There may be many Italian restaurants opening in and around Vancouver, but one in particular from the team behind Dolce Amore and The Gelato Mafia has been the buzz of the town, and we just got a sneak peek inside.
Introducing Il Cappello Enoteca, a new must-visit Italian dining destination split into three distinct sections, brought to us by the Vancouver gelato masters themselves, Daniela and Giancarlo Cusano.
How it all started
Dolce Amore opened its first shop in East Vancouver in 2002, located on the corner of Commercial Drive and Gravely Street.
When the business launched, it was owned by Daniela’s father, meaning she had been learning the gelato trade since she was a teenager.
Then, in 2017, Daniela and Giancarlo took over the family gelato business. Despite hurdles like COVID-19, the duo persevered. They even expanded by adding a new location in North Vancouver in July 2023.
However, a month after that opening, disaster struck, and Dolce Amore’s original Commercial Drive location was destroyed by a fire, forcing it to close. Since then, the Cusano’s have been working on reopening it, and hope to welcome guests back sometime in 2026.
Despite the fire, that hasn’t deterred them from continuing to produce incredible gelato, which has grown a cult following after all these years in the city. Now, over 20 years after opening on Commercial Drive, the husband-and-wife duo are looking to expand with a new venture into the savoury world of Italian cuisine. But don’t worry, you’ll still be able to enjoy the gelato they’ve become so well known for.
The gelato patio
Located on the edge of North Burnaby’s Parkcrest neighbourhood, it’s hard to miss Dolce Amore’s new building.
Just like its logo, which is displayed loud and proud here, Il Cappello Enoteca by Dolce Amore plays into the black and whites with its exterior.
Outside, you’ll find plenty of patio seating, perfect to soak up that Vitamin D during the warmer Metro Vancouver months. Additionally, on the right side of the building, you’ll find what almost resembles a garage. However, don’t be fooled; this is actually the first of Dolce Amore’s three concepts opening in the building, called The Gelato Mafia TGM Terrazza.
Marco Ovies/Dished
This space is part indoor, part outdoor patio where you can quickly stop by for your favourite scoop of gelato. Simply walk inside, choose from the variety of flavours, and either take it to go or sit on one of the many seats available.
During our visit, we had to try some of the sweet treats that Dolce Amore had to offer.
This location serves as the headquarters for Dolce Amore, offering a rich variety of flavours. Think Blueberry Honey, Stracciatella, Pistachio Padrino, and vegan options, such as its Vegan Gangster Toffee Life and Almond Joy.
With all these options, we settled on a scoop of the double-baked almond croissant, a gelato that had real chunks of almond croissant inside. It was like eating a scoopable ice cream sandwich.
But gelato is not the only street you can score at this new gelato window. The Cusano delivered us an onslaught of desserts, including cheesecakes, gelato bars, gelato sandwiches, cookies, and more.
Marco Ovies/Dished
The other two concepts — here’s what we know
While it’s easy to get excited about all the gelato and sweet treats offerings, there’s plenty more to enjoy in the near future. Specifically, Il Cappello Enoteca.
The Cusano’s have brought on the Vancouver legend Chef Pino Posteraro and pastry chef Joyce Mak, both known best from their time at Cioppino’s.
Juno Kim
“It’s going to be a unique place,” Posteraro told us, “we’re working on cornetti, croissants, which sound the same but are totally different, even in taste.” He also added that customers can expect other baked goods, courtesy of Mak, which include focaccia, pinsa (a Roman dough), and brioche that Posteraro told us could be eaten for breakfast or would be great with some gelato.
We were lucky enough to come by while Posteraro and Mak were working on some croissants and got to sneak a bite during our tour. It was flaky, buttery, and absolutely delicious.
The question that was on our mind, along with many others, was how much of an influence Cioppino’s would be playing on the menu here? Posteraro assured us that the menu was designed specifically for the space.
“It would be unfair to [the Cusano’s], plus boring for me,” said Posteraro with a laugh when asked if he would be bringing anything over from Cioppino’s. “I am very, I’m very creative, so I don’t want to repeat”
Another question we had while visiting was about all the hats. From decorating the bar to acting as lamp shades, hats seemed to be a common theme throughout the space.
Marco Ovies/Dished
If you’re familiar with our existing Dolce Amore The Gelato Mafia logo, it has the cappello or the hat on top of it, so it’s a little nod to that,” explained Giancarlo, adding that it also plays into the name Il Capello Enoteca.
“This is our headquarters. So, what is the head of Dolce Amore? So il cappello di Dolce Amore, the hat of Dolce Amore,” he said.
For folks wanting to still enjoy some delicious Italian cuisine, but don’t want to sit down for something as fancy as Il Capello Enoteca, there’s also a third area of the restaurant called Dolce Amore Bar and Caffetteria which is a 25-seat modern Italian caffetteria serving up coffee, pizza al taglio, bronze-cut fresh pasta, cocktails, aperitivi, and baked goods courtesy of pastry chef Mak, of course.
Marco Ovies/Dished
The Gelato Mafia “TGM Terrazza” will softly open on Saturday, June 28, starting at noon. To celebrate the opening, the first 50 customers in line will receive a free single scoop. There will also be a live DJ, bocce games all day long, and hourly raffle draws.
As for Dolce Amore Bar and Caffetteria and Il Cappello Enoteca, you’ll have to wait just a bit longer before visiting those. Be sure to follow Dolce Amore on social media for updates.
Il Cappello Enoteca by Dolce Amore
Address: 6011 Hastings St., Burnaby
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