La Dolce Vita - now closed

Lovely place that did some proper rustic italian cooking. Sadly they shut their door for good in January 2012. Apparently it will become a cocktail bar instead.

Nenslo (Unverified), 05/03/12

---

One of the very few genuine family-run (since the 1970s!) Italian restaurants in Oxford. Highly recommended - endorsed by my Italian friends who I took there on a visit.

Frank (Unverified), 23/01/10

---

We read the reviews and went along with happy and hopeful hearts. It was like entering a set from Abigail's Party which we all found quite endearing. We were given bread rolls on our table - nice gesture. Slightly ruined by the fact that we then ordered garlic bread as one of our starters and it was the same batch of break rolls, but toasted with a little bit of garlic butter! The Whitebait was tasty but the garlic mushrooms just greasy. For mains - the risotto seemed to be made from tinned vegetables, the 'fresh trout' not really fresh, french fries were actually oven chips. Our friends had two meaty main courses and they said that whilst they were edible - nothing special.  Staff were lovely, setting endearing but the food let the whole thing down I'm afraid.

TJP (Unverified), 10/10/08

---

This is the real deal. La Dolce Vita could have been taken straight out of Brooklyn, New York and placed in the delightful village of Summertown. The food was delicious and simple although the menu was extensive. The waiting staff were friendly even under the pressure of a busy weekend night. This restaurant is a charm with all the authenticness of a real Italian restaurant without the ponsy froo frooness that is all over London and labelled 'italian'.

Awesome!

esmerelda (Unverified), 15/01/08

---

There is really nothing further to add to the review beneath, but we did want to echo her opinions and to state that as of late 2007 the restaurant is still doing just as well!

Katy (Unverified), 18/11/07

---

The negotiated price for accompanying me on my weekend practice drive was an Italian meal. This seemed a good opportunity to try La Dolce Vita, whose (uncomfortable looking) red white and green seats I had noticed many a time on the Summertown pavement.

Seen from the outside, the restaurant appears to have more in common with the old 70s Italian family restaurants than the smooth new eaterias which dot Islington and now, sadly, North Oxford. This impression is borne out inside. Service is friendly and professional - centered on your enjoyment of the meal rather than maintaining corporate style. The questions as to whether we wanted salad or starters, had, I think to be taken in this spirit. The only hint of a house style was the opera and the attentiveness to 'signorina' - but who's complaining?

I haven't even mentioned the food yet. The menu featured an extensive range of starters such as salads and salumeria (Italian cold cuts/pork products, ie: prosciutto, speck, sopressata). The main courses were mainly meat, with veal and chicken featuring prominently. There was a small but interesting range of pasta dishes and pizzas. There was a small selection of 4-5 vegetarian options. I had Ravioli with spinach and ricotta (£7.35) and my companion had Pizza Pescatore (£7.95 - main meals were all between £7 and £9.) My ravioli even made me think of the ones my friend Edda Bertani makes at home - a firm but soft pasta melting with the flavours of the filling. The pizza looked crisp. My request for more bread appeared to be forgotten by the very pleasant young waiter - they were very busy - but I survived by purloining the bread the pizza-eater had left so all was well.

We followed that with tiramisu - not on the written menu but on the oral one - for me (£3.80), and an espresso for him across the table (£1.05). My tiramisu was perhaps just a little out of balance with too much sugar and alcohol and too little texture of sponge. There were no complaints about the coffee. With bottled water (£2.75) the bill came to £23.50.

We emerged into Summertown and a clear night with the stars bright in the sky and bid good night to one of the waiters, who was taking a well-earned rest at the tricolore tables. A dolce vita indeed.

Sandhya Drew (Unverified), 12/09/03

---