Dolce Pensiero

Review

La Konditoria

It is this very special phenomenon that is called the "Tarvis effect" in comparative gastrosophy: barely over the border in Italy, after just a few meters, suddenly not only is the coffee much better, but the sausage rolls also look completely different. Of course, this has to do with perception clouded by travel euphoria, but not only. When it comes to espresso, the effect is mainly due to the dramatic contrast in quality between what is sold as such in southern Carinthia and even Italian petrol station goods. When it comes to panini, the Italians actually follow a different strategy, which - to put it simply - consists of putting saltier sausage in less salty bread. This "Tarvis effect" has triggered this wonderful double feeling of euphoria and exoticism for generations of travelers, which is what makes a vacation in Italy an Italian vacation in the first place. But for the past eight years, you don't even have to get in the car or on the train, because you can also get to Salzgries by streetcar. Williams Della Bona founded his Pasticceria Dolce Pensiero there at the end of 2016. Della Bona comes from Varese, a town north of Milan, and came to But salty things too. His delicious tramezzini are inadequately described as "fluffy" and the "mini burger" he has in the display case is an extra classic panino with ham and cheese, which - guess right - immediately triggers the Tarvis effect. And then every day they also whip out two pasta dishes that would do credit to any fine Italian restaurant, but only cost twelve euros at Dolce Pensiero. The strozzapreti "alla norma" with melanzani were great, the tagliatelle with leek cream and guanciale at the next table also looked extremely good. The only drawback so far: if you then took a bit of time for an espresso (from the La Varesina roastery, of course) or for the Poretti Lager (also from Varese), it was easy to get into a turmoil because there was so little space. Things have been different for two weeks now, as Williams Della Bona has turned the neighboring interior design store into an Italian pastry shop. No frills, very Italian. Real espresso and a crispy cannolo, real panino and a Poretti beer to go with it. And all without any attitude at the Italo-Konditorei.

More in Italian
Food & Drink in Vienna