Bar Dolci: Making Life Sweeter

The gelato craze has been going on for quite a while. With the emergence of Cara Mia, Gelatissimo and Cafe Ti Amo, Filipinos are getting more acquainted with the difference that gelato offers. Gelato is basically ice cream in Italian, but what makes it different is that it has lesser fat content (about 5-7%) compared to the normal ice cream (about 10%). This is because the whole milk-cream ratio is higher in gelato than that of the normal ice cream. So yes, you who's on a diet, you can eat gelato because it's "healthier". Haha! Despite the influx of gelaterias in the metro, there's one that stood out amongst everyone: BAR DOLCI.

Situated in the posh area called Burgos Circle, Bar Dolci offers to-die-for gelato, heavenly macaroons, and other tasty pastries. For our visit though, we just tried their gelato (a lot of flavors at that!). We'll try the macaroons and pastries next time. :) The place gives that chic ambiance which gives a 'sophisticated' gelato dining experience. It's comfy enough for people who want to have long chats and discussions in the place. 

Service is great as well. The staff is very accommodating, even letting the customers taste different flavors of gelato in cute little spoons. They even have this score board wherein every visitor gets to out a tick mark for every visit. I got 1 additional tick mark for bringing people to Bar Dolci. The lady cashier remembered me!!! (Glutton Girl) :) 

Here are the flavors we tried at Bar Dolci (For comparing purposes, we have reviewed the gelato per flavor, as compared to the usual per serving/price that we do to distinguish each flavor we tried):

Bar Dolci Gelato, 120 php (small cone/cup); 160 php (medium cone/cup); 200 (large cup)


Tiramisu

Glutton Guy: This tasted like the real thing, much like the tiramisu my mom makes (yes, my mom makes delicious tiramisu! hahaha). It had that crunchy texture from the graham bits and that sweetness from the cream. I have tasted a tiramisu gelato before at Amici, and I really loved it. This one was comparable, but I found it a bit too sweet. If the sweetness was leveled down a bit, then it would be perfect. : )


Glutton Girl: This was so sweet, it leaves a sensation in your mouth. It had bits of graham and cake similar to that of a real tiramisu cake, minus the wine flavor, which I personally liked. Desserts are supposed to be sweet anyway, right? So it's good they left out that bitter taste.
  

Vanilla Pistachio
Glutton Guy: My ultimate favorite! I have always loved vanilla ice cream, and I also love pistachio nuts. So, this gelato is a perfect combination. There are some ice cream shops that don't really succeed in serving delicious pistachio ice cream (I won't mention them anymore...you know who you are hahaha), so I don't really risk buying these kinds of flavors. Thanks to Bar Dolci's free taste, I got to try this flavor first before ordering it. I liked the flavor of this gelato. It had that right amount of sweetness which I liked. I couldn't actually taste the pistachio, but I didn't care. You would know that there are pistachios from the green bits in the gelato and the crunch that it gave at the same time. It was creamy and delicious, and that's what mattered for me. Who says vanilla is a boring flavor? : )


Glutton Girl: Pistachio is already heavenly on its own. Add vanilla ice cream and you say HALLELUJAH!!!! I am not exaggerating! It's THAT good! One of the must-try's in Bar Dolci. 


Raspberry Black Tea Sorbet
Glutton Guy: Not really a fan of sorbet, but this one worked for me. It had that nice, smooth texture which seemed nice. You could really taste the raspberry here, but it's not overwhelming, which is a good thing. It had a sweet and tangy taste from the raspberry, which, like I said, worked for me. It's also a healthy treat, with raspberry and black tea as ingredients. If you're more of the fruity type, then try this one instead of the usual strawberry or mango. You won't regret it. : )


Glutton Girl: This was the most refreshing flavor amongst the bunch, maybe because it's made of fruit. The consistency is different from that of the other flavors, mainly because this didn't have the milk/cream component. It was more of a sorbet. And it wasn't bad at all! You can really taste the raspberry flavor and bite the poppy seeds. It was a good contrast to the uber sweetness of the other flavors.This is a new flavor too, and I say they did a good job with this.

Cookies
Glutton Guy: If Cookie Monster were here, he'd gobble this all up. Bar Dolci's Cookies gelato is probably one of the best gelatos they have ever created. This creamy, chocolatey cookie delight is every sweet tooth's desire. I liked the cookie chunk that came with the gelato. It also had no issues with regards to its sweetness. I absolutely loved the chocolate bits. I'm a chocolate lover, so the more chocolate bits, the better. It really is a gelato version of the cookies we buy at supermarkets, perhaps even better. If you're heading to Bar Dolci, then this is one of the first flavors you should try. As Cookie Monster would say, "Cooooookiiiieeesss!!!" : )


Glutton Girl: Bar Dolci's best-seller, and there's no wonder why. In other gelaterias, this is called Biscotinno, but in Bar Dolci, they opted to use the simple Cookies. It's the same thing anyway. This is cookies and cream, heaven version. The base was is so good, the cookie bits are so crunchy and sweet, the chocolate bits were plentiful, and the huge cookie chunk that comes with it is the perfect ending to this great concoction. Must-try. You haven't been to Bar Dolci if you didn't try Cookies.

Salted Caramel
Glutton Guy: This one had that weird, delicious taste that for me was quite interesting. Sea Salt and Caramel is a flavor that becoming popular today, not only in gelato, but also in drinks like milk tea. It has this bittersweet taste (with a hint of saltiness from the salt) that you will find deliciously different. This one had that creamy texture as well, no chunks of whatsoever in the gelato. At first you would wonder, "who would blend sea salt and caramel and make it an ice cream flavor in the first place?" Believe me, you'll thank the guy who invented this flavor, because I guarantee that you will love this just as much as I have. I wasn't disappointed the first time I tried it. And honestly, Bar Dolci is one of those gelaterias who can make excellent Sea Salt and Caramel gelato. : )


Glutton Girl: Sweet and salty in one? Possible with Sea Salt Caramel. This flavor is for those who are not fond of super sweet stuff, yet want to enjoy their dessert. The fight between salt and caramel poses a weird but great combination inside your mouth, making you want more.

Bar Dolci is a must when you are around the Burgos Circle area. It's absolutely perfect for people who want something good for dessert, or for groups who want to have a good time while enjoying delicious gelato at the same time. Prices are reasonable, the ambience is lovely (inside and out), service is great (I love the ate cashier!! - Glutton Girl), and the gelato is superb. Needless to say, we think Bar Dolci is the best gelateria in the metro. 

Here's how we rated Bar Dolci:


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(Bar Dolci is located at F133 Forbeswood Heights corner Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Once you're at Forbes Town Center, you really can't miss it.)