A Café Called Dolce Has Replaced DePasquale’s North End Gelateria
The Hanover Street sweets shop now has daily doughnuts, sheet-pan pizzas, and more on the menu.
The display cases at the North End’s Dolce are full of pastries, pizza, and more baked by sister spot Bricco. / Photos courtesy of Dolce
A North End scoop shop has completed a rebrand and menu expansion to become Dolce, a Milan-inspired café serving up Italian-style doughnuts, pastries, and espresso, sheet-pan pizzas, sandwiches, and—of course—gelato and cannoli.
Formerly known as Gigi Gelateria, Dolce is the newest operation for DePasquale Ventures, the North End-based restaurant group that includes Mare Oyster Bar, Trattoria il Panino, Bricco Salumeria, Quattro pizzeria, Assaggio Lounge, Aqua Pazza, and Fratelli at Encore Boston Harbor. The Hanover Street gelato shop changed its name to Dolce in mid-July, Boston Restaurant Talk reported. It recently closed for about a week to freshen up the space with white subway tiles, chalkboard signage, and modern-industrial pendant lighting.
The rebrand accompanies an expanded menu that makes Dolce a grab-and-go restaurant similar to shops seen all over Italy, and in particular, the stylish city of Milan, says owner Frank DePasquale. Along with filled-to-order cannoli and gelati in classic flavors like pistachio and chocolate, Dolce has added a variety of baked goods to its menu, all made fresh daily at sister bakery Bricco.
Early in the day, go for espresso or coffee, along with options like cream- and jam-filled bombolini (Italian-style doughnuts), and cornetti, or sugar-dusted croissants. Pre-made sandwiches on Bricco-made ciabatta, focaccia, and French breads are ready for lunch, along with a daily variety of sheet-pan pizzas with toppings like potato and sausage, and traditional margarita. The small shop, which has some café-style seating inside, is open late for cappuccino and dessert, too.
Dolce is open daily from 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
272 Hanover St., North End, Boston.
