Neighborhood: Hollywood
Heard of Dolce Restaurant on Melrose? When it first opened its doors, it was known to many as “Ashton Kutcher’s restaurant”. He was a hot star on the rise, and his name helped lure the Hollywood crowd Dolce was beckoning. In actuality, Ashton just was one of several major investors… and today the Dolce restaurant group has expanded their empire to include the sushi supper club Geisha House and the upscale Sunset-strip diner, Ketchup, amongst others.
I’m not normally into restaurants with a high-rollin’ attitude… Vegas can keep those to themselves. However, twice my good friend Kelly has treated me to dinner at Dolce, and both times I’ve left, well… a fan.
Here’s a secret that Dolce doesn’t tell on their website – Monday nights, the entire food menu is served at ½ price. That means that every appetizer and starter salad is less then $10.00. The same goes for the sizable pasta menu – normally around $17.00…on Monday’s around $8.00. The biggest treat for Kelly and I were the meat and potato entrees that we scored for less then $20.00 a plate. Kelly ordered up the mushroom filet mignon, brought down from $36.00 to $18.00. I indulged in the New York strip with peppercorn sauce for the same price. The steaks were smothered in the sauces… so if you like to enjoy the meat on it’s own, be sure to request the sauce on the side. My NY steak was good – not the best… but I found myself jealous of Kelly’s tender, more flavorful filet when she shared a bite. Next time I’m going that route. It should be noted we passed up one of Dolce’s signature dishes – a cherry port wine pork chop, that the waiter raved about… on Monday priced at about $13.00.
Though we didn’t try the pastas, they looked divine (and rather big) as they were served to the party next to us. We did indulge in the Hollywood Dolce Salad – a simple salad of mixed greens, fresh avocado and candied walnuts (just $7.00). Dressed just right and big enough for two– I absolutely recommend it.
Often in the restaurant world, Monday nights are the deal nights, as it is traditionally a restaurants slowest night. Here, the strategy is definitely working… the place was packed to the gills by 8pm. Be sure to make a reservation.
Dolce offers two distinct atmospheres – inside it is dark, lit mostly by candles and the roaring flames that burn along a pipe behind the bar. The music gets loud, and the feel is clubby. “Outside” (a closed in deck area of sorts) it’s easier to hear one another, and the lighting is just a bit brighter.
Service was friendly and efficient, though we had to swallow our pride and check with the waiter on the ½ price offering before we ordered, since there is no mention of it on the menu. Another server in our room was polite enough to welcome his tables explaining the deal.
At the end, we were given two bills – one which showed our total ‘before discount’, and the other the half off bill. It was cool to see we had saved on dinner, but of course, they are giving you both as a way of asking you to tip on the ‘original’.
Still, Kelly and I smiled at seeing our savings spelled out for us… our food bill of $100.00 halved to less then $50.00 made us feel like we were doing something right to kick off our week.
Link: http://www.dolcegroup.com/
Cost: Appetizers, pastas and salads are all under $10.00. Entrée dinners (steaks, seafood) all under $20.00. Monday nights only.
Notes: Valet is $4.50, but nearby street parking isn’t too tough to find.
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