Dolce Cafe & Bakery

I happened on Dolce because of a Groupon special they had. Since my friends and I had a get together planned, we ended up meeting there instead of our normal coffee place. The interior was so elegant that I was initially worried that the prices would be quite high. However, once we began to peruse the menu, we realized that the opposite was true. The descriptions on the menu are very appetizing, and there seems to be real care put into its planning. I would especially recommend the Strawberry Fields salad and Tomato Bisque soup (my absolute favorite). I wasn't as much a fan of the Chicken Monterey Panini (the one with bacon)? but this may be my fault as I was talking so much that I didn't bite into it for quite a while. Aside from dinner, we indulged in some cold coffee drinks (quite good...served in glasses which is a nice change from the usual coffee experience), a mango mousse cake (light and refreshing), a curry puff (mmmmm!), and mini cream puffs (absolutely delish). The staff was really attentive without being intrusive. Between our coffee and pastries start, dinner, and dessert we were there for about 4 hours. We felt okay doing this since there was no shortage of tables, but I'm hoping that this review and others like it will start getting Dolce more of the crowd it deserves. more

I've been coming to Dolce Cafe practically since they been open. Customer service is always excellent. Food.. never disappointed. As soon as I walk in the door, they welcome me as part as the family. They have a variety of food to choose from. Anywhere from customizing pastas and salads to hot panini sandwiches and pizzas. The dinner menu is quite the palate pleaser. Entrees that consist of chicken marsala, apple glazed pork chops, fillet mornay made with BEEF TENDERLOIN...Mmm; my personal favorite.. pesca neri which is a panko crusted fillet of sole with an Aurora Veloute. I recommend Dolce Cafe to everyone looking for good eats, and an excellent restaurant to bring friends and family. Pros: the best sandwiches by far! more

It was just by luck that I happened upon this place. I've lived in Claremont for over 17 years and didn't even know this place existed. But a few days ago, I stopped by at Aaron Brothers and found this gem. It's hard to see why I missed the place, its HUGE! The inside is spacious and has alot of room and would be a great place to bring a group of people. In any case, I found it, and I was very pleasantly surprised by everything they had to offer. Not only did they have a variety of pastries and yummy desserts, but they also have so much food to choose from. The cafe is set up pseudo-cafeteria like, but the food is oh so good! I ordered the entree that day which was an Apple Glazed Pork Chop for only $8 and my bf had a Chicken Pesto pasta. The portions are huge and its quality you can taste. My chop was tender and the sauce was delicious! I'd definitely recommend you to come here if you're looking for somewhere new in the area. I'm going back for dinner when they have full service and this 2 for $25 special where you get an appetizer, two entreee, plus a dessert. Sounds like a deal to me! Pros: pastas, paninis, variety, desserts Cons: need more advertising! more

I saw a review on the restaurant in my local paper and decided to go there on a whim. This place is amazing. We went on a Friday evening and were seated immediately by a very friendly host. The waiter attended to our needs throughout the meal. The extensive menu made choosing difficult, but I decided on a pasta. I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. Pros: Great food, low prices, great ambiance, great service. more

The person that wrote that report saying that the food is bad. They are wrong. They don't know about the service and how it is. I have been going there ever since it opened. As you can see it was their first time going over there. Everything is ready that morning and the people that work there, go to work early just to have everything right. And you can have it your way. You just have to ask . As you can see the person didn't ask that they wanted to have there own pizza or ask for more soup. For the panini, there is bacon in there, its called being minced and mixing it with the dressing. Duh. And the coffee isn't free. The reason why it isn't, is because it isn't cheap to buy coffee, it's really expensive. 50 cents is not that much. All I have to say it was the person first time there and didn't ask for the things that they wanted. So I don't know what they are complaining about. I think they DO have great service there. This person was just rude about everything. Honestly the food and drinks are great. And the people are nice there as well. Hope people go there and eat GREAT food. If they don't , they don't know what they are missing. Pros: The food is great and great costumer service more

I went there for the first time on my birthday expecting a nice cafe, but I was really wrong. When you walk in, its confusing because there are so many different stations and no main menu unless you ask for it. I thought I would get a Monterey Ranch Panini which says that it comes with bacon, but when I got it, there was no bacon. Also, the panini goes into a microwave first, not onto a panini grill. We also ordered ""the works"" pizza, which was pre-made and then just unwrapped and thrown into the oven. On the menu, it does not say that it comes with peppers, which it has on it. Also, you could not customize it at all because it was pre-made. Now you would think that its easy to cook a pizza, but it came out with a dark dark brown crust. We also each got a bowl of soup, which is a rip-off because its so tiny. For being a recommended cafe, I would have expected a lot more from the taste of the food, but you can really taste that it was microwaved, and that things are not that fresh. Coffee does not have a free refill. Then you have to get your own silverware and napkins and drinks, only to sit down at a table that you have to bus yourself. The walls are plane and there is nothing personal about the seating area, its very loud. Also, the radio that is played is somewhat staticy, and is constantly playing radio commercials. more

I was driving by with my mother-in-law and my 3 and 1 year old and we didn't know what we felt like. While stopped at the light on Central, she said, ""Hey want to try that place?"", and I'm glad she did. I like to be able to pick and choose and found the variety and options fantastic. We had paninis that were very flavorful and the price was perfect. My kids had the kids bowtie pasta with marinara sauce and they ate all of it - even my picky 3 year old. This was our first time so navigating it was a bit confusing, but that didn't matter because the staff was so helpful and courteous and offered direction without us asking. We didn't even have a chance to stand around and look stupid because they kept approaching us and offering assistance. We picked up some cookies to eat at home and they were great - great taste, great size, great texture. We will definitely becomre regulars! Pros: Flavor of Food, Service, Price Cons: None! more

I am a usual customer at Dolce. I probably eat their at least twice a week, mostly for dinner bringing friends family and friends from school. I too was informed a few weeks ago that the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Dolce would be free. However, last week while having dinner at Dolce the waiter remembered me coming in previously, and told me that management had changed the event from free to 8 dollars a ticket. I thought that was a more logical idea, considering what I as the customer was getting. The event was absolutely wonderful, the wine selection was amazing from white Zins to Red Merlots, to chocolate flavored Ports! And don't let me get started on the appetizers and deserts absolutely fantastic. The staff was so hospitable and catering to the needs of me as well as every other customer in the restaurant. $8 was a bargain!! more

My boyfriend first introduced me to the pastries and after trying their tiramisu cake I became a regular customer. A couple weeks ago, we were told during a dinner service by our waiter that they were having a party where we get to sample appetizers, desserts, and wine for FREE. We were thrilled they were having such a great promotion, but when I arrived today to the ?Free? sampling event to find out that I had to pay $8-$10 I felt like an idiot. I drove 13 miles to the event to find out that I was tricked into some stupid marketing scam! Furious, I spoke with the Chinese manager in mandarin and he had the nerve to push my complaints onto a waitress who told me that they had always made people buy tickets to the event. I told her that our waiter that day had specifically told me to bring friends and family to a FREE event but nobody did anything to assist me. I was just told that the event was free for the members of the chamber of commerce but since our waiter didn?t mention ANYTHING about that I feel that they should have at least let us in anyway. Well, truth be told besides their pastries everything else was disgusting. Don?t bother trying their dinner menu, everything tasted bland as hell and after reading a review about their spoiled pastries I don?t think I will ever go back. Tricking people into coming to their event was just distasteful and using this type of false advertisement is pathetic. Pros: HORRIBLE MANAGER AND FALSE ADVERTISEMENTS! more

Thank you for the fabulous event. My wife and I enjoyed the whole event and the great service that was included. Everything from great wine, delicious food and desserts. They even had a band playing. Can't wait to go to the next event. And to the ladies complaint, I bought my tickets three days before the party after reading one of the many signs around the store. PLEASE keep doing what your doing we LOVE you guys at Dolce.... Can't wait to visit again. Pros: Food,Service and Pasteries Cons: nothing at all, keep being GREAT.... more

This was, as many others of you have said, an accidental find but one of the best accidents to date. The options are endless. I have tried several pastas and paninnis and both were terrific. I would definitely recommend this place. The desserts are great. They have everything from lavender cookies to passion fruit tarts. Try this place, you will no regret it! Pros: food, parking, staff, variety Cons: odd location, early closing time some nights more

A little overpriced for lunch but amazing panini's (try the caprise) and pizza's. I have not had a salad but my co-workers say it's amazing. As for the deserts; I thought the cakes were too much like a grocery store cake, you know light and fluffy, I hate that. I'm more into the homemade thick frosting cakes, however they do have chocolate covered strawberries ($1.75) and that is my weakness. more

I came across Dolce by accident. But what a find. Pros: Lots of room for a large group, easy parking, fresh selection Cons: Not intimate more

I love this place! So many options....there's something to satisfy any craving you might have. The employees are helpful and friendly, and the food is always fresh and tasty. The seating area is spacious...you can order a coffee and lounge on the cushy seats in the front, or grab a seat at a table if you're there for a full meal. Will definitely order their pastries for my parties! more

Gotta say Dolce is one of the best eateries I've been to. First and most important, the place is clean. Its difficult to enjoy a meal when there are unsanitary distractions but this place was polished spotless. Second, the food was good. I picked up a steak sandwich while my buddy grabbed a ruben (corned beef for you rookies). MAN!!! that bread was good!!! Portions are healthy and sides were tasty. Last, customer service was excellent. The people are courteous and very knowledgeable about the food. more

The atmosphere is gorgeous, service personable and the owner is always there to greet! I am not much of a sweets eater, but the best part are the desserts-of course! Pros: Service. ambience and selection of desserts Cons: Distance from my residence more

The baker has a fresh spin on the typical cafe or bakery. The location is spacious and is very inventive. I love that there is always a different menu and I get to try something new everytime I go. BTW... their pizza is awesome! No matter what is on the menu I always gravitate to the pizzas but there's always something for everyone. This is definately the place you go when you have an indecisive group! Pros: Fresh Food, Great Pastries, Good Atmosphere, Something for Everyone more

The great menu, the inviting and neat atmosphere of Dolce Cafe and Bakery will make you come for your morning coffe & stay for lunch. Their tasty, fresh, easy to order menu will make you want to try everything on it.... I love their pastas, you can pick own ingridients, sauce, meat is optional and its cook right in fron of you!! (try the penne pasta with pesto and sausage it's my favorite one).... And if you still have space try their delicious cookies or pastries freshly baked is no wounder this inovating NY style full service bakery is the new it place in the neighborhood... Pros: food, ambience, service, easy access & parking more

Dolce is a good place to go to when you don't know exactly what you want to eat. They offer a fantastic selection to satisfy every taste and diet. I love how they offer fat free (and tasty!) dressings for their salads and other low fat options, but they also offer other delicious foods such as the pizza. And the best thing...you can always top your meal off with one of their many desserts/pastries! Pros: Good food, good people more

As a Gourmet Chef it is hard to enjoy most restaurants.I am always looking for cleanliness and temp control and so many other little things that I cant enjoy my food. They fixed that for me here. Everything is out in the open for everyone to see .The Pastry chefs are unrivaled in the valley.Fresh salads you make for yourself (they make you just say with what) Once the food is tweeked a little and taken to gourmet status like the pastries this place will be packed.I hope this concept is fo;;ed and ather restaurants and clubs follow its lead.All in al I think i will be buying all my pasties and other baked goods from here now on. Pros: Great pastries and baked goods also great salads Cons: soups and sauces need a little tweekingn .stil great for valley standards more