Dolly makes the best pasta around! Especially the fettuccini alfredo, which is my go-to order. Plus has a great wine selection, including their own wines that they have specially made for their restaurant. Great food and super friendly place; Dolly and her husband make you right at home. You'll run into the locals hanging out here to catch up over a great meal. read more

A cozy and wonderful wine bar in El Cerrito! Dolly is the host and sommelier; she somehow finds the time to make the pasta too! We tried lots of things on the menu and got a whole range of delicious flavors. The parmigiana wheel pasta experience you have to try. If you get the spaghetti & meatballs, be prepared to be completely stuffed. Dolly knows her wines and can help guide you to find something to your taste. And of course who can turn down authentic tiramisu made with panna cotta. The service is fast, attentive, and warm. Come to relax and have comfort Italian food and wine read more

My wife and I came here on a Friday to check out the buzz. We were able to get a seat inside, which is pretty small. Dolly greeted us and took our order. She definitely made us feel at home. We shared the beet salad. I ordered the salmon fettuccine and my wife ordered the shrimp and crab ravioli. They were all tasty dishes, and Dolly does not skimp on cheese. They also did the pasta just right. We had a great time and Dolly told us to come back for Sri Lanka night. It was going to be a taste of her home country. We'll have to take her up on that next time. While the place is small, Dolly's Restaurant is a hidden gem in El Cerrito. read more

We've been to Dolly's twice now. This restaurant is truly an unexpected pleasure, and the quality of the food is incredible. We had meatballs, a large Caesar salad, and her signature Fettuccine Alfredo - put together in a huge cheese wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano. Her desserts are - get this - flown in from Italy weekly! One bite of her tiramisu, and you won't want it from anywhere else. Wow. She also has a very deep wine list, well worth exploring. We will be coming back again and again. Dolly is a lovely host, and really knows her way around Italian cuisine. Five stars! read more

Dolly's - Dolly, serving up her signature Fettuccine Alfredo. - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Excellent food great service Hidden Gem for sure we enjoyed the pasta in the cheese wheel Looking forward for going back Thank you Shenal read more

I visited Dolly's restaurant for the second time and it was one of the best meals I have ever had. Shenal, is an amazing host. This is my go to place now! read more

Dolly's - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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We came here because a friend of ours had dinner there and it looked good. We came at opening and were the first customers. Staff is friendly and appears to be a family run restaurant. Their big draw is the cheese wheel! They have a huge wheel of parmigiano reggianno that they mix their pasta in. If you're not familiar with this particular cheese it is a very high quality cheese imported from Italy. I noticed that they do not have a kitchen so dishes are brought in either prepared or frozen so no cooking food on site. I did like the pasta mixed in the cheese wheel but it was expensive. They do look like they have a good wine selection so this may be a good wine bar spot for wine enthusiasts! The owners are extremely nice and I hope they continue to operate but I would like to see them do some cooking in the restaurant! read more

Every time we go to Dolly's, we are never disappointed. The spaghetti and meatballs are the best. The caesar salad delicious. Service is great and attentive, even though they are always busy when we go. Just writing this review makes me want to go get in the car and go to Dolly's. In fact, here I go -- I'm off to Dolly's! read more

One of only a few restaurants that has and know how to use the parmesan cheese wheel. The Fettuccine Alfredo is amazing.

Cutest little wine bar + Italian eats! Dolly herself greets and chats with you. We LOVED the fettuccine alfredo made by swirling the hot pasta into a massive cheese wheel. We also loved all the desserts!! There are great non-alcoholic options for those who don't drink, too. Highly recommend! read more

Small menu but what they have is amazing. Their meatballs are so big and fettuccine Alfredo sauce in the cheese wheel is so good. I has the mista salad and uncle had Cesar salad. Both have homemade dressing. It's a small establishment but have 2 outdoor tables. Best Italian food I've had for a long time. Dolly and her crew are very nice and diwn to earth. read more

Great Asian restaurant with an American name. Very good food, and a wide variety! The homemade sodas are delicious. If you're in Albany try it out! read more

I just had the best meal at an Italian restaurant around the corner from where I live. You know how every once in a while you find a gem of an eatery in a little strip mall, well this is one of those! I don't often post about food or anything else, but this was so surprising and pleasing that I have to share it with you. The place is called Dolly's and it's located at 10172 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito, between Central and Lincoln. Their specialty is "Parmesano Regiano Cheese Wheel Pasta." Cheese is scraped from a 100 lb. wheel of the stuff, fettuccine noodles fresh from the boil are stirred into it, and OMG, magic happens. You can have it Alfredo, Alfredo with Smoked Salmon, or Alfredo with Prosciutto. I had the latter, and I must say the prosciutto was perfect and light yet moist--the best I've ever had outside of Italy, and guess what: Dolly sources that and everything she can from Italy, except for the gigantic meatballs and red sauce which are house made. I would even give the house salad an A+. Great wine selection. Sorry, we were too full to report on the desserts, but they look scrumptious. And as for Dolly herself, she was warm and welcoming and seemed to delight in talking about the food and how she came to be cooking Italian when she grew up in Sri Lanka! (She learned from an Italian aunt.) The restaurant space is small, so if you are interested in checking it out--and I recommend that you do!--call for a reservation: 415-410-8091. read more

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Lovely and delicious food, service, and ambiance. Got the chance to meet Dolly and she made it a lovely experience. Also I absolutely loved their wine selection, you'll just have to go in and grab a glass to see. Make sure to swing by at happy hour for $5 a glass. I will definitely be back! read more

Dolly's - Chardonnay - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

First time at Dolly's and I'm impressed. I wasn't expecting much before leaving the house, but I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival. The restaurant was crowded and somewhat loud but what should I expect? I was there on a Friday evening at 6ish pm. I waited only a few minutes before I was greeted by Dolly. She sat me at a table and somehow knew i would prefer the counter. She was reading my mind. The counter was filled with patrons and no seats were available. I sat down and knew right away what I wanted. After placing my order consisting of a beet salad and spaghetti with meatballs I noticed that a family was leaving (from the counter). Without saying anything, Dolly asked if I would like the counter. Yes!! She was reading my mind. I told her that also. LOL! Beet Salad was good - if it were my place i would tweak it to remove the black olives and replace with candied walnuts and add a few pieces of shaved parm. Again, not my restaurant. 4 out of 5 stars. Spaghetti & Meatballs - i wouldn't change a thing! The meatballs were flavorful and tender. The pasta was cooked al dente and I had access to unlimited parmesan reggiano. 5 out of 5 stars. Then came the choices for dessert. I decided that I couldn't decide. A nearby patron offered her recommendation, the Mango Panna Cotta. So that is what I chose. It was light and creamy and delicious. The mango sauce wasn't overly sweet either. 5 out of 5 stars. I sat around and enjoyed conversations with other patrons so long that I decided I wanted another dessert. I chose the spumoni. It too was great. I would get it again. 4 out of 5 stars. At the end of the eve, Dolly introduced herself to me as well as her husband. If you are looking for a quaint place with delicious food and love for wine (didn't try - but everyone else seemed to enjoy the selections) please try here. They are really nice and hope the business thrives as a staple Italian restaurant of El Cerrito! To Dolly - thank you! I'll be back! read more

This is probably one of the best pastas I've ever eaten and I've been to Italy a couple of times. It's a small quaint, cozy environment and Dolly is an absolute gem. Will definitely be coming back. Definitely recommend this place. read more

You have to get the cheese wheel pasta. It's so good! Super cheesy! And I love the seasoning they give you tableside. Definitely enhances the flavors. Will go back here. read more

Ya know, Dolly's hit the spot! I needed comfort food (fettuccine alfredo) but I wanted it to taste extra special. Dolly's did it! The ambiance has nice easy vibe to it. read more

Small place that feels homey. The cheese wheel pasta is amazing.the owners are very nice and the place is very welcoming. Service is fast and friendly. read more

I found this restaurant on Instagram. They are famous for their cheese wheel pasta. The owner Dolly is also the one person running the restaurant and she was really nice. But it's just really very expensive. I will comeback next time when I have extra savings to spend. read more

This was a fantastic neighborhood spot with traditional, quality Italian pastas and authentic Italian desserts. The service is outstanding. They make you feel so welcome even if you aren't having wine. My son absolutely loved this place and asked when we are coming again. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our pastas, as well. My son had the spaghetti and meatballs, I had the fettuccine alfredo and my husband had the special mushroom ravioli with pesto. The fettuccine is not to be missed. If you want excellent quality, traditional Italian pastas with the warmest service Dolly's is worth checking out. read more

My family and I tried Dolly's for the first time yesterday and the spot was a pleasant surprise in the Bay these days with the quality of the food , atmosphere, and the warmth and kindness of the ownership to match! Not only was the food amazing, but Dolly was the best hostess! She even spent time holding and entertaining our son so we could eat (but it was slow on a Monday, so she could find a little down time). We had the Mozzarella Fresca, Meatballs, Fetuccini Alfredo, and Tiramisu and it was all amazing! I HIGHLY recommend dining at Dolly's! We will be back again soon. read more

Stopped in for a date at Dolly's and we had the cheese wheel fettuccine with smoked salmon, burrata caprese, and the mushroom ravioli in a pesto sauce . The caprese had ample amounts of olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the base which was served with warm bread to soak it all up with bits of the cheese which was moist and flavorful. The pesto ravioli had a perfect balance of flavors and the pesto was perfectly salted and nutty with a fresh pop of herbs. The piece de resistance was the smoked salmon fettuccine that was mixed in a giant cheese wheel for that melt in your mouth chefs kiss. We wish we had room for some of the desserts and regretted not trying them. The two that looked crazy good was the spimoni and the lemoncello gelato. read more

Food was amazing. Even my finicky 10 year old cleaned the plate. Will be coming back.

Dolly's is the real deal!! Wow. Fantastic authentic Italian food prepared by a talented and super friendly chef. The quality is unsurpassed, cheese wheel and all! The ambience is cozy and inviting with family-style seating and individual tables. The best "hole in the wall" that I've discovered in a long time--thanks to Yelpers who left useful reviews I'll be going back for sure! read more

Today, I was craving pasta. My partner had been telling me about this place for a few weeks that specialized in pasta sauce made in fresh Parmigiano cheese wheel. It helped that it was right in our neighborhood of El Cerrito. We stopped in and met the lovely owner Dolly. She is a lovely woman who made our pasta fresh, right in front of us. It was fun to learn about the history of this authentic dish. The cheese used is patented and imported from Italy. We ordered the Alfredo, meatballs, sm mista salad, and crab/shrimp ravioli. Everything was delicious! She doesn't skimp on quality ingredients, and you get great value for the price. This place is new,but it will become a staple for us when we are craving italian. I'm so happy this is in our neighborhood! read more

The food was authentic and the owner (Dolly) was very friendly and explained the facts of a cheese wheel. She offered everyone that was dining there that evening a sample of her food. Five stars! read more

I loved Dolly's- it is like going to Italy without the expense. It is a bit of a hole in the wall but what an incredible local experience. I felt like I was in Stanley Tucci's tour of Italy food show. You have got to try all the amazing food. Dolly is passionate about bringing the authentic flavors to us straight from Italy. I am not a cream sauce person but when Dolly shared the cheese wheel experience I changed my order to the fettuccine Alfredo with prosciutto. What a marrying of flavors, the nuttiness of the parmigiana reggiano with the thinly sliced prosciutto, It was incredible on the palette. If you are in the mood for Italian food - head over there pronto! read more

Wow! I ate at Dolly's tonight and can't believe how wonderful it was! From the delightful owner, Dolly, to everything I had, I was stunned! Amazing is the fact that all of the ingredients are imported from Italy which elevates the quality of the food! Particular standouts are the cheese wheel pasta with prosciutto to the spaghetti and meatballs with San Marzano tomatoes and the imported desserts, especially the coppa mascarpone. I will be back as often as I can! Please support this local business! You will not be disappointed! read more

Excellent food. Excellent wines. Excellent service. The cheese wheel pasta was a great experience and you gotta try the desserts.

When I first saw the sign outside of Dolly's, I wasn't sure what was going on inside. I eventually stopped and peeked in. I realize it didn't register at first because I never would have suspected this little Italian gem. The food is delicious. Pasta turned in a cheese wheel. YUM! An incredible selection of wine, WOW! Desserts imported straight from Italy, YES! Dolly is warm and delightful. All of the service is thoughtful and attentive. The place is cozy, fun, delicious, and joyful! read more

The hubby and I checked out this place a few weeks ago since I was craving cheese wheel pasta after watching an episode of Selena Gomez's cooking show (Selena + Chef; also highly recommended!) We weren't sure what to expect so were surprised to learn that it was a hole in the wall but what a gem. Great service and delicious pasta where the basics are done well. It's also got seating so you can see the pasta being prepared in the cheese wheel in front of you. We were too full to order anything else besides the entrees but definitely look forward to returning and trying out more, especially when the pecorino cheese wheels arrive! read more

Delicious pasta, and a remarkably extensive wine list for a small restaurant. Dolly herself is a treasure, funny, lively, and informative. Clearly this is her passion project and she puts everything she can into the business. read more

One of the nicest little restaurants in El Cerrito good Italian food and pastas beer and wine. Something to take home when you don't wanna cook I recommend this place for those night or evening drinks for anyone. read more

It makes me want to vomit just writing this review because I have to go back and think of the meal and experience we had. First off. There is no kitchen. Everything is microwaved. The meatballs were the worst I've ever had in my life. Dolly said, "it's what I'm famous for!" Yeah I'd agree, in my book you're famous for the worst meatballs I've ever ate in my 40 years on this planet. I'll stop there because just thinking about the unknown meat she used makes me want to vomit. My wife and I unfortunately ordered more food. The cheese wheel pasta was old milk scooped into the cheese wheel with pasta that was cooked in reused water that only god knows how old it was. Nothing about Dollys is original other than she orders a cheese wheel from Italy and then sells it like it's an original Italian entree. The pasta was atrocious. The milk she scooped onto the pasta came from a tin that was clearly old because she just opened up and the milk was curdled around the edges and burnt. Nothing was home made when it comes to the Caesar salad we ate. The croutons were from the dollar store, the lettuce sucked, the plates were pure plastic and utensils were from Party City. The napkins were air thin and useless. I never once saw dolly wash her hands. I'd rather have my head sewn to my carpet than return to this back door microwaveable want to be Italian disaster of a restaurant. Will I be returning? Excuse me while I go vomit. read more

Amazing experience!!! Great food, Delicious Pasta , and Awesome desserts !!!! Dolly is the Queen of Hospitality!!!!

2nd visit I ate the INCREDIBLE meatballs and spaghetti, Caesar salad AND TIRAMISU!!!!!! AMAZING WONDERFUL food. The tiramisu is imported from Milan Italy and sooooooo delicious. BEST I've ever eaten. read more

Dolly's - Dolly on left. - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

So Dolly's lives up to the hype of an al dente pasta with an amazing fresh Alfredo sauce! My son and I made the 40 minute drive from Lafayette to El Cerrito, and it was well worth it. No reservations, but they open at 3PM most days, and we were able to walk-in with no wait a little after 5 PM. The menu is pasta pasta pasta, as you would expect, with some salads as well. They have a huge selection of wine to pair your meal with, and if you're into scotch or whiskey, Shenal definitely has you covered as well. Dolly's seating is very familiar and quaint; half counter seating with a few tables for two inside, and a couple of outdoor tables as well. Definitely bring your appetite, and indulge in the Alfredo pasta (I had mine with prosciutto, but am dying to try the smoked salmon next time). Their signature Alfredo sauce is definitely worth the trip, along with the casual, family feel restaurant. Can't wait to come back, grab a seat at the counter, and have a great meal in one of the most comfortable and welcoming restaurants I've been to in a long time! read more

Dolly's - The famous cheese wheel! - Italian Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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People are so nice they go out there way to be nice to you and the pasta is very good and fun definitely recommend

Service and food were great. The whole show of the cheese wheel in front of you is awesome and they gave us free dishes to try.