Best veal sacllopini I ever had in my whole life and I am no spring chicken. It was outstanding. There were 10 of us and we all loved it

We had a lovely dinner tonight in downtown Gilroy. This restaurant was recommended to us by a friend. We called a few days ahead to make reservations. I'm glad we did because the place filled up quickly. Cafe Dolce Vita is a classy Italian restaurant with authentic Italian cuisine. There is some street parking, but it fills up fast. There is a parking lot a few block up on the same street that has more availability as well as behind the restaurant building. The inside is very modern with a lovely bar with 3 screen TV's. Right now, they only serve wine and beer. They have a really cool old fashioned espresso machine, that is more for decor. There is a modern one behind the bar for espresso's, cappuccino's and cafe lattes. The building is long and narrow. So there is quite a bit of seating that goes all the way to the back of the restaurant. Our waitress was very attentive and kind. We were brought a bottle of cold water for our table and fresh bread and garlic infused olive oil to dip the bread in. It was very good. Since it was an our first time we decided to try several dishes that we would share. We started with the Antipasto plate. This plate had a combination of fresh mozzarella, cold cuts, olives, roasted bell peppers, artichokes, eggplant and zucchini. It was a huge plate full of deliciousness. We had to stop ourselves from eating it all, so we would have room for everything else. They kindly wrapped up what was left for us to take home. We then ordered the rest of our meal. We ordered the Pappardelle di Napoli, Pollo Marsala and the Short Rib Tortelloni. Our entrees arrived quickly and they were all amazing. The Pappardelle di Napoli had large shrimp and baby shrimp with fresh tomatoes and spinach in a white wine sauce. It was so delicious. The pasta is made in house and was cooked perfectly. The Pollo Marsala was so moist and had a wonderful flavor from the Marsala wine. The mushrooms absorbed the sauce and made the dish more flavorful. It was served with a side of vegetables. The short rib Tortelloni was on their daily specials menu. The tortelloni were generously stuffed with short rib meat, in a white wine sauce with bacon and tomato. That was my husband's favorite dish, tonight. For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu and the Spumoni Bomba. Both were very good. I would say my favorite was the Spumoni Bomba and my husband loved both desserts equally. Service was excellent here. The owner, Aldo, came to our table to see how we liked our food. He was so hospitable and friendly. He is from Napoli and I could tell that he has a passion for food and making sure his customers are enjoying themselves. We had a wonderful experience and we look forward to coming back to try other menu items. read more

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This restaurant is absolutely sparkling new, bright and light. My daughter and I went here for lunch and had a wonderful meal. The calamari and prawn dish was lightly breaded and not greasy. Really a lovely way to start the meal. I had a chicken breast with a light sauce and the freshest vegetables cooked to perfection. My daughter had the tortellini with sausage which she enjoyed. Dessert was a plate with chocolate covered spumoni. The service was good, but I had to wait too long to get the bill. read more

Absolutely wonderful place. They've done a great job of redecorating from the previous location. The menu is well laid out and offers strong variety keeping within the Italian theme. My one knock with the location is that when it is busy it does get a touch loud since there isn't much sound dampening. Would totally go back, and have been back, again. This is the new anchor for downtown. read more

We were very impressed by their dishes. Will definetly be back! Thank you for the great food, Cafe Dolce Vita! read more

Cafe Dolce Vita - Antipasto- appetizer - Italian Near Me - Gilroy, California

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Do I remember this place? OH HECK YES!! A friend on mine recommended Cafe Dolce Vita to me today while I was TKB in Gilroy. Wifey and I stopped in about an hour before they closed (they close from 2 to 5pm then reopen at 5-9pm) As I walked in I was so impressed by decor of the restaurant and how they had everything laid out, simple beautiful. They have both table seating and booth/table seats. Wifey and I were handed a menu with the day's specials listed on the front, we were also handed a wine menu and bread was quickly delivered to our table with an olive oil / roasted garlic and herb dipping mixture. Ok now for the good part: I ordered the antipasto " prosciutto, mortadella, zucchini, Clemente, olives, salami, artichoke, a big ball of mozzarella, and more "$20" I honestly thought that was a typo when they brought us the large plate loaded with antipasto! And the flavor...OH... MY...GOSH!! My wifey was looking at me funny because I couldn't help myself as I was apparently make those mmmmm noises as I was eating. The flavors were just incredible, even the salami was buttery soft. Wifey ordered a double espresso and asked for cream on the side, they brought her warm frost milk! Who does that?!? Just incredible and the coffee was probably one of the best if not the best espresso's I've ever tasted. Wifey ordered their Blue cheese gnocchi in a white sauce "she loved it" how good was it really?? Well I don't like blue cheese at all and I actually like it. "Which says a lot" I ordered the the risotto De Mare special Comes with risotto, clams, shrimp, squid and other fruits of the sea. Now here is where it gets interesting, I have had this dish many times in many different places and it has always come with a red sauce. Not here, the used and olive oil base with wine "and who knows what else " all I got to say was the flavors were light and it was absolutely incredible "not heavy at all" super delicate and incredibly delicious Lastly for dessert we ordered the spumoni ice cream " chocolate, pistachio, and strawberry " with hard shell chocolate. Again soooooooo gooood! The service was also incredible!! Honestly the whole experience was a perfect 10! read more

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A breath of fresh air to downtown Gilroy! When we walked in at 6:15 for a reservation for 8, we were promptly shown to our table. On our way to the table, Aldo stopped me, shook my hand, and welcomed us in! They have done a great job with the interior. It is very warm and welcoming. I had the veal scallopini with lemon sauce and capers. My honey had the salmon (which they blackened for her) that was a super large portion. The food was excellent. For dessert we shared the Spumoni Bomba, and it was the bomba! Lots of great stuff on the menu. We will be back to try other dishes. I know they just opened, but the service was a tad slow. But we will be back!! read more

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We had an amazing experience at Cafe Dolce Vita in Gilroy! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the service was outstanding, and every dish was fresh and full of flavor. It's great to see another local restaurant delivering such a wonderful dining experience. If you're looking for a new place to enjoy a delicious meal, I highly recommend giving Cafe Dolce Vita a try. We'll definitely be back! #Gilroy #SupportLocal #CafeDolceVita #GreatFood #ExcellentService read more

Cafe Dolce Vita - Italian Near Me - Gilroy, California

Maybe one of the best dishes I have ever had. The salmon's special with an amazing sauce. Best of the best. read more

Cafe Dolce Vita - Italian Near Me - Gilroy, California

Excellent food and great ambience. It's so nice to have a new restaurant in downtown Gilroy! Our service was excellent as well. We will be back! read more

As an Italian foodie, everything from host to waiters welcoming us in as we sat all the way to the back. Highly recommend making reservations- phone call only . Finally- A true Italian restaurant with great selections of real Italian wines like Barolo! Food - Wow ordered the Beets Salad (shared it) it was a big portion and lots of beet chunks. Delicious . Dinner: Lobster Ravioli's were homemade and exquisite. So creamy and well balanced. My husband had the Veal with Capers in wine sauce. If you like tangy lemon- this is ur plate. Everything was delicious and definitely coming back!!! read more

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Food and services is always over the top. Staff and the owner Aldo are always friendly.

I met Aldo for the first time tonight here (even though we lived in Los Gatos 8 years, visited his original restaurant on Winchester Boulevard plus frequented Aldo's Cafe on N. Santa Cruz an abundance of times. Aldo was surprisingly friendly, cheerful, and welcoming (we frequently hear how intense the restaurant business is)!!! Ambiance was outstanding, Brandi was adorable, the food was on point (just as our favorite go to restaurant in the entire Bay Area - Aldo's Cafe is). I was able to get a photo of the appetizer and the dessert - sorry too hungry to take a photo of the entrées!! Wonderful overall experience, so thankful for this place being here. Would strongly recommend and will absolutely return (and will bring family and friends along in the future). read more

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Everything was wonderful! Highly recommend and will be back. The food was phenomenal. I got the gnocchi in a truffle sauce on the specials menu and it was spectacular. A member of my group got the other gnocchi on the regular menu in a blue cheese sauce and that was also delicious, but only if you like blue cheese. We also got the short rib ravioli on the specials menu and my husband was a huge fan. We ended with a recommendation from our waitress, the dessert with strawberries in cream - which was also yummy. Can't wait to try more! Service was good. The restaurant itself is beautiful. read more

Cafe Dolce Vita - The Gnocchi in a truffle sauce on the specials menu was very delicious ! - Italian Near Me - Gilroy, California

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I am writing to share my disappointing experience at this new Gilroy location on Jan. 24th. My friend had recommended the restaurant, and I was eager to try it. After finding no website or reservation information online for the Gilroy location, I assumed walk-ins were welcome and arrived with a guest around 5:45 PM. Upon arrival, we were ignored by the host, who continued a personal conversation with several people in the waiting area. When I finally caught her attention to ask for the wait time for two people, she rudely informed me that they were not taking reservations for the night. When I asked where I could find reservation information online, she abruptly stated that reservations must be made via phone ONLY. I noted that this was not specified on your social media platforms, but the overall lack of professionalism made us feel unwelcome. As a result, we decided to leave. I will continue to frequent my regular establishment in Morgan Hill, where the service is consistently respectful. I hope they address these service issues, as this was a very poor first impression. read more

This review is for Gilroy. I give it a 3 1/2 stars. The food was tasty and well prepared. The table service ie. clean dishes and silverware after each course was appreciated. The pacing of our meal was very uneven. Our dinner lasted 2 1/2 hours, way too long to sit and wait for food. We mentioned that to our server. A few minutes later the owner graciously came to check on us. But by then we had waited longer than acceptable. Our food did finally arrive, it was hot and nicely plated. Excellent execution on the veal. I would say the most objectionable issue was the NOISE level. As the evening progressed the level got even louder. Comfortable conversation was not an option. Food is tasty, atmosphere could use some toning down as that is part of the dining experience. read more

This new restaurant is just what downtown Gilroy needed! Excellent food. First-Class service. Upscale - yet relaxed vibe. Amazing selection of beautiful desserts. Looking forward to my next visit to Cafe Dulce Vita! read more

From the moment we walked in we were greeted and seated promptly (made reservation). The ambiance was nicely upscale, the service was wonderful and our Server Beth is fabulous and made our dinning experience an absolute 10! Food was awesome I'd recommend the crab raviolis, we had a nice red blend wine from Besson I'd also recommend! Can't wait to return!! Thank you Beth! read more

Welcome to Gilroy, Dolce Vita, and thank you for raising the bar in eateries. Management has brought experience and taste to this restaurant - well-trained waitstaff and outstanding chefs. Attractive, low-key decor. Respectably sized menu - not too large yet offering plenty of choice. We enjoyed a pasta dish that was not drenched in marinara sauce, instead, allowing us to savor other flavors. Salads were fresh. Soup was generous in fresh vegetables. It's good to have a local source of quality food. read more

Wonderful new place in downtown! Great food - Great staff! Especially Shelli. The calamari is delicious! read more

Loved everything about this restaurant! Aldo, the owner was happily visiting with all the customers, food was delicious and service was excellent a must go to. I wish they were open on Sundays. read more

Welcome addition to the culinary black hole that is Gilroy. Staff was attentive and friendly. Restaurant was well appointed and attractive. Pricing is bordering on the high side. Food was good. Menu variety was only so so. A lot of fish and veal dishes. Some people may find that limiting. We were there on a Thursday night about 5:30 and the restaurant was packed. Reservations are highly recommended. Hopefully once the new vibe wears off there is enough to make this a go. We need quality restaurants in this town. read more

Great food, Shelly our waitress was attentive and the cafe is very nice and relaxed. I recommend this restaurant.

Who reads a 5 star so I'll make this short. Everything was amazing. Staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. Food was top notch. Tip my cap to the owner for such a great establishment. Hopefully the downtown around it can fill in to suit read more

We have been waiting 8 years for a restaurant of this calibre to be added to our south county life. This wasn't just, "good for the area," this was world class! #southerncharm read more

Cafe Dolce Vita - Spaghetti w/meatballs - Italian Near Me - Gilroy, California

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Food was amazing! Service was excellent. Very pleasant and friendly place. The owner walks around to greet people and asked how the was the food and whether you needed anything else. Love the decoration it feels like you are in a little part of Italy. read more

We had the best date night here! SO happy this restaurant opened downtown! The food was absolutely delicious, great atmosphere, and awesome service! read more

Soooo delicious, fresh pasta and great service. We had the tortellini and fusilli pastas followed by spumoni for dessert. Everything tasted home made and full of flavor. Will absolutely be back! read more

I have had numerous amazing meals. Aldo is great. So happy he brought his restaurant to Gilroy!!!

Soooo good.... food was excellent. Good size portions... service very prompt... got a 5pm reservation... otherwise, a 2 week wait. Everyone loved it. read more

Beautiful romantic restaurant and delicious authentic food! Beet salad was crisp and delicious. Gorgonzola gnocchi were decadent! New York steak fantastic! Veal cannaloni divine! Finished with spumoni-perfection! Five star service! Yay Gilroy! read more

Delicious food Excellent service Beautiful Ambiance The owner was also there and he came and spoke with us read more

Everything was excellent, service, ambiance, and food! I truly enjoyed the lobster ravioli in cream sauce. We will return soon. read more

Morning soufflés are excellent! Only available until 10:30 am. Sandwiches are also very good.

We've been to Aldo's Los Gatos location for years and enjoyed the food, ambiance and service for years! We somewhat expected the same at this new Gilroy location, but we're very disappointed on the area and associated people walking in front of the restaurant. We sat in a window seat which usually is a nice place to watch those passing by, but this time most of those using the sidewalk in front appeared to be indigent, most intoxicated and that don't make it conducive to a nice meal. Gilroy may be trying to go upscale, but this downtown is still riddled with vacant buildings and odd establishments. Aldo would have been better served in a different location such as communities to the north. Perhaps the Gilroy city staff and PD may look into this issue closer and promote a more family environment! read more

A must try! Eggplant parmesan app was super delicious, wine was flowing offering local high end wines and serving with the best ingredients ever! A must read more

I took my wife for an early Valentine's dinner and was very happy with the entrees and the excellent service. I hope Gilroy will attract more quality restaurants like this one so we won't have to travel out of town for excellent dining. The waiter was great and had a good sense of humor. read more

I called twice to make a reservation. Left messages both times as a live person did not answer. I requested a call back to confirm reservation. Both times no response. Guess they don't want my business. Pretty bad way to run a restaurant. read more

Stopped in, with no reservation, on a Saturday, for a last minute date night. We arrived at peak dinner hours, and even though there was no table availability, we were offered seating at the bar. This ended up working out perfectly, since they had the Warriors game playing on 2 of their 3 TVs over the bar. Full menu was available and evening we tried was absolutely delicious! Typically, we head to Morgan Hill or San Jose when we want a more elevated dining experience; but this was wonderful. The nice clean and classic decor, great service and exceptional food. This place surprised us in the best way! This is kind of place is the exact vibe and direction I hope the entire downtown evolves to meet. read more

A new local gem!! First impression walking in is that it is nicely decorated and has a lovely ambience. So many choices on the menu but I settled on the veal picatta. It was tender and the sauce was delicious. I needed to sop up any left on my plate with bread! They have an excellent wine list and we enjoyed an Expresso and cappuccino after our meal. I highly recommend that you try this place out! I can't wait to go back. P. S. It's worth a drive to Gilroy if you're from out of the area! read more