Michele D’Antuono wanted to bring a bit of Italy to our neighborhood. That’s why a little over year ago he opened La Dolce Vita on Abrams Parkway.
“We opened this Italian restaurant to bring to Dallas a restaurant that truly captures the feel or taste of Italy,” says D’Antuono.
“We chose the Lakewood area because it reminded us of the little towns in Italy where everyone knew each other and everyone seemed like family.”
D’Antuono graduated from Loyola University and Sir George Williams University with a master’s degree in economics. He worked mostly with real estate investments before opening La Dolce Vita in partnership with Guy and Bruno Mascolo of the Tony and Guy hair salons.
“We chose to specialize in the restaurant business because the Italian culture really loves good food and we wanted to share this experience with the people of Dallas, D’Antuono says.
The young restaurant already has received glowing reviews, earning plaudits such as most romantic and best creme brulee in media polls. D’Antuono knew the future would be bright when on the first day that we opened even without any advertisement we served 350 people.”
D’Antuono has found personal as well as professional happiness. On Aug. 7, he will marry Chrystal, whom he describes as “my soul mate.”
Someday, I’m determined to:
Start the ChrystalRae Foundation, which would focus on helping underprivileged children attain their educational goals.
My favorite quote is:
“Whatever you do, do it with love and passion.”
My greatest asset is:
My determination. I never give up.
I would love to have five minutes alone with:
Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the ex-prime minister of Canada.
The hardest part of running a business is:
The amount of time it requires.
If I won the lottery, I would:
Not change anything, but I would help more charities.
The best advice I ever received was:
Get an education.
People I admire are:
Self-made people like Guy Mascolo, Bruno Mascolo, Victor Almeida, Ricardo Semler, Sam Walton, Bill Gates and Ted Turner, to name a few.
I love what I do because:
In the ’90s people don’t have time to cook and La Dolce Vita becomes their kitchen.
Life is too short to:
Worry.
My advice to anyone trying to start a business is:
Follow your dream.
By the end of the year, I hope to:
Expand the business by adding more locations.
I’m not afraid to:
Take a chance.
I don’t believe in:
Talking about things. I would rather get things done, then talk about it.
Businesses succeed when:
You have a good concept with a good work ethic and you love what you do.
