Dolce Vita Reopens, Cuchara Soft Opens

Dolce Vita, the Montrose Neapolitan pizza restaurant that was damaged by arson in May, will reopen tonight at 5:00 p.m. According to a story on CultureMap, everything about the restaurant will be "exactly the same," which should comfort patrons who have missed the pizza, pasta and veggie sides that earned the restaurant the number 13 spot in Chronicle critic Alison Cook's top 100 earlier this summer. Police arrested Jacob Colby Garvin for the crime on June 13, charging him with 15 counts of arson.

Just up Taft from Dolce Vita, Press critic Katharine Shilcutt reported this morning that Cuchara: Mexico City Cuisine will begin their soft-opening this Sunday. The restaurant has been documenting its construction and menu experiments on its Facebook page. Some of the recent posts include lamb with chile and avocado and "al pastor" fish over white corn puree. Although the full menu has yet to be posted, those dishes seem to place it more in the Concepcion/Hugo's camp, which, Shilcutt writes, means diners shouldn't "Get all pissy if the place doesn't automatically serve chips and salsa." Duly noted.

· All Dolce Vita Coverage on Eater Houston [-EHOU-]
· Cuchara Restaurant [Facebook]
· Openings & Closings: Cuchara Slices Up a Soft Opening and the Gift Horse Lounge Opens Its Mouth [Eating Our Words]
· Life is Sweet Again: Dolce Vita to Reopen After Rebuilding From a Fire Set by Alleged Serial Arsonist [CultureMap]
· Alison Cook's Top 100: No. 13 Dolce Vita [29-95]