Beverly Hills Landmark La Dolce Vita Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
La Dolce Vita in Beverly Hills is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year with a nightly $50 prix-fixe dinner featuring signature dishes from the original menu.
"The fact that La Dolce Vita has withstood the test of time and plays host to such a robust heritage is a testament to the past owners, its employees, and its consistent relevancy within a constantly changing landscape," says Restaurant Owner Alessandro Uzielli. "For the 50th year, La Dolce Vita celebrates its origins with a nod to the year it opened, 1966, which coincidently is the year that I was born, and continues a commitment to serving classic Italian fare in an atmosphere of nostalgic comfort. We kick-off the festivities with our 'origins' menu followed by a rollout of additional nods to 1966 in the coming months."
Founded in 1966 by former Villa Capri waiters, Jimmy Ullo and George Smith —alongside original investors Frank Sinatra and cinematic heavyweight George Raft — La Dolce Vita began as an outpost for New York transplants in search of Italian cuisine reminiscent of their hometown. Uzielli happened upon the restaurant in 2003 and immediately jumped at the opportunity to preserve the Beverly Hills establishment.
The restaurant offers classic Italian fare with an emphasis on reflecting the history of Old Hollywood. The interior of La Dolce Vita was designed by five-time Academy Award winner Lyle Wheeler, also the premier set designer of 20th Century-Fox Studios, capturing the distinct feel of a New York Italian restaurant in the center of Beverly Hills. The restaurant is open for dinner Sunday-Thursday from 5–10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 5–11 p.m.
The 50th anniversary menu includes a glass of Chianti, a Caesar salad, spaghetti Bolognese, and tiramisu.