Life at la Dolce Vida is Semi-Sweet

-3 Snaps! Try it. You might like it.

​Aspiring to be a go-to classic Italian restaurant is a big task, especially in South Tampa. But the folks at la Dolce Vita are doing just that. Transforming  a former French restaurant into a thin slice of Italy, the owners opened earlier this year.

​Being opened only a few weeks, the place is full, with a line for a table. They do not take reservations. However, we are immediately greeted and given an accurate wait time (about 10 minutes). Staff is professional and snappy giving immediate attention to our table once we are seated, which remarkably still includes bread service and unseasoned EVOO. Recently many restaurants are excluding bread or only providing it on request. ​​The wine list is adequate and distinctly Italian with a broad range of white, rose', reds, and sparkling by the glass or bottle. With Frank Sinatra playing in the background, the tone is set.

Pennette Pomodoro & Basilico- Penne pasta, cherry tomatoes, basil, parmigiano

​We dig in taking counsel from Italian food experts who advise to grade Italian food by the basics like pastas and sauces instead of  foods that can either easily be prepared at home or dazzled with fancy ingredients. We also stay away from items that are out of season including Caprese. We select Pennette Pomodoro & Basilico- Penne pasta, cherry tomatoes, basil, Parmigiano ($16.00), and Pappardelle Bolognese ($18.00)- a great staple of noodles and sauce. The dishes are delivered in a timely manner and the serving sizes are adequate.

La Dolce Vida Pappardelle Bolognese

While their website is peppered with pictures of fresh made pasta, it turns out these are stock images. All of the pasta used at la Dolce Vita is prepackaged and, according to our waiter, imported from Italy. Indeed, they proudly display the packages of pasta in a showcase in the restaurant. Turns out all of the images on their site are stock photos. Fair enough as this is a new place, but still a little misleading from the website.
​Our Pennette Pomodoro & Basilico offers a bountiful mix of pasta and cherry tomatoes. The sauce has a fennel/sausage undercurrent that brings it alive. But, there's not much of it. The pasta is sadly over cooked for those preferring a more al dente bite.
One of my fave Italian dishes is Pappardelle Bolognese. Those wide noodles serve up a  large platform for a meaty sauce, and that is what happens here. I would like a little more punch from the sauce, but the meat is well cooked and the gravy has a good tomato base. Again, the pasta is too limp for my liking.
​Extra Parmesan cheese is offered on service, and arrives in a stainless bowl with a spoon. It is small and granular and does not offer much flavor. It looks store-bought? Fresh grated Parmesan cheese, especially on the Pappardelle Bolognese, would pop more power into the dish and give a mark of authenticity to this Italian meal. 

On the plus side service is extremely attentive and on task. A dropped fork is immediately replaced with a new set of flatware. Between wine and the meal our server inquires about refreshers and brings another basket of bread without being asked. Spot on! Prices are reasonable for this neighborhood and the menu offerings are broad enough for most Italian tastes. The food scores a 6 - 7 on a scale of 10. The taste is okay but the commercial quality takes it's toll.

3301 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33629