Yum! Delicious ice cream I can eat everyday that doesn?t make me fat ? OK, that?s an overstatement. But the authentic, homemade Italian ice cream served at Dolcessa Gelato Caf? has about 60 to 70 percent less fat than regular American ice cream.

?It?s made fresh on the premises with ingredients from Italy,? said Dale, a Dolcessa employee. ?We have a total of 77 flavors and offer 22 daily.?

Dolcessa, founded in 2006 in Dayton, recently opened a new location on Brown Street. The family-owned and operated business strives to bring the ambience and flavor of a European gelateria to the city.

Along with gelato (Italian ice cream), Dolcessa carries a line of sorbetto, which is made from fruits, sugar and water. It has more of an Italian Ice flavor but the fresh fruit really makes it stand out. Some of their flavor options include kiwi, mint chocolate chip, peanut, strawberry, tiramisu, and pistachio.

They allow you to combine any two flavors of either gelato or sorbetto into one cup ? perfect for any indecisive ice cream eater.

Dolcessa also offers 10 high quality Paninis, which Dale said were the most popular items. They all have a variety of ingredients including fresh cheeses such as French brie, mozzarella and provolone, crisp vegetables, delicious meats, balsamic sauce, and pesto spread. If you?d rather opt out of eating the entire Panini, they have a mini option.

If you?re in the mood for something hot, Dolcessa has an Italian espresso bar with options including moka, Italian coco, and flavored mint chocolate and chai tea lattes. The caf? also has some interesting combinations of their items: affogato (espresso or hot cocoa over gelato), gelatte (blended espresso with gelato), and bubble tea (tea with tapioca pearls).

The service was decent and they usually only have one employee working at a time. The ambience had an artistic, energetic feel with black tables and chairs and interesting modern art (you could actually understand the modern art, so that was a plus).

Dolcessa is definitely a treat to have right next to the student neighborhood. The location is ideal if you live on the Darkside, don?t want to walk all the way to ArtStreet Caf? and are looking for a great panini for just about the same price.