Danbury Restaurant Plows Through Pandemic

DANBURY, CT — It'll take a lot more than a global pandemic to dampen the enthusiasm of Ben Vrenezi, owner of Dolce Restaurant & Wine Bar in Danbury.

"We've been busy, until last week, when they put us on 50 percent," Vrenezi said. "We're still doing good, but now we focus on delivery and takeout, which is amazing, too."

The threat of further capacity restrictions, as coronavirus cases continue to climb, doesn't faze Vrenezi, or his loyal clientele. A few of those named Dolce the "Business of the Year" in Danbury.

Business at Dolce's bar, dining room, and enclosed patio continues at capacity. That "capacity" number has been more of legal than geometric limitation since the state began issuing restrictions in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 earlier this year.

Understandably, the party business at Dolce has slowed down a little bit since the spring, "but before COVID, we were booked an entire year in advance" Vrenezi told Patch. The restaurant still manages more than its share of parties, even while adhering to the changing capacity guidelines.

At the end of the day, it comes down to hustle — and good food.

"We have the basics, we have a few raviolis, we have a few pastas, a few chicken dishes," Vrenezi said modestly. There's really nothing basic about Dolce's chicken and smoked mozzarella-filled ravioli, tossed with hot Italian sausage. And that's one of the dishes from the everyday menu; the restaurant serves up what the owner calls "high-end specials" every few days.

Vrenezi came to the U.S. nearly 12 years ago from northern Macedonia. He worked in several Italian restaurants in New York City's West Village, before opening Dolce in Danbury in 2015.

The owner stressed Dolce was not an Italian restaurant, but an Italian-American place. Nowhere is that made more clear than when serves up his Black Angus New York sirloin or Gorgonzola-crusted filet mignon.

Dolce Restaurant & Wine Bar is open seven days a week at 39 B Mill Plain Road in Danbury.