It’s nestled deep in the hustle and bustle of Craighall Park and hidden away in one of the suburb’s quieter main streets but Dolci Café is definitely a place you need to add to your list of restaurants to try. It’s an authentic Italian restaurant which boasts a delicious array of sweet and savoury treats and the perfect ambiance to spend a Sunday morning.
Headed by husband and wife team Clayton Boyd and Jackie Righi-Boyd, Dolci is an Italian café, pastry shop and baking boutique. Jackie trained in Italy as a pastry chef and started out creating cupcakes at home before moving into expanding her repertoire to a range of decadent pastries and desserts. True to this, the dessert options are to die for. However, this doesn’t mean that their savoury range isn’t worth a rave.
The café offers breakfast items including a full breakfast, their signature frittatas and anchovy toast while their lunch menu includes dishes such as Spaghetti Con Zucchini, Tagliata Di Manzo (sliced fillet steak featuring a robust tomato flavor) and their Cotoletta (chicken schnitzel served with boiled baby potatoes in butter and parsley, sliced tomato and homemade cheese sauce).
During a media launch last week, we were treated to a variety of delicious eats from the café. I loved the calamari, charred zucchini and feta, the mini dessert pies and the sumptuous cakes. So now that you know that the food is good, let’s talk about the restaurant itself. It’s quite small but has a lovely outside section which makes you feel like you’re at one of those tea parties you see in the movies. The restaurant is filled with lovely colours and smells and one finds themself comfortly settling in quite quickly.
Jackie and Clayton have something special here. “Best possible product, and simply presented – that is our premise, “Jackie says. “After all, a good tomato is a good tomato. There is no need to lather it up with balsamic vinegar; I believe in leaving a product to speak for itself.” Most of the treats I tasted were delicious and I would definitely recommend checking this lovely little café out. PS – their tiramisu is to die for!
Dolci Café is located at 101 Lancaster Avenue (corner Clarence Avenue) in Craighall Park. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm, and on weekends from 7am until 3pm.
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