Dolce Vita
This is my favorite restaurant in Fairfax. The food is excellent, the lunch specials are a great bargain, and the atmosphere is friendly, romantic, and fun. The owners frequently greet customers by name, and some weekend nights feature a guitar player who performs traditional American and Italian songs. A great place to bring a date!    [02 Dec 1999 12:53:22]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­jschwart   

We dine there on a regular basis
I have tried a variety of pasta dishes and all were excellent. Normally when dining at a particular restaurant there always seems one entree that seems to stand out. The nice thing about Dolce Vita is that you are not bound by one dish. That is why we dine there on a regular basis even though we try other dining experiences of different tastes, sounds and sites. The service was excellent. The owner was cordial and warm. The outside is nothing to write home about, and the inside was cramped, but for some reason even with the closeness we always felt we were in our own world.    [14 Feb 2000 22:58:23]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Russell DeRose   

Great Dining
Lunch and dinner were GREAT!    [09 Feb 2004 18:24:27]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Daily Specials for dinner

     ­Bob   

Best Italian Restaurant
Dolce Vita is my favorite Italian restaurant in the DC Metro Area. It is small but the atmosphere is friendly and warm. Food is excellent and fairly priced. The owner shows a particular interest in customers and in the wines he serves and tries to match them up. The waiters are friendly, helpful, attentive and knowledgeable. Desserts are excellent.    [28 Aug 2004 15:56:50]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Eggplant parmesan

     ­Marion Paul Spina, Jr.   

Mama Mia! That's Italiano!
You will need to loosen your belt after dining here.
Start with the Mussels in wine sauce or Clams Casino, both are excellent, although I prefer the Mussels. Go from there close your eyes and choose if you like, because there isn't a bad dish on the menu. Quaint atmosphere and friendly service accompany all meals. A fine dining experience for a moderate price. You won't be disappointed. Best Italian I have ever had.    [25 Mar 2005 15:46:21]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: ALL!

     ­Karen   

Dolce Vita is the BEST!
The food is always good: the mussels in the red sauce are SOOO good at DV and I usually don't like them because at other places they have sand in them or a fishy smell. Meatballs are fab & moist, salads crisp & the desserts melt in your mouth and you can't remember where you are for a second or two! The service is ALWAYS good - constant refills on drinks & freshly baked homemade bread, the waitstaff remove trash & empty plates promptly, and the waiters are polite, accurate with special orders & nice eye candy to boot! The ambiance is a mix between fine dining and causual but nice, and the food is always a good bargain for the money. Marble countertops, cloth napkins & a wood burning oven, not to mention the delicious smells make your senses go wild. I'd recommend it for friends/family/business if they appreciate great food. Some evenings it can be packed so you may not have the quietest conversation, yet it has a charm & intimate decor    [01 Sep 2005 19:40:09]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Mussels in red sauce, all desserts, pasta w/ artichokes, everything!

     ­PotomacHarmonyBBShopGal, PotomacHarmonySings Arlington   

Doesn't Live up to Reviews.
I had horrible service when my food finally came it was all wrong. None of the waiters seemed interested in me they seemed like they thought they were just too good for us.    [04 Oct 2005 12:10:48]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

What a romantic place & good food 2
Love this place, like most of the others who have written. It's tiny and there is usually a wait but sit at the bar and watch them bake pizzas in their wood burning oven. The food is excellent, I love the Gnocchi but save room for the triple chocolate mousse (TO DIE FOR). Weekends there is usually a singer who not only entertains but will come to your table and sing just for you. The wine menu is good enough to cover most tastes. They now have a little deli next door as well as a small side building with a bar. It doesn't look like much on the outside but it's a real treasure inside.    [12 Jan 2006 14:45:45]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Pizza, most pasta dishes

     ­Mismiata97   

Horrible service, average food
I have gone to Dolce Vita on 3 or 4 occasions each time hoping for a better dining experience. Every time have had difficulty being waited on, getting refills on water and even getting our check to pay and leave. The food is ordinary and the menu doesn't change. I will never go back again- I've given them enough chances.    [08 Oct 2006 22:46:40]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Nancy   

A Great Experience
Dolce Vita is a typical Italian restaurant out of Rome or Florence, where they have their regular menu; however one will not be disappointed if a dish not on the menu is requested.
We found this restaurant to be a gem for entertaining and welcoming.
We shall be regulars.    [24 Dec 2006 20:59:16]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: OSSO BUCCO IS BETTER THAN IN ITALY

     ­Anonymous