|
Ladies
and Gentlemen, there is a restaurant in our neighborhood that
is on par with some of the great ones in New York, Chicago
and Boston. So good is the service, so fabulous are the meals,
I am just aching to get back to have the lasagna one more
time!
La
Dolce Vita is one of those places the Post or the News may
never write up, but it's the best Italian restaurant on the
Front Range, and we have it available to us off of the best
exit in Douglas County.
On
the night my wife and I dropped in to see how the new ownership
changed the menu, the restaurant was humming, Every table
was full, the sounds of the Three Tenors softly played from
the speakers, and a wonderful woman named Betty greeted us.
No reservations assigned, we thought there might be no room
for us. "Hold on right here. We're going to make sure there
is a fine table to fit you in," said Betty.
In
a matter of seconds, Betty is arranging for us to sit comfortably
in the room off the side, with plenty of space for our daughter
in a high chair. Betty is like a great friend you haven't
seen since high school, remembering our names and becoming
acquainted all over again throughout the evening. She is a
credit to La Dolce Vita, and is sure to have anyone poking
around at the menu in a chair before they can blink.
You
can tell the difference in ownership as you get situated at
the table. Water is poured in seconds, greetings and salutations
are marked once again, and the wait staff is on you like it's
the Ritz-Carlton.
Our
waiter this evening, Mike Mulei, also happens to be the owner's
son. Polite, respectful and very courteous, he makes you feel
like you're the only guests on his list. Mike gives a great
list of specials for the evening, all creative and enticing,
and keeps the water and rolls coming before the meais are
served. My wife goes with the seafood specialty on the menu,
a Mare Pasta, that includes mussles, shrimp, fish and clams
- just a tremendous dish for a very reasonable price. I keep
it simple - lasagna- just to see the difference from the old
La Dolce. Impeccable! The taste just melts away on your palate
and fills you up accordingly. We ordered a couple of more
rounds of wine, and next thing you know, with Pavarotti holding
a long note on his solo over the speakers, the chef himself
comes to the table to see how our meals are. He takes his
time to describe each meal and what he does to make these
taste so damn good. My wife tells him we'll be back for Frank
Lachuga night, which he describes as the night when a reservation
is strongly recommended. Frank sings at each table to the
clientele, and takes requests as well.
No
sooner does the head chef leave, when suddenly Ignazio Mulei,
owner and proprietor, comes in to see how our night is going.
The man is delighted to have us, and really wants to make
sure that the whole experience is worthwhile. Ignazio has
to be commended for turning La Dolce into a five star experience,
from beginning to end. My wife and I hugged Betty on the way
out and shook hands with the head chef once again.
Saturday
night is Frank Lachuga night, which is a special evening.
But any night at the new La Dolce Vita is first class. We
are so lucky to have them in CPN, and they deserve all the
attention in the world. Prices are extremely reasonable, and
the fare is dining excellence. Scrap those plans to visit
Pasta Bella or Bella Ristorante - you need to see Ignazio
and the crew at La Dolce Vita!"
|
