La Dolce Vita is a old school Italian joint in Bev Hills known for it’s celebrity and presidential clientele.

I’ve driven by the inobtrusive, windowless restaurant for the past 13 years on my way to work, always wondering what secrets lay inside.

Opened in 1966 (the Rat Pack used to hang out there, Sinatra even has his own booth) by 40’s gangster actor George Raft (we sat in his booth) La Dolce Vita is like walking into a members only, leather boothed, friendly mafia hangout (if this were a movie set).

What brought me there today was the fact that they started serving lunch and it was Dine LA week.

$20 for three courses, what a deal!

We started with the incredible Mozzarella Marinara (see above and below) and the less impressive Asparagus Gratin.

The mozzarella embodied all the things one loves in deep fried cheese. Crispy crust, oozing cheese topped with a fantastic red sauce.

The asparagus was swimming in butter/oil so it was flavorful yet a smidgen unncessary.

FYI, I almost wrote something unncessary about asparagus and urine but I’m an adult, so I deleted it.

The Italian Sausage and Farfalle was rich and flavorful, I wish I had ordered some to go!

The Chicken Parmesan was perfectly traditional and just what I was in the mood for. I left not a drop.

I enjoyed my Cannoli but the Panna Cotta was really the star of the dessert show. Yes, there was a dessert show.

Deal with it.

9785 Santa Monica Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 278-1845
ladolcevitabeverlyhills.com