A bit of good luck and a long family history in the food service with origins in Macedonia came together to launch Dolce Vita in South Superior.
The new eatery at 5802 Tower Ave., opens Monday, April 5, to a reservation-only crowd. After the soft open Monday, the restaurant opens to the public Tuesday, April 6.
“If you come to Dolce Vita, you can expect a lot of good steaks and good pastas,” owner Zudi Maksutoski said. “And we’ll be bringing special European dishes on special nights.”
Still, he said, people can expect local fare when they dine at Dolce Vita.
“It was a big deal for me before opening this place to open a local establishment that supports one another,” Maksutoski said. “So all our beers are in Superior and Duluth, supporting our local beers. Our wines will be coming from St. Croix, Wisconsin, and our vegetables and our meat products are all from our local farmers. They can see me in the summer at our local farmers markets shopping for produce for here when it’s available.”
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Everything will be made from scratch, from the marinara and alfredo sauces to the hand-cut meats, he said.
“I love to be in the kitchen,” Maksutoski said.
That love comes with a bit of family history.
“My dad’s been in the industry since the 1980s, so I grew up in the food industry with my brothers and sisters,” Maksutoski said. “They’re all still in the food industry.”
After settling in Superior seven years ago, Maksutoski said he knew it would be part of his future while heading out of town.
“One day, I passed this particular location on my way out of town, and I got the feeling ‘that’s going to be my spot,’” Maksutoski said. “It happened with good luck. I love it. I could not be more blessed.”
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Since July, Maksutoski said they’ve been working day and night to make improvements to the building that has long served as an eatery in the South End.
Dolce Vita will be open 4:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30-10p.m. Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, with breakfast served at week's end. Maksutoski said the restaurant's website is still being built, but people can get a sneak peak at the menu on its Facebook page .
Maksutoski said he and his 15 employees are looking forward to welcoming the public.
“If you love good food, awesome hospitality, quality food and great service, feel free to come give us a try," he said. "Supporting our community is No. 1.”
