Dolce Vita, one of Ainsdale's oldest restaurants, is celebrating 40 years at the heart of the village this year. The restaurant first opened its doors on Station Road in 1986, at a time when Ainsdale looked very different to the bustling village it is today.
What began as a bold venture in a location with little passing trade has become a much-loved fixture, welcoming generations of diners and earning its place as one of the village's culinary landmarks.
Owners proud of milestone
Margaret Murphy, one of the current owners, said reaching the 40-year mark was a hugely significant moment for everyone connected with the restaurant. The 68-year-old grandma-of-eight said: “Dolce Vita has been part of Ainsdale for 40 years and we are incredibly proud to have been custodians of such a well-known and much-loved name for the past six. When we took over, we inherited a restaurant with a real history in the village. We wanted to respect that heritage while continuing to move it forward.
“Some customers have known Dolce Vita for decades, while others are discovering us for the first time, and that’s what makes it so special. Reaching 40 years is an incredible milestone. We’re enormously grateful for the support we receive and very excited about the next chapter.”
Original family's story
The restaurant was originally opened by the Cardillo family, with son Stefano previously telling the ECHO how it all came to be. He said: “My dad opened Dolce Vita in 1986, the year I was born. Everyone thought he was mad because there was nothing in the village. In 2008 he opened Bar Mio, where Dukes Bar and Bistro is now.
“Then more businesses came into Ainsdale. Slowly, more and more places began to open. My dad died three years ago, and he would be amazed to see the village how it is now. People told him he was crazy when he opened the restaurant; now look at it.”
Evolution and current success
The restaurant has evolved considerably over the years, but it retains the character and identity that have made it a familiar name to diners across Ainsdale, Southport and beyond. The current owners took over in April 2023. Rather than losing sight of that heritage, they have sought to build on it, with it apparently paying off. Margaret said the restaurant is thriving, weekends are often fully booked and its customer base includes local footballers, celebrities and familiar faces from across the region.
The menu features a range of Italian dishes, including antipasti, wood-fired pizzas, pasta, risotto, meat and seafood. Popular dishes include Smoked Salmon Bucatini, Linguine Frutti di Mare and Lasagne al Forno. The pizza offerings include classics such as Margherita, alongside Nduja & Goat’s Cheese and the signature Dolce Vita, topped with dolce latte blue cheese, mozzarella and Parma ham.
Mum-of-three Margaret added: "When you run a venue that has been a huge part of a tight-knit community for 40 years, you feel a huge responsibility to make it just as fabulous for the next generations as the previous teams made it for the previous four decades.
"We love the mix of guests we get, including many regulars who come on a weekly basis and being so close to the train station, we get a lot of visitors, especially at the weekend, and many come from miles for the Sunday Roast."
Dolce Vita has always offered a warm welcome and good old fashioned hospitality never goes out of fashion. Styles and trends come and go but great quality food and fabulous service are the cornerstones that have enabled the business to celebrate 40 fantastic years.
In the coming years, we intend to build on the reputation we have and continue to put customers first. Nothing makes the team happier than seeing familiar faces treat us as their favourite local and we feel privileged to be part of this wonderful venue's heritage and to be the custodians of somewhere that is so much loved in the village.
