with delicious food and a wonderful ambiance. I had the special ravioli (veal, cheese with a marsala wine sauce full of tender and tasty bits of shiitake mushrooms) - amazing! My friend went with the Veal Scallopine Marsala which was also very tasty. The wine was delicious and the house Tiramisu is not to be missed. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and very polished. Overall it was a fantastic experience and one I can't wait to repeat again very soon.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/05/11

A Really Special Place

by freshandclean at Citysearch

My husband and I had dinner here last week with another couple who are long-time La Dolce Vita fans. We needed to be convinced, because we usually meet at new places, but I am so glad we went. What a gem! About a dozen luxurious booths, warm lighting, unbelievable food and service, all in a setting that is straight out of another time period. It's like a beautiful jewel had been frozen in time, allowing itself to be discovered and enjoyed by a select few. It dates back to the 60s and is a classic. ultra low-key celeb hangout (the night we were there, we sat a few feet away from Nancy Reagan, chatting with friends in a booth with a brass plaque proclaiming it The Reagan Booth!). It's known as Sinatra's home base. No sign out front, just a black door. We felt special just being there. Food was old world Northern Italian made with a true sense of artistry. Even something as omni-present as deep fried calamari was a gift. The drinks were potent and delicious. The salad was made at our table and was literally the best Caesar I've ever had...unbelievable. The owner, Alessandro, a delicate man with a soft voice and a warm smile, dropped by our table. He introduced himself and seemed to genuinely care about the quality of our experience. He told us that, when he bought the place several years ago, his goal was to maintain it as it had always had been, an escape from the real world to a better time. Mission accomplished. We stayed over three hours. We loved it and can't wait to return. Even the valets, who said they have been there for years, were delightful. Thanks, La Dolce Vita.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/29/10

The whole 360

by RuthS at Citysearch

This award winning restaurant boasts of flavourful food , a luxurious ambience and wonderful service . Found a great deal for this place on a site called Urban Spoils . Totally worth it . Go check it out !

3 Star Rating: Average

05/20/09

Good Only If Your Old

Contributor at Citysearch

Look, food was good, not amazing.I think its cool they got Senatra music playing BUT that's Good Only If Your Old. I say anybody over 40 will like it. 20's and prob 30's Go to AGO instead. Co Owned by De Niro, Amazing food and Great Music, Great Young Hip Fresh Spot for people in 20's and 30's. Try AGO's Pizza and Choclete Moose Cake

1 Star Rating: Poor

03/14/09

RUDE RUDE RUDE!!!

by trojancutie29 at Citysearch

The food is mediocre and the service is horrible. I was with a group for my friend's 21st birthday. We were all dressed in cocktail dresses and heels and the boys all had on slacks, ties and jackets. She was very excited to go and then the waiters and manager stood over us the whole time and tried to charge us $10 dollars to split a plate. They acted like money was an issue for us because we were a group of young college students and we all felt very offended. We researched the restaurant we knew the prices and we didn't appreciate being judged based on our appearance.

  • Pros: NOTHING
  • Cons: EVERYTHING

The Details on La Dolce Vita

Place Categories:

  • amazing italian food
  • great place
  • great italian restaurant
  • great customer service
  • charming waiter
  • genuinely friendly wait staff
  • fantastic hollywood atmosphere
  • outstanding terrific italian meal
  • mediocre food
  • famous la dolce vita
  • fantastic dining experience
  • terrific chopped salad
  • warm environment
  • romantic special evening
  • like goat cheese
  • favorite entree
  • romantic candlelit ambiance
  • loved dish
  • great drinks
  • bad service
  • outstanding wine
  • great date spot
  • full menu
  • like big portions
  • rude
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