Coffee shops are far from rare. But Dulce Bakery & Cafe in Somerville is the only one nearby that fuses Vietnamese and Dominican cultures together. For instance, patrons can stop by to enjoy authentic Vietnamese coffee or just as easily order a café con leche.
Dulce Bakery & Cafe occupies the space that formerly housed Pinot’s Palette, a sip-and-paint art studio. “We actually kept some of the paint splats on the walls because we like it,” says co-owner Arisbell “Belle” Mateo. An interior designer herself, she also applied her talents to Dulce’s design. “It’s a welcoming atmosphere with trendy vibrant couches to choose from. Each section has its own vibe,” she says.
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In particular, the blue section features a drawing of a woman walking the Somerville streets in pink Converse sneakers. Near their green couch is a mural of a woman with artificial grass hair—who is actually Belle. “Being a woman-owned business, I really wanted a strong woman on our wall whose eyes spoke. Mia Ha, co-owner, went ahead and told the artist to draw my face instead.”
Drinks, Baked Goods, & More
Dulce offers authentic takes on popular drinks such as café con leche. This drink is half milk, half Bustelo Spanish beans, with an iced coffee bear on top. They also serve Vietnamese Coffee, a strong iced coffee served with a bit of condensed milk on the bottom. In addition, patrons enjoy their smoothies, flavored teas, Boba tea, and hot chocolate.
Meanwhile, Dulce’s menu extends to cultural cuisine including pan de bono – a Colombian cheese bread – and Vietnamese egg rolls. Assorted baked goods range from Danishes and chocolate croissants to cinnamon buns and coffee rolls. Even sweeter treats include red velvet, pistachio, mango mousse, and chocolate mousse slices of cake, along with mint chia pudding. “We like to keep everything in tune with our name, dulce (which means sweet),” Belle says. “We mixed Dominican culture into our pastries along with authentic Vietnamese, as well as all other cultures; to mirror the diverse Somerville community.”
About the Owners
Mia Ha owns other restaurants in Sarasota, Florida, and Franklin Park, NJ, which is in the same county as Dulce. “We were aware of the Somerville food culture and decided to expand,” Mia says. She is Vietnamese and a second-generation restaurateur with a background in banking and a passion for entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, Belle is Dominican, but grew up in Miami around the Cuban and Columbian cultures.
Future plans include hosting monthly community events such as salsa nights and musical performances.
Visit Dulce Bakery & Café at 196 West Main St in Somerville. Look for them online to learn more.
See the Latest Restaurants Open in New Jersey.
Dulce Bakery & Cafe FAQs
No, they do not accept reservations.
No, they do not have gluten-free options.
Dulce offers vegetarian options yes.
They do offer takeout, yes.
Yes, they offer delivery via DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats.
No, they don’t serve alcohol.
They do not have a kids’ menu, no.
Top Photo: © Arthur Graham (provided by Dulce Bakery & Cafe)
Other Photos (in Order): © Jordyn Williams
