An AUTHENTIC Italian restaurant is set to throw its doors open next week to go head-to-head with big-name chains dominating south Essex’s high streets.

La Dolce Vita will be run by director Remo Chiarito alongside his team as they prepare to open in Billericay High Street, just a few doors down from the Blue Boar pub.

The businessman has taken over the former Amico Italian restaurant and is hoping to bring a ‘new Italian experience’.

Remo has noted that the restaurant, though in a small space on the High Street, will be staffed by Italians and offer something ‘elegant’ to the popular street.

He said: “I have worked in restaurants for many years, and a chef friend of mine, who cooks Italian food, met with me one day and we decided to do something together.

“We found this place and took it and we will be open next week for certain, we are just getting everything ready and there is a lot to be done as we did it all from scratch.

“The furnishings have been changed, everything was not in its best state when we got here and we have had to do many things, we have a bar and a few stalls as well.

“We have not much space, but people can go there, they can sit.”

Billericay High Street has recently seen a range of new restaurants open and refurbishments, including Meyra Brasserie, which opened earlier this year on the site of the former Prezzo, and the Maggio Lounge, which opened in an empty M and Co unit.

Remo added: “The chef, Astrit Daci, and his staff are Italian and the food is a big menu, we focus on quality and taste and we keep things simple and try to keep it simple with fresh ingredients, simple and authentic.

“Billericay has other Italians but it is not much choice, we try to step up the quality. And with the environment we have, the place is really quite elegant.”