Dolci Café: A Taste of Italy

Garden City's Dolci Café is run by Neil Habib and his wife. Their two teenage daughters help out at the shop as well. Mrs. Habib does all the baking on premises every day.

This little café is part luncheonette, part bakery and part gelato shop and the combination works, according to the Habibs, who say business is really starting to pick up.  

The Habibs were never in the restaurant business prior to opening Dolci. 

"It was definitely an experiment," says Mr. Habib, whose love of Italian sweets and his wife's baking talents led to the project. "She's the professional cook and I'm the professional taster," he laughed. 

His wife's cousins own and run a bakery on Glen Cove Road and the Habibs went to work there to get a feel for the bakery life. Once they decided it was for them, the cousins then lent their expertise and helped advise them when they decided to venture out on their own. 

With about eight small tables, the eatery is well lit with tasteful décor. A nice yellow gold paint colors the upper walls and fabulous display cases are filled with pastries, cupcakes and cookies. 

The Habibs just ascertained a sidewalk permit so much like other Garden City eateries, patrons can dine al fresco in front of the Franklin Avenue café. The landlord is presently fixing up the rear and the Habibs are looking forward to adding an outside garden so people can dine in the back as well.

"There are so many great places to eat in Garden City and then people come here for the best dessert," says Habib.

The breakfast crowd is brisk – with a large array of coffees, croissants, muffins, bagels and pastries. The lunch special is an outstanding deal. For $7.95 diners get a half of panini, a soup or salad and a lemonade or iced tea drink and a scoop of gelato.

Dolci sells whole cakes as well and the owners tout their 20 percent off coupon for whole cakes in both Clipper and Pennysaver flyers. Mr. Habib says the three-layer chocolate mousse cake is the best seller at $21.95. A New York Style cheesecake is $25.95 and the Red Velvet cake $21.95.

The number one selling gelato shares the café's name – Dole de Leche, while the Habibs say the number one selling sorbet is lemon, hands down.

Dolci Café is located at 953 Franklin Avenue and is open seven days a week. A website is presently being built for the eatery and the menu will be available on the site. Call 516-750-8470 for more information.