Fans of ice cream have likely heard of Dolce Amore, the gelato brand founded by the husband-and-wife duo Giancarlo and Daniela Cusano and rebranded as The Gelato Mafia in 2017. Now, the team is gearing up to open an exciting three-in-one location that will be the team’s first venture into savoury cuisine.
“Dolce Amore was our first child, our second love (after each other), our self-expression, our playground, our way of putting smiles on people’s faces, and in turn on our own,” said Daniela and Giancarlo. “We’ve celebrated many milestone occasions at the original Dolce Amore on Commercial Drive, and the fire we experienced at the end of 2023 was devastating, and nearly brought an end to over 20 years in business.”
However, now with Burnaby as the team’s new home base, they are excited to bring three new concepts to the area under one roof, enlisting the help of renowned chef Pino Posteraro (Cioppino’s) as the culinary director of all three concepts.
The first of these three concepts is The Gelato Mafia “TGM Terrazza,” which will feature an indoor/outdoor gelato patio and pick-up window, offering guests an easy way to enjoy its signature frozen desserts, including scoops, takeaway pints, gelato cakes, and more. Customers can expect this to softly open on June 14.
Juno Kim/Il Cappello Enoteca
Next is Dolce Amore Bar and Caffetteria, which Dolce Amore is calling “the true Italian experience.” Expected to open this summer, this 25-seat modern Italian caffetteria will be serving up coffee, pizza al taglio, bronze-cut fresh pasta, cocktails, aperitivi, and baked goods courtesy of pastry chef Joyce Mak (previously Cioppino’s).
But perhaps the most exciting of the new additions is Il Cappello Enoteca.
This will be the team’s first full-service restaurant, featuring a menu rooted in traditional Italian cooking. However, Daniela and Giancarlo want to ensure that people know this isn’t just another pizza and pasta joint.
Here, there will be an emphasis on Tuscan cuisine, as well as regional dishes from across Italy, including a variety of antipasti, risotto, piatti principali, and, of course, gelato desserts (but don’t worry, pizza and pasta will also be on the menu).
Juno Kim/Il Cappello Enoteca
This 2,000 sq. ft. space will feature 100 seats in an intimate dining room, as well as an enclosed year-round patio.
“When we started thinking about what was next for Dolce Amore, we knew we wanted to build something special – honouring the legacy of those who came before us, but also pushing us further,” said Daniela and Giancarlo. “Chef Pino has always been someone we’ve looked up to. His knowledge and excellence in the industry are unmatched, and we are so honoured to have him join us as our culinary director. He brings so much heart and depth to everything he does. We’re excited to grow this next chapter with him on our team.”
Il Cappello Enoteca is also expected to open later this summer.
As for the teams’ Little Italy location that was forced to close after a fire in 2023, customers can expect it to reopen sometime in 2026, although an exact opening date has yet to be announced.
Address: 6011 Hastings St., Burnaby
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