La Dolce Vita Ristorante & Lounge | November 25, 2011

740 South B Street, Heritage Square
Oxnard, CA 93030

http://www.theldv.com/

 

Miller-Stein Ranking

Our food experience | 4.4 Buckeyes

Quality | 4.5 Buckeyes

Cost | 4.25 Buckeyes

Character | 4.75 Buckeyes

Beverages | 4.0 Buckeyes

Service | 4.5 Buckeyes

 

Gnocchi con Pollo | $11.95
Italian potato dumplings with chicken, squash, leek and peppers in a roasted garlic cream sauce

Seared Ahi | $13.95
Sesame seared and served with citrus vinaigrette atop mixed greenswith green onion, sesame seeds and sliced almonds

Grilled Vegetable | $10.00
Assorted vegetables grilled then marinated in our balsamic dressing topped with provolone cheese and melted

Stein and I spent Thanksgiving in Southern California with his family this year and decided we needed to try a new restaurant in Oxnard (a small town just North of LA).

We settled on an Italian restaurant that received rave reviews from the locals. Since we were in California, we asked Fishman (Miller’s friend) and Ruiz (Fishman’s boyfriend) both of whom reside in LA, to join us.

La Dolce Vita is located in downtown historic Heritage Square in Oxnard and is tucked away in a cozy historic-style house. From the moment we arrived we felt welcome; a great comforting feeling.

When we arrived, other than the Fishman-Ruiz duo, we were the only people there. Since we were there for lunch, we didn’t anticipate there being much of a crowd. Fishman and Ruiz were already enjoying white wine which they remarked was quite tasty and enjoyable.

We were greeted by our waiter who was very friendly and he brought Stein and me water with lemon. Our waiter was quick to return to take out order and brought warm, freshly baked bread, which was wonderful. The bread came with a tomato type salsa which went well with the warmth of the bread.

Stein and I ordered the same thing, not on purpose, the grilled vegetable sandwich. The sandwich was wonderfully seasoned with all types of vegetables including very tender flavorful mushrooms. The vegetables were grilled to perfection and still had a bit of the much needed crunch. The balsamic dressing that accompanied the vegetables was a perfect match. The side salad that came with the sandwich was fantastic, spinach leaves and cabbage, also marinated in the balsamic was a great addition to the meal.

Fishman went with the gnocchi which she really enjoyed. The plate of pasta was more than she was anticipating for a lunch portion but was fond of the fact that she could take home leftovers. Fishman really enjoyed the fresh garlic cream sauce that coated the pasta saying that the sauce had a smooth yet rich texture and was not overwhelming thick, like many cream sauces. Fishman also appreciated the fresh vegetables that were mixed into her dish.

Ruiz went with the seared ahi salad. Ruiz mentioned that he has always appreciated a well done ahi. When the salad arrived, we noticed it was also a very generous portion for a lunch size. Unsure whether there was enough dressing for his salad, Ruiz asked for additional dressing. The waiter brought out what seemed to be the same house made balsamic dressing from the other dishes. The salad was originally coated with a citrus vinaigrette and Ruiz was thrilled he had asked for the additional dressing. The balsamic has a molasses like consistency and added the perfect amount of sweetness to the seared ahi which was breaded with sesame seeds. Both dressings melded surprising well together.

Stein and I chatted with the Fishman-Ruiz duo for a bit and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the cozy Italian den.

Between the reasonable prices, warm atmosphere, and fantastic the service, we were thrilled we had selected La Dolce Vita. If you find yourself in Oxnard we whole heartedly recommend stopping in La Dolce Vita for a quick bite.