Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Al Dente

    3.1 (357 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Al Dente Takeout or Delivery

    Al Dente Photos

    Business Info

    AL DENTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Al Dente

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Oliver J.

    I just went there for a second time within a couple months since they have a reasonable happy hour with food. I ordered three pizzas. Our two five year old boys wanted different things so we said plain cheese on one side and olives and basil on the other. They charged for the olives but all the pizzas are $14 for happy hour. This is literally a Quattro Stagioni with most ingredients removed. They auto charged 20% tip for a group of four. I would have just otherwise taken the olives out on the tip. I brought up the olive situation and he said "it's happy hour" which doesn't make any sense. I just won't go again.

    Spicy penne
    Liv W.

    Al Dente isn't necessarily bad by any means, but it is on the lower spectrum for Italian food in DC. The pricing is kind of absurd for what you're getting. Fettuccini in a bolognese is $20 which seems a bit much for a dish that could be easily replicated at home for significantly less. The red sauce is fine, nothing super special. The rigatoni is a good portion, but again, $25 is quite steep. The dish tasted alright, but lacked some flavor and salt. The pasta was cooked perfectly though (a nice al dente!! Haha). But there are so many better places in the DC area that have more interesting combinations for pasta. A red sauce and pasta just isn't worth it--in my personal opinion. The portion sizing is good, but the taste is really mediocre. Service was great and ambiance was nice, but I wouldn't really ever recommend this place to anyone. It's just very convenient to get to.

    Chicken Parmesan
    Maya M.

    The happy hour penne arrabbiata is the star! Recommend going for happy hour instead of actual dinner. Service is friendly and extremely quick. The restaurant itself is pretty nice with a typically lively central bar area.

    Jed R.

    I went here for restaurant week. It's tucked away on this cool patio are near AU's campus. Overall, I'd highly recommend! It was $25 for a three course meal. We started with some bread for the table (included) and some olive oil to dip it in. For the appetizer, I got smoked salmon with capers and arugula. For the entree, I got the mezzi rigatoni (GET THIS FRFR ITS THE SHIT). For dessert, I rounded out third and finished with a scoop of vanilla gelato. Overall a great experience. The water was flowing, the food was great, and it was a great deal with RW!

    Gnocchi
    Sylvie C.

    I placed an order for pickup via DoorDash during a late afternoon lunch period. The order was ready upon arrival and the pickup process was a breeze. I loved the sauce used for the gnocchi. I would have given a 4/5 stars if it wasn't that the actual gnocchi itself was extremely mushy and gummy. It had the texture and consistency of a soaked bread. Oddly spongy and plain old gross. My friend loves eating at Al Dente so I wouldn't mind trying other items. Perhaps ordering in person would render better tasting results.

    meatballs

    Ordered the chicken alfredo. The chicken was so overcooked and tough, I couldn't eat it. It had zero flavor as if they boiled it or something. Very bland and disappointing. Calamari (not pictured) was great, meatball a little dry, though.

    Pepperoni pizza. Polpette. Fettuccine Alla Bolognese

    Takeout was completed in 7 mins. Ordered pepperoni pizza, meatballs, and bolognese. Name is mispelled on the bag that was scooted to me on an empty table (no other take out orders on a saturday night- yikes!) and the pizza reflects an equal amount of effort. I'd recommend your local pizza chain over this restaurant for items that pack more flavor, look more appetizing, and leave more money in your pocket.

    Veal Scaloppini
    Rebecca C.

    We went for the happy hour, which is honestly one of the BEST deals out there in the DMV area!!! Pizza is 50% off, and they boast quite a few delicious other menu items and drinks on the happy hour menu! The calamari as an appetizer was AMAZING, such a lightly coated breading and tons of squid, jalapeños. The marinara sauce wasn't as flavorful as I would've wanted for the calamari! The veal was delicious and had a thick red wine reduction sauce. It also came with portobello mushrooms! We tried two pizzas, both had a great dough and chewy crust - cheese amount was perfection. The star of the dinner was the Farro Tagliatelle Pasta!!! What a lovely homemade sauce, and you could tell the pasta was made fresh! Lots of seafood as well. For parking, there is a garage right next door and street parking. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available! There's also seating around the bar! Service was exceptional, and it wasn't crowded either!

    Prosciutto di Parma
    Min Z.

    Service was acceptable and good enough. Outdoor was nice and quiet, price reasonable. Most food was great. Desserts were only different flavors of ice-creams. It's not worth it. Dishes we tried and ratings I gave: Appetizers: 5*Fried calamari: mixed with fried zucchini, jalapeno, red pepper, and red spicy sauce. Fried Calamari crispy and amazing. 5*Prosciutto di Parma: fresh and delicious. 4*Roasted beets : fresh, clean and healthy 3*Romaine: the usual salad, nothing special. Second course: 4*Calamarta: Seafood was per average, enhanced by the great authentic sauce. 4*Salmon: tender inside and crispy outside, an excellent and healthy dish. 4*Grilled Branzino filet: very tender, came with spinach. excellent and healthy. 3*Duck agnolotti with mushroom sauce: gravy was on the salty and heavy side, otherwise was a good dish.

    Ambience
    Chelsea A.

    Al dente was a great experience from start to finish! The ambience in there is lovely! Nice and romantic so great for a date night! I was able to park with ease. Food- I cannot complain! I got the lasagna and cauliflower, and my friend got one of the pasta and I believe fried zucchini. I forget the cocktails we got both both were fantastic! I would definitely go back again! Server was kind as well and they were always clearing off the dirty dishes. I also love a place that comes with bread :)

    Calamary
    Alp B.

    We had a very lovely experience and recommend this place to everyone who visits Washington. The staff was extremely welcoming and attentive. We had the table completely covered with food and Wine. I love this restaurant. Everything is nice, neat and the staff was very friendly. Food quality and the ambiance was amazing which is very rear both together. We are definitely going back. I can suggest it to all my friends.

    the dining area of a restaurant
    Renoir V.

    The room is lovely. Beautifully designed space. Centered with the huge hearth pizza oven that was getting warmed as I arrived about 11:45. abut fifteen minutes early for a twelve noon lunch date. My lunch partner chose this restaurant as it was convenient to her work at American University. There were no other diners and I suppose they open at noon because they seemed to still be doing some side work. I was greeted warmly and given two menus. I looked mine over waiting for my lunch partner to arrive. And it became instantly clear. The cash in strategy. The approach here is to "a la carte" you out of more dollars per item. Like what supermarkets are doing with green peppers. In the old days any visit to anyone Italian restaurant is to come to a table of bounty. Instant warm bread for example - I had to ask for that and olive oil plus balsamic as it wasn't automatically offered. They brought me small warm rolls that were delicious, if small, and only four in the basket. Eventually my friend arrived and we each ordered a glass of red wine. My partner knew what she wanted and ordered it. As for me it was the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. The only way it comes if you want protein. To cut to the chase. When my dish arrived it was almost soupy, not creamy and sticky to large noodles as the classic white sauce is prepared with Parmesan and cream. These noodles seemed smaller and weren't "al dente" at all. Overcooked, and the water from the pasta must have thinned the cheese based sauce. Because it was liquidy not thick. Beyond that the chicken seemed like pieces taken from a can of Kirkland chicken from Costco ground into little tiny nuggets. The waiter didn't offer to sprinkle more fresh Parmesan nor fresh cracked pepper as is customary when serving this dish at a fine Italian eatery. And again, those disappointing "modern" bread rolls designed for little elves not Italian men mopping up the fettuccini sauce after lunch with. Or with olive oil and balsamic upon seating. I literally decided to refuse the dish. I'm done being given poor substandard quality while paying a stiff price. This place is not $$ as shown here, but more like $$$$. If your dropping ten bucks for their glass of the cheapest house red, and an additional 10.95 if you dare want a portion of salad greens with your entree. The larger is like 12.95, I think. Either way that would make the 18.95 "fettuccini Alfredo" with salad 10.95 (30 already) and add a glass of wine and youre at 40 bucks for a basic lunch. I got the pock eye from management when I returned the dish but I didn't much worry. I will not be back.

    the entrance to a wine shop

    See all

    28 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maya M.
    1
    52
    82

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Betty A.
    116
    20
    5

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alp B.
    58
    32
    34

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jess L.
    3519
    5578
    5924

    7 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of About K.
    0
    44
    160

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 9

    Al Dente Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Al Dente

    Does anyone know when the parking garage closes at night and what's the rate?

    It seems to close with the gate open, so who cares. But in terms of payment ... they validate parking.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Claudios Table

    Claudios Table

    4.0(65 reviews)
    1.2 miPalisades
    Wheelchair accessible
    Outdoor seating

    **5 Stars: A Hidden Italian Gem in DC's Palisades!**…read more Claudio's Table at 5441 MacArthur Blvd NW delivers authentic Italian flavors in a cozy neighborhood spot. The homemade pasta, like calamarata with prawns, mussels, and clams, and rich bolognese, shines with fresh ingredients and perfect execution. Service feels personal and attentive, with staff like Giovanni and Alex decanting wines and splitting plates seamlessly. Don't miss the tiramisu or daily specials such as osso buco--everything pairs beautifully with their outstanding wine list. The intimate vibe, blond wood decor, and Neapolitan pizza make it ideal for dates or groups (book ahead!). A must-visit for upscale Italian without pretension.

    Very popular place but I don't think I'll be back. I came with two others and we each ordered a…read moresalad and a main dish. I wanted the pear salad but don't like Gorgonzola so I asked if we could substitute it, otherwise I'd go for another salad. Our server offered goat cheese, which I love, so I said yes. Complementary focaccia was served but it was room temperature and seemed like it'd been sitting out, so the texture wasn't great. One friend got her salad, and after a while, they tried to serve my other friend her lasagna but she asked where our other two salads were. The servers looked at each other confused and took the lasagna back, then our main server came back and said they couldn't find the goat cheese so they forgot to follow up about if burrata worked instead. That was fine with me and we got our salads. (Side note, I'd recommend a different salad - the pear wasn't for me and the burrata didn't work well with the salad, plus it was a pricey substitution, maybe $5?) Unfortunately, and I regret not taking a photo, I took a bite and bit on something hard and was concerned - I took it out and it was a pea-sized piece of what I think was porcelain. I told the server about it and he said he'd tell the chef. He never followed up, and although I don't expect anything from the exchange, an apology or follow up would've been nice. We all got our mains after wrapping up our salads and we could tell the lasagna was kept in the oven, which is fine, but it was slightly burnt and super hot (my friend had to wait quite a while for it to be tolerable to eat). I had gotten the linguini alle vongole ("Seaside favorite with Little Neck Clams, Garlic, White Wine, Calabrian Peppers, Parsley & Breadcrumbs") but found it to be a bit oily. Overall a disappointing experience. The place was completely full when we left and I assume most there are return customers. It's cute inside and a decent location but with everything that went wrong, I can't recommend this place in good faith.

    Photos
    Claudios Table
    Claudios Table
    Claudios Table

    See all

    Lupo Verde Osteria - Caprese Salad

    Lupo Verde Osteria

    3.9(156 reviews)
    1.3 miPalisades

    We love the Lupo restaurants and Osteria is no different…read more Their pasta is made in house, and is delicious. Their portions for pasta are normal, not overkill, which we appreciate. Their eggplant and chicken parm are also terrific choices and well large enough for left overs the next day. The restaurant is cozy and offers both outdoor patio seating along with more intimate nooks inside.

    Picked up some items for pick up. Easy pick up and it seemed like a very intimate restaurant. Nice…read morevibe. The parking was pretty scarce though. Street parking is available, but when I went there were a lot of uber drivers going to some other places close by. Some even trapped me in, so if you're looking for a quick stop, just throw on your hazards. I ordered three pastas. The cacio y pepe was tasty but honestly not my favorite. It was very creamy and cheesy but felt a bit short lived for the price. The lobster ravioli was also good, but felt small for the high price tag. The brisket parppadelle was sooo good! I think price point wise, this was worth it. Not due to the portion but the brisket The brisket was tender and the peas were a nice touch, but so much of the flavor and flat long noodles gave such good texture to the dish. Definitely was my favorite of the three. Overall good but a little expensive for the portions. They were also quick and all were fresh and warm dishes on pick up.

    Photos
    Lupo Verde Osteria - Bar area

    Bar area

    Lupo Verde Osteria - Tiramisu

    Tiramisu

    Lupo Verde Osteria - Interior upstairs

    See all

    Interior upstairs

    Pines of Florence - Caprese

    Pines of Florence

    4.7(286 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    This is my second time here and every time I leave, I always dream of how good this food is. The…read moreservice is always top-notch and they make you feel like family. I love the mouth feel of the linguine. Perfectly cooked and the sauce is perfection! The bread is also so fresh and the balsamic and olive oil are right on the table so you can mix it to dip your bread in. I suggest this place to all of my friends for an amazing gem in the Arlington area.

    Came here as a large party of 20 for my birthday celebration. Italian cuisine holds a special place…read morein my heart, and I loved the cozy interior (arched windows, beautiful lighting fixtures) when I walked in for the first time. The night of our dinner reservation, we asked if there was any way we could shift our reservation up (most of us were super hungry after just doing a yoga class), and they were able to accommodate us! Once we arrived, our server attended to our group with grace and warmth. My friends enjoyed their food, from the pizza to the chicken parmesan to the pasta. I usually eat chicken Alfredo, but tried the shrimp Alfredo and it was delicious! Toward the end of the meal, I was able to choose a complimentary dessert, and went for my server's recommendation, the pistachio cake. As the meal wrapped up, we were stunned when the lights went out (a few of us thought the power went out). However, it was a dramatic transition into me being surprised with cake and song! The cake was layered beautifully, fragrant and fluffy, and not too sweet. I passed it down the table for each of my friends to try, and they all offered words of praise. I'm looking forward to returning when I'm craving traditional Italian food again! Thank you for helping to create a special memory.

    Photos
    Pines of Florence
    Pines of Florence
    Pines of Florence

    See all

    A Modo Mio - Pizza Margherita

    A Modo Mio

    4.5(270 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    A Modo Mio offers many food specials. For example, on Tuesdays, that's when we stopped there for…read moredinner, all their pasta dishes are 1/2 price. However, given that they ranked 32nd among this country's top 50 Pizza restaurants, I had to order a pizza. And I'll get to my pizza after I discuss some other things, because it all plays together. Also, during my visit, I kept drawing comparisons between this place and Pupatella, a local Neapolitan pizza juggernaut. The Big Question to answer is why A Modo Mio got a spot on the Top 50 while Pupatella didn't even make the cut. Access is easy, and parking is good. There are lots of spaces that wrap around the restaurant. That's in contrast to Pupatell, which has limited parking and where I always wind up using the Safeway lot across the street. The restaurant is clean and spacious, with plenty of comfortable seating. It also has a long, well-stocked bar where you can sit to enjoy a beverage or a meal. Pupatella doesn't have any of that. When you arrive, you're greeted by a host who shows you to your seat. A very short while later, a waiter shows up and does all the things waiters do. At Pupatella, you wait in line to place your order, then find an open table. TLDR: Your dining experience, outside of the food, is much more civilized and relaxing at A Modo Mio. The pie that earned their 32 out of 50 ranking was the Sicilia. But I ordered a 12" Casertana because I'm not crazy about eggplant and like sausage. The pie arrived a short while later, piping hot and loaded with sausage. The taste was sublime and delicious. My only complaint was that the basil was added before baking, and I prefer that herb when it's not reduced to ash. So back to The Big Question, is the A Modo Mio pizza *that* much better than Pupatella that it earned a spot amongst the Top 50 while the other one didn't even make the cut? Frankly, it's not. It is good pizza... possibly great pizza. But that's also true of the other place. What sets A Modo Mio apart from that other place, and the answer to the Big Question, is that the criteria for generating the Top 50 list included more than the pizza. It also took into account: - Hospitality and Service - Ambiance - Beverage Program. Beyond the pizza, A Modo Mio has those things in abundance, while the other place pretty much has none. TLDR: Comparing pizzas side by side, the two places are on par. However, if you take into account the entire dining experience, you will be much happier with your pizza here, as opposed to that other place or most other pizza restaurants in the DMV area.

    I had the opportunity to have New Year's Eve dinner here and I was able to score a 7:30 PM…read morereservation using the Rezi app several weeks ago. There's so much parking in this area and they have indoor and outdoor seating. One of the things I really liked is that they seem to have specials three or four days a week if I remember correctly, I think Mondays are half off wine bottles. Tuesdays are 30% off the menu or maybe that was happy hour Monday through Friday and then Wednesdays is half off pizzas and then Thursdays was a sale on cocktails. One of the disappointing things right off the bat was that they took my 7:30 PM reservation and even texted me at 7 PM to make sure I was still coming at 7:30 but nobody ever mentioned that they would close the kitchen promptly at 8 PM, which meant my New Year's Eve dinner was extremely rushed. By 745 I already had to put in my drinks, appetizer, entrées, and desserts. Had I known that they were going to close the kitchen at 8 PM I either would have gone to another place or asked to change my reservation for an earlier time. At 8 PM most of the restaurant was empty, but they still had about four tables, including ours still filled along with two or three folks at the bar. Another thing to note is that they will automatically add 20% gratuity to your bill so please keep that in mind. As far as the food goes, I will say that the pizzas were really good and a small pizza comes with four big slices and a large pizza comes with eight big slices. Personally, I really enjoyed the dough and it was very flavorful, but slightly undercooked. They are known for their Neapolitan style pizzas, and it really shine through. I also got the opportunity to try the lasagna Bolognese, which came sizzling and what seemed to be a mini cast-iron pot. It was evident that this was pre-cooked though and reheated in this pot/pan but what was disappointing was that the bottom layers were sizzling hot but the top layers were room temperature and unfortunately, since the kitchen was closed, I didn't have the opportunity to get that taken care of. I would definitely come back and give them a shot especially because they have weekly deals, but it was truly a disappointment that they took a 730 reservation weeks ago, knowing that they intended on closing at 8 PM. As we were leaving, we got the opportunity to meet one of the restaurant partners and they were so kind; it's evident that this restaurant has regulars and I look forward to my next visit and seeing what it's like when I have more time to eat and enjoy.

    Photos
    A Modo Mio - Pizza oven

    Pizza oven

    A Modo Mio - A "white" meat lovers pizza - amazing

    A "white" meat lovers pizza - amazing

    A Modo Mio - Polipo alla Griglia

    See all

    Polipo alla Griglia

    Filomena Ristorante - Pasta Mammas

    Filomena Ristorante

    4.2(3.8k reviews)
    2.3 miGeorgetown
    $$$
    Women-owned & operated
    Established in 1983

    New rating: FIVE STARS. After a weekend of "no good" when it came to the e-gift card not being…read moredelivered and a status message of "order is being Held for Review", today (during regular operating hours) I spoke to someone in management who not only took care of the situation and sent the gift card to recipient, but also really listened to my "user experience", apologized to me and the recipient, and - after receiving multiple complaints and issues such as mine - indicated Filomena will change policy to handle e-gift card purchases much better. This is top notch response and the right way to handle it.

    We heard great things about this place...so on our last day in DC, we stopped in here for lunch…read more.. ...and WOW, the place was so Kitschy (with a capital K)! It was lit all pink with a ton of bunnies (Easter motif) throughout...even confetti garland. It was actually kinda funny, but it was fun-kitschy and welcoming at the same time. We started with the Fried Calamari...which was AMAZING! One of the best I've had?? Can't remember the exact names, but my husband ordered this Eggplant dish and I ordered a Rigatoni w/ Vodka dish (which came with chicken and these 2 big sausage links!). Again, we both devoured our plates! Everything was SO good!! Now I get why this is one of the landmark restaurants in DC. Bravo!

    Photos
    Filomena Ristorante - Lasagna Bolognese

    Lasagna Bolognese

    Filomena Ristorante - Focaccia Bread made fresh daily!

    Focaccia Bread made fresh daily!

    Filomena Ristorante - Filomena's Famous Cannoli

    See all

    Filomena's Famous Cannoli

    Al Dente - pizza - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...