This post was originally published a year ago, under the title "Dolce Vita Has Begun To Fight, Let Us Not Fail Them!"
Dolce Vita has undergone a radical transformation, and are no longer endorsed by this blog.
Men, and women I suppose, it is time to stand for what is right in Queens. It is time to stand and fight. Fight like dogs. Fight like cats. To fight like folks in search of a nice place to have a good cup of coffee and a crisp Italian cookie.
Allow me to tell you of Dolce Vita, a place where the battle is being fought. They are winning the war against corporate invasions. They are fighting the battles of grimy bathrooms and stale pastries. And, they are winning.
There's room to sit while you strategize your next move against the enemy - in these lovely, plush red settees.
Plot all you will, while nourished by some of the finest looking pastries and custom made cakes this side of Madison Ave. (Nita's is a close second on those cakes, she wins hands down on her donuts and coffee rings. But, we won't bring the Romanians into this - except to say that, have you noticed how much that one girl looks like Kirsten Dunst? I mean, in an Eastern European, I've been working since 4AM kind of way. But, still...)
Starbucks might burn one day. Soon. If all goes well.
These Fresh Pastries alone might kill other less satisfying pastries in the nabe, leaving us with little to do but pick up the bloody crumbs off of the floor of Aubergine and The Grind.
Oh, and the prices! Fantastic! $3 for a cappucino and free biscotti - Claire and I were given Pistachio with chocolate.
And the pastry chef sat with us while she made a birthday cake that was really quite amazing.
Mission Accomplished!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Failed by Dolce Vita
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23 comments:
hi, i just posted this on chowhound.com, but am copying/pasting it over here to see if you guys have noticed a similar environment at dolce vita. i live very close to this cafe and the many times i've driven/walked by, i've noticed the following:
"i've always been very apprehensive about going in as a female. the times i've walked by, the place is intimidatingly, overwhelmingly masculine (re: no women in sight). they had soccer games blaring from its tvs, and men cheering/jeering very loudly. there's also middle-aged men standing outside, speaking very loudly, chain-smoking, and staring as women as they walk by."
what gives?
We don't live nearby, so we haven't seen what you're talking about. Both times I went by it was the middle of the day & nearly empty.
I hate the kind of thing you're talking about.
I won't really want to go in there unless they drop the nightclub vibe and offer comfortable seating for doing work; after all they offer free wireless, but free wireless is useless if the seating isn't comfortable and there isnt even room for laptops...where are the tables? It's a shame too, because Starbucks kinda sucks.
Excellent deserts. Brought home two kinds for dinner. Really killer.
interesting that this place advertises that its a coffee/pastry shop but there are never any customers during the day. At 10:30 p.m. the music starts up and doesn't end until closing at 5:00 a.m., advertises male strippers (is that why the red curtains are closed?), customers spill out of the club and are noisy all through the night without any regard for the working class neighborhood trying to get a good nights sleep, throw garbage left out for pick-up on sidewalks and into the street, and we won't even talk about what they do in the cars they've double parked in front of the club, elderly neighbors cross the street rather than walk past when customers are smoking on the sidewalk, music blares . . . but never mind because it is a simple coffee house.
something must have changed, because they were open every day during the summer but now i never see them open during the day, like you mentioned.
creepy!
I would like to say that our neighborhood has begun to fight against Dolce Vita. They put on a front of being a nice bakery, but in reality they are a night club that disturbs the peace and quiet of the surrounding neighborhood. Don't come around in the early hours, they are not open as they are still sleeping off the night before especially on the weekends. Come after 11PM and stay until around 5AM the next morning. Be prepared for loud music, drunken brawls and the liek. I wouldn't eat any pastry, it looks like it has been sitting there a long time. And check out the recent health department visit. They had a26 point violation review which included rodents, unclean bathroom and spoiled food. So whoever wrote this original review should take a new look at this place and report on what is really going on here.
My wife and I have been customers of this establishment since this passed summer. They are great with people and it's so awsome that our neighborhood now has a nice, cozy place for its young crowd.I go almost every week-end,sometimes even without my wife and I always have a great time! It's so nice to be able to go out for a few drinks so close to home and not have to travel all the way to the city or pay ridiculous taxi fares.The athmosphere is always very relaxed, the crowd is mixed, mostly neighborhood people in their mid to late 20's .I never witnessed a fight or any of the incidents that "anonymous" was mentioning, they really take care of the place and their guests!
PS: I oredered a cake for my wife's birthday there and it was possibly the best we've had in a few good years! Keep up the good work guys because WE support you!
More and more young professional and creative types are making a home in Sunnyside these days, priced out of Manhattan and Brooklyn by the absurd rents. When they’re seeking an evening or weekend hangout, however, those hipsters return to those boroughs or trek to Astoria because there hasn’t been a neighborhood place that speaks to them.
Until now. Dolce Vita, a new cafe and lounge, opened in December, ushering in a new esthetic to the neighborhood. With a contemporary, chic feel, upbeat Euro house music and innovative, fresh pastries, Dolce Vita is the face of the new Sunnyside — elegant, smart and worldly.
There are other cafes in the area, but step inside Dolce Vita’s spacious digs and the difference is obvious. With red, semicircular couches, modern art fixtures and swank lighting, this cafe is unmistakably contemporary. The mornings bring in a steady stream of neighborhood regulars in search of good java, muffins and croissants. But it’s in the evening and on the weekends when Dolce Vita is its sweetest, when customers can relax and enjoy —and be seen.
Creating a positive bond between customers and the staff is an obsession here, as evidenced by the lack of menus. The quirky idea, says co-owner Mario Duta, is to create a space for interaction and discussion, rather than shove an impersonal menu into patrons’ hands. “A lot of the other places in the neighborhood focus on takeout. We love to take care of our customers on premises,” Duta adds. “That’s the way you develop a relationship.”
That relationship can only be enhanced by a sampling of some of the amazing pastries. Concocted by pastry chef and Sunnysider Hilda Terrero, the sweets easily rival anything in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Alongside standards like creme brulee and tiramisu are espresso creme brulee and the pineapple-almond tarte tatin. The double fudge cake, soaked in a chocolate sauce to enhance the deep flavor, reflects Terrero’s attention to detail. The fruit tarts, overflowing with strawberries and kiwi, are simply a revelation.
Expect Dolce Vita to gear up into full swing this spring and summer, when the glass doors will open and beckon hipsters inside with a cool, Buddha Bar-like atmosphere. With a full kitchen, the cafe and lounge is already the perfect place to throw your next private party. Dolce Vita is also happy to make customized cakes and cupcakes for any special occasion.
Dolce Vita is located at 47-53 43rd St. in Sunnyside, (718) 937-3787.
I'm glad someone is having a good time with Dolce Vita "Cafe". As the last person commented they will be gearing up in the spring and summer with the glass doors open. The noise will spill out even more. Maybe the people inside are oblivious to the fact that while they are kicking back with their friends for a few drinks on the weekend the loud music they are enjoying is making it impossible for people in the neighborhood to get some sleep. When a few people step outside to smoke their conversations can be heard by all. Around 4 AM when most patrons are leaving they pull up in their cars with radios blaring jarring awake anyone who had the fortune to get some sleep.
Dolce Vita may take care of their customers but are unconcerned about the surrounding neighborhood. The note they have in the window asking patrons to be quiet when they are outside is a joke. No one pays attention to that. When Dolce Vita got their liquor license they told the community board they were a bakery. Well, that is not really the whole truth. There are some pastries in the very small display case. No one in the neighborhood lines up for anything because they are not open until late afternoon especially on the weekends. There are no set hours so if you wanted to buy something you wouldn't know when to go. There are plenty of fantastic bakeries in this area, so their creations are not overly in demand. Now they have added karaoke on Thursday nights. One more night of noise, great. Everyone respects the fact that people have a right to have a business, but not at the expense of others. There is a lot going on in there that is not acceptable in the neighborhood, I assume that is why they close the curtains. One example is the male stripper they had on Valentines Day and this weekend there is going to be a lingerie "fashion show". I've been in many bakeries and cafes and never saw that kind of event advertised. Perhaps the community board should take another look at what is being served here.
Finally got around to updating this post,
Down with Dolce Vita!
I've been there three times and I have enjoyed it every time. The Karaoke was awesome last Thursday and everyone seemed to have a blast!
Dolce Vita is going up, not down. There still are people in their twenties and thirties in this neighborhood that love to go out and hang out with their friends and this is the perfect place.
I and all my friends support it 100% ! We love u guys!
Dana.
I guess the last comment comes from someone who assumes that those of us opposing Dolce Vita are old geezers. We are not. It is great that people get out with friends and have a good time, but not at the expense of others. There are seniors, families with babies and small children and young working professionals on that block. The karaoke last Thursday was certainly a "blast" as were the events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The boom, boom of the bass "blasted" many from their sleep. I am assuming the 20 and 30 something crowd mentioned have jobs. I am sure besides having fun with your friends, you like to get some rest from the work week. If you were prevented from doing so by noisy and inconsiderate neighbors every weekend you probably would not be happy either. Dolce Vita will probably survive for a while and continue to irritate the neighbors. But eventually the community board, environmental protection, sanitation department(we know they add their garbage to the trash at the Celtic building and have reported it)NYC buildings department, etc. will catch up with them and they will close.
I don't know what the last person is talking about, I also am a neighbor and stop in there on my way back from work for an espresso. And all I can say is that they are great people, such a cute energetic couple and they have a great report with the neighborood. People walking by the front door wave "hello" every few minutes.
I would like to know if the previous person who says he is a neighbor saw the scene that unfolded early Sunday morning. Dolce Vita patrons were outside at 2AM with their car radios blaring. Several neighbors went out and were given a hard time when they asked them to quiet down. Then the fight began. Customers rushed out into the street shouting. Finally the police came and stopped all of this nonsense. One of the men who had been fighting had been hiding from the police and once they were gone his friends shoved him into a car. He tried to climb out the window to continue fighting.
This is only the beginning of what is to come if Dolce Vita is allowed to remain open. As for people streaming by and waving at the owners I think the above author misinterpreted the hand signal I am sure is being given to them.
If any Dolce Vita customer says that this event did not occur there are records of 911 calls and of the police visit.
After all of this the gates on Dolce Vita were closed and shortly after the owners scurried down the street. They were not open on Sunday, perhaps they were ashamed to show their faces.
We need more cops.
People pleeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaase!!!! DO NOT HATE, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE BALLS TO START AND CARRY A BUSINESS!!! Cuz I know you all complainers might have the money, but you all are just boring and depressing. Live is short and you should enjoy it. Free your minds, open your eyes and ears because the noise will continue.. Want advice? Soundproof your houses!!!. Dolce Vita has become one of the few places in Queens with a mixed crowd ambience. There are no places offering what Dolce Vita does right now. Unexpensive drink and bottle prices, really nice crowd and the best of music hits, especially on Saturdays!! Really nice parties guys. Keep up the good work. Don't worry, fun and uncomplicated people like us, support you 500%!!!!!!!
A reply to the previous poster. I have had my own business for 20 years.I follow the rules and don't have people making complaints to the police, community board and DEP. One thing I will say is that Dolce Vita is now telling the truth. They started out with the story of being a pastry shop with the one tiny pastry case. That is the story they told to get their liquor license. Now they have put out a sign announcing bar and lounge and have gotten rid of the pastry case. Why weren't they honest to begin with? No one would have any objections to a business that was respectful to the neighborhood. They do not open until late evening and close in the early morning hours. There is loud music, patrons shouting and some urinating outside. Patrons pull up in their cars at 2 or 3 AM and blare their car radios.This is not just on the weekends, but any day of the week except Mondays when they appear to be closed. This is not the activity of mature and responsible business owners, but rather the type of behaviour attributed to rude, obnoxious teenagers. They should not forget that when their liquor license comes up for renewal it is public knowledge and can be denied with enough complaints.
CAN YOU PLEASE STOP WITH THE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE LOUD RADIOS !!! IT GETTING BORING!!! Its not up to them who pull up to their place and is double parked outside of it. ITS THE COPS job to give that person a ticket for blazing his music out of the car (unreasonable noise) and being double parked. And why do you complain so much when I personally have seen photographers coming to take pictures to put in the newspaper of sunny side promoting the place AFTER they had received their liquor license. Dolce Vita offers what you rarely find around places like sunny side maspeth ridgewood glendale etc. People go there to have fun and good time and instead of sitting in front of your computers complaining i suggest you get dressed go down there and have a good time. And every time i have been there and people are smoking outside people have been asked to move toward the pharmacy side so they DONT BOTHER THE NEIGHBORS ... WOW LOOK AT THAT. and one last thing ... i saw a comment about the curtains and the male stripers and what not. They put down the curtains so the lights dont bother the neighbors and the person you wrote about the male stripper and the fashion show i only have to say one thing.... you seem pretty familiar with what is going on there... how is that ?! you dont like the place but yet you know so much about it ...
oh yea i also forgot to add ... to the girl that said that there were old guys whistling at girls outside of dolce vita ... how many women in America have you seen to watch soccer ?! Dolce Vita is an European place and they show what Europeans love the most. SOCCER! so i suggest ... and just suggest ... come by one night when there is a party and look at the crown and count the ratio of guys to girls... see what you come up with. i have been there nights when it has been mostly girls and no ... it wasn't "lingerie night".
I don't understand why you guys don't get that loud music, drunk patrons shouting outside, and fighting between the hours of of midnight and 4AM isn't offensive to the neighborhood. All of this just so a few can have a good time. Do you not realize that moving the shouting hordes down to the corner just adds to the list of people you are irritating. The apartments in the Celtics have windows, too. What about the fight last Saturday morning around 3:45AM. Is that your idea of fun? Get so drunk everyone spills out into the street and starts fighting? This is not the first time the cops had to come. And how about people urinating around the trash cans of neighboring buildings? Great style.
As for the car radios. If the patrons of Dolce Vita had any common sense or were not driving drunk they would have some common courtesy and think about others.
Dolce Vita posts photos of their activities which are viewable by anyone, so one does not have to enter the establishment to see what is going on.
Obviously the poster of positve comments is either one of the owners or a good friend. Your comments are always defensive. Why not take the comments made by people living in the neighborhood and use them to improve your business' image? You always respond by saying too bad we are going to do whatever we want. That attitude does not work long term.
I would like to say something about your comment regarding the "girl" who complained about the men hanging around outside. This woman was a potential customer. Someone had told her that you had good pastry when you were pretending to be a bakery. She wanted to buy something from you. But because she felt uncomfortable going in, you lost a customer. There are plenty of European style businesses that don't make people feel afraid to go in.
Changing the atmosphere at Dolce Vita from a Café to a Lounge wasn't the owner's idea of weasling his way into a liquor liscence. They revised their business model to fit the patrons that visited on a regular basis....younger people. Once they decided to focus more on the nightlife aspect, the sign outside was changed and the pastry case was sold.
As someone who lives close to Dolce Vita, I have to say that I love having a place to go and dance and have a beer that is right around the corner. I don't have to walk home from the subway alone, feeling scared after staying in Manhattan til midnight on a Saturday. I get home in 2 minutes instead of an hour.
At Dolce Vita, everyone is very kind and I don't feel self conscious about being turned away for not being attractive or fashionable enough like so many places in this city. I also don't have to sit and drink a pint next to a middle aged Irish man like at most other bars in the area.
The noise pollution has been a problem in the past but bringing doormen in on the weekends is helping. They're there to ask people to stay inside unless they're smoking and to make sure everyone is of age and that patrons are conducting themselves properly.
If you feel like many people don't conduct themselves well, I'd like to point out that we're in New York. No one conducts themselves in a polite manner. Try to think of how many times a day people hold the door open for you or how long it takes for a pregnant woman to be offered a seat on the subway during rush hour. Dolce Vita has done their part by hiring people to try to regulate people's behavior and if the neighborhood feels as if they were done wrong, they should ask the police to deal with the patrons, not the business owners.
Finally, if your issues with Dolce Vita are bothering you this much, you could always do what people did before blogs and message boards: go talk to the owners in a civilized manner and try to see their side and share your concerns with them. That's the best way to know that you've been heard.
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