Fresh noodles
We headed out on the trail of spaghetti and found our way down Meatball Lane (Superior Drive in the Gulf Gate area of Sarasota, Florida) to Dolce Italia, where the food is bellissimo! With so many Italian restaurants in the Sarasota metro area in it can be a bit disheartening to navigate around mediocre canned and corporate owned chain Italian restaurants. Perhaps the only way to find a “made from scratch” or at least the “perception of homemade” Italian restaurant in the area might be to ask a wandering Genie for an al dente wish.
Wish Granted
What a surprise at Dolce Italia! I checked out the reviews on TripAdvisor before we calibrated our compass to noodle North and headed out for the evening. I noticed that Dolce Italia’s current status is #1 in Sarasota. However, sometimes one-hundred fifty excellent reviews CAN be misguiding due to varying traveler’s tastes so I kept my expectations realistic. We made reservations at 6PM for three as John’s mother joined us, reservations were recommended due to limited seating.
Dolce Italia – sign
Upon arriving we were seated at a candlelit corner table by the window. Bright blue curtains mask a view of a parking lot but that is not an issue as the real scene here is the food. The dining area is comfortable with a warm sunset orange color scheme and a subdued lighting. The owners, Tiziana & Pippo hail from Ischia, a volcanic island in the northern gulf of Naples, Italy. They seek to obtain many ingredients directly from Italy when possible to invoke an “Italian” experience. The freshness the produce and the pairing of the simple ingredients makes a difference. The owners also create made to order entrees in the kitchen and the small staff in the front of the house are efficient. The vibe is casual and not pretentious so you can easily dine here after a visit to the nearby beach (Siesta Key).
Dolce Italia outside, Sarasota, Florida
Bring forth the Plate du Jour
The regular menu is short with reasonable prices offering some standard Italian favorites including lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs and gnocchi. What is different is the taste – bellissimo! The exciting part is that house specials change daily with rotating appetizers, house-made fresh pasta entrees and dessert options. I ordered the eggplant, tomato sauce, garlic and fresh pasta entree from the special’s board. The dish may sound simple but it was rich with sautéed garlic and eggplant flavor adorned with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Finally an entree that is so delicious that I need to come back to experience it again. John had an entree with tomato sauce, cream, mushrooms and garlic on unique handmade triangular shaped pasta close in size to larger version of penne pasta. John’s comment, “best Italian in Sarasota.” John’s mother had the baked lasagna and mentioned, “this is the best lasagna I have every tasted.” Happy diners
Dolce Italia, Tiramisu dessert
A sprinkle of Tiramisu
For desert we each opted to try the house-made tiramisu with a cappuccino. – Super! The evening was all about the four seasons of flavor, “Oh What a night…”
Dolce Italia – cappuccino
Location and Information
Dolce Italia website
Price range: $10-$15
6606 Superior Ave., Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone: 941-921-7007 (reservations)
Hours: Mon – Sat. 5-9PM
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