Dolce Vita — a locally owned Italian eatery, grocer and gelato shop at 5251 E. Brown Road No. 104 in Mesa — is launching its new aperitivo Italiano menu.

An aperitivo is a common Italian tradition where diners enjoy a drink and light meal at the end of the workday, but before dinner, according to an email.

Aperitivo is equivalent to an American happy hour but has more cultural significance. Italian aperitivo, also referred to as an apericena, is especially common in North Italy and sometime replaces the dinner itself, it states.

Dolce Vita’s aperitivo will be available 5-7 p.m. Thursdays. It is priced at $15 per person and includes one Italian drink and various finger foods. There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available including Aperol spritz, negroni, Bellini, San Bitter or Crodino, fruit juice and lemonade. Aperitivo drinks will be accompanied by a board filled with the chef’s choice of light finger foods, including cold cuts, cheeses, olives and hot items from the kitchen.

“I wanted to bring an aperitivo to Phoenix so people can experience a custom that is so close to an Italian’s heart,” Fabrizio Cali, owner and chef of Dolce Vita, said in the email. “I’ve never seen anything like it in Arizona and wanted to fill that gap. Aperitivo is about slowing down and spending time with loved ones after a long day of working. It’s how you connect with those around you.”

Dolce Vita has been in the Valley for more than 12 years offering authentic, made-from-scratch Italian dishes. The concept is owned by Fabrizio Cali who was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily. Fabrizio prides himself on offering traditional, genuine Italian dishes, desserts and grocery items. For information, go to dolcevitagroupaz.com or follow their Facebook and Instagram pages.