This post goes out to all my Italian food fans :p I was thinking of you all while writing this one!
As you may have noticed I'm always pretty blunt if not as directly honest as I can be in my blog posts so this one isn't any different. There are many restaurants in the DFW area that are truly exceptional, where others its more about the environment, with others being more about the view or "scenery" whether that be the people or actual scenes surrounding the restaurant. So I dont know about you but for me to thoroughly enjoy a culinary experience I need four specific things to occur/be involved: 1)the atmosphere or environment of the restaurant, 2) the wait staff amiableness and accommodations, 3)the quality of the food that served and the ingredients for what you pay for, and lastly 4)the restrooms sanitation and upkeep. Why is the restroom one important you might ask, well if they dont keep a tidy restroom and up keep that what assures me that they will put more caution and thought into the upkeep of the kitchen where my food is prepped, made, and served! Anyway!
So here we are with Dolce Riviera-a restaurant in the Downtown Dallas area that's had some very well made social media posts and marketing for their location in addition to their plates...with a planned girls night out we decided to try what was raved about online, through reviews, and social media.
Arriving to their location was easy enough via the GPS but their actual main entrance was a little confusing as for their location, so it's easiest to just literally valet your vehicle. I personally don't like to valet my vehicle if I know there are appropriate parking spots nearby but considering how closed off the visual public view is of this location valet it is! So if it's a ladies night, definitely suggest valet! Arriving into their location you see the lovely designed patio or seating area-not to be confused with where they actual provide service though; it's more their waiting area. That aside, you finally enter through their main entryway and the hostess stand is immediately to the right directly across from the bar. Since we were waiting for the rest of the crew, my sister and I sat in the lounge/bar area. The colors and overall interior design of the place is lovely and seems so fresh, but honestly I think the best part is just their indoor patio/window enclosure seating area, because there rest of the tables and seating area is a little...whats the word I'm looking for-blah! Their bar area is nice and opens to the outdoors but its also smaller than I even anticipated. I would personally suggest if you're on a date to sit in the bar/lounge area and eat there because the other areas (unless you're at a specific table in the indoor patio area, is not worth the seating...
Finally seated the wait staff overall was amiable and cordial but the specific waitress we had, was more concerned about her tip even though she was more MIA than any other waiter or waitress we saw-we hardly ever saw her on the floor and if she was it was just basically in passing so that was pretty frustrating. Then she wasn't knowledgeable of the menu enough to provide suggestions or options and for a first time attendee that's a HUGE put of - so hopefully and anyone else who goes has a better experience in that regard.
Here comes the food part...lordy I had such high hopes for this place seriously and was super excited since the arrival but after eating...it was the most disappointing experience I've had in a LONG time! I'm talking outside of the actual desserts the food was horrible! I had supposedly the pear salad to start with and then the simply Alfredo sauce pasta with a grilled salmon a la carte on top. Everything was salty, and the salad didn't seem to be what was described in the menu - but did have a nice presentation. The pasta dish was so salty that I could literally feel the crunching sensation of too much salt on my teeth when I would chew! Annoying by the way for any of you who've had that happen to you before. The noodles looked so good too but because of how salty it all way, I couldn't really enjoy the plate. If not for the fact that I was starving! I literally would've just had my drink for the bar and dessert only. The salmon was delicious and I was glad at least that was cooked well and super delicious otherwise that would have been a buzz kill also.
Honestly I think Olive Garden has more flavors and delicious plates now or heck go up to the Legest West area and have the Italian restuarants up there, because at least their quality of food and the experience alone is 95% better than this restaurant...
But hey don't take my word for it, try it out Dolce Riviera for yourself and let me know what you think!
Sincerely,
A Distinct Woman
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