Destination: Bakery La Dolce Vita in Rolesville

After 18 months in business, the downtown Rolesville bakery, featuring Italian treats, is planning an expansion.

Posted 1:59 a.m. Feb 3, 2017 — Updated 1:59 a.m. Feb 3, 2017

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

A Go Ask Mom reader tipped me off to this place many months ago. Over winter break, I finally got there with my kids, who were glad to be in tow for this one.

Bakery La Dolce Vita is a small bakery in downtown Rolesville, less than a mile from the town's Main Street Park. Opened a year and a half ago, the owners have been busy whipping up Italian delicacies and building a successful business. In fact, they've been so busy that they are planning to open a second location this spring near the Wakefield community.

If you stop in the bakery, you'll typically find one of the bakery's owners, Vanessa Minopoli, smiling behind the counter.

She works the front of the house while her husband, Sal, mixes up the Italian pastries, cookies and cakes in the back. Sal worked at a bakery in New York before the couple moved here for the better weather and opened up the shop.

The bakery case is filled with the kinds of treats I looked forward to as a child, growing up in central New York state - lobster tails, which are flaky pastries filled with vanilla cream; cannoli; eclair; and decorated Italian cookies. Sal makes everything on site, using family recipes.

When I asked Vanessa what were the bakery's top sellers, she laughed.

"So much is popular over here," she said.

On our recent stop there, my kids and I enjoyed a slice of moist chocolate cake and took home a bag of buttery Italian cookies. The shop also sells ice cream, coffee and other beverages.

Vanessa tells me moms often will bring in their kids for scoops of ice cream while they sit and have coffee and a little dessert. In fact, the shop has a kid-size table just for the tiniest visitors.

"The kids enjoy sitting at the little table," she said. "It's just for them."

For Valentine's Day, the bakery will have a few special items - cake pops, cupcakes and heart-shaped Rice Krispie treats. The shop does offer gluten free and sugar free options, along with made-to-order cakes.

By Easter, they hope to open their second location at Wakefield Commons shopping center near the new Galaxy Fun Park.

Until then, you can find them at 112 Southtown Circle, Rolesville. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday. It's closed Sundays. Prices range between about $2 to $5, depending on what will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Go Ask Mom features places to take kids every Friday. For more, check our posts on parks and playgrounds and Triangle family destinations.

Suggest A Correction