Dai Huynh: The two-story Dolce Vita, with its pleasant patio, helped to set the standard for artisanal wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas paired with an excellent, all-Italian wine list. Granted, since opening in 2005, Dolce occasionally stumbles, but when it’s in top form, diners can anticipate beautifully crisped, lightly charred thin-crust pizzas along with suavely prepared appetizers and antipasti choices, such as fried artichokes, a parsley salad tossed with pancetta, egg toast with black truffle and shaved brussels sprouts showered with sharp pecorino cheese. And hats off to chef-owner Marco Wiles for introducing countless Houston diners to such unique creations as the Zucca, a pizza topped with butternut squash, pancetta, red onion and smoked buffalo mozzarella, not to mention the addictively pungent Taleggio cheese pizza crowned with spicy arugula, sweet pears and truffle oil.
Russell Weil: Some locals have proclaimed that pizza from the quaint Dolce Vita is the best that Houston has to offer. I include myself in that equation. This Montrose eatery, located in a converted two-story bungalow, has served the taste of authentic Neapolitan pizza to Houston for more than a decade. Chef Marco Wiles, who has said, “Pizza is one of my favorite things to cook and eat,” creates consistently excellent pizza with a light, thin crust. Toppings such as butternut squash and pancetta keep the crowds returning. Dolce Vita also offers robust vegetable dishes and salads as well as traditional spaghetti and rigatoni dishes and an all-Italian wine list. The restaurant reserves tables only for parties of six or more, so choosing a less popular dining time is always a good option. Table, counter and outdoor patio seating are available.
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