A TOP quality Mediterranean restaurant with an Italian flair – that’s la Dolce Vita at 8 Grove Road.
Owner Lorenzo Cinalli says: “I’m proud of what I do and what I serve. I’ve been doing this for 43 years, and I do this for pleasure and love.”
He is also very clear why la Dolce Vita has such a first class reputation.
He says: “We do not rush, everything is homemade and cooked to order. Absolutely nothing is pre-cooked.
“The food and the drinks are the very best you can get. We have more than 120 bottles of wine, plus a full restaurant menu.
“Our specials include – here H he wants to list some of the items of food he has sent you.
“On a Saturday night, we have live music, the atmosphere is lovely. Everything we cook is the very best.
“And we do not try to overload the restaurant with customers. If we are full, then we do have to turn people away. Every customer must leave here having had a quality and enjoyable experience.”
When you talk to Lorenzo, you soon realise why he – along with part owner Nelly – runs such a popular and fantastic Town Centre restaurant.
His background is second to none.
As a young man, he worked for quality establishments including Trust Houses Forte, and then for Whitbread in Lancashire at a time ‘when food wasn’t served in pubs.
Next was the Imperial Hotel at Blackpool, P&O Cruises, and 16 years working in restaurants and hotels in America.
Lorenzo returned to England in 2010 – to Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea for five years, before arriving in Eastbourne.
In May 2016, he opened Rostick in Victoria Place, Terminus Road. In 2018, it was voted Restaurant of the Year in an Eastbourne Herald competition.
That gave Lorenzo a valuable uplift, suddenly there were people coming in regularly from London, and he had to open the downstairs as well because of the demand.
Lorenzo decided to sell Rostick due to ageing and two floors were too much and Brexit had taken away the best staff.
In October 2023, he decided to open Signor Panio at 8 Grove Road. The name changed to la Dolce Vita last December.
la Dolce Vita is open Tuesday-Saturday from noon until 3pm and then 5.30pm onwards. The venue remains open for drinks between 3pm and 5.30pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Call 01323404802.
www.ladolcevitaeastbourne.com
email ledolcevita.esb@gmail.com
Dining and Cooking